New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters has called for a more diplomatic approach to resolve the ongoing crisis in New Caledonia, which has been plagued by sometimes violent protests since May. The unrest began after France approved reforms aimed at expanding voting rights for French residents in the territory, a move that has sparked anxieties among the indigenous Kanak population. They fear that these changes will weaken their voting power, making it harder for any future referendums on independence to succeed. Meanwhile, France maintains that the electoral reforms are crucial for improving democracy in the region.
The situation has reached an impasse, as Peters has stated, with violence and democratic setbacks reopening old wounds and creating new ones. “In New Caledonia, we hope to see more diplomacy, more engagement, more compromise,” he said during a speech at the PALM10 summit in Tokyo, a gathering of Pacific Island Forum member countries and the Japanese government. He expressed confidence that the Pacific Islands Forum, of which New Caledonia is a member, can provide the necessary platform and expertise to facilitate a resolution. “Based on our conversations in Tokyo this week, we are confident that the different actors in Noumea and Paris will see any offer of dialogue, engagement or mediation as an opportunity to access the deep wisdom and experience that exists in the Pacific Islands region,” said Peters.
Peters’ comments follow a statement from the Melanesian Spearhead Group, comprised of Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. The group, expressing its desire to play a part in restoring dialogue, voiced concern about the militarization of New Caledonia since the protests began in May and the deportation of some protest leaders to France for trial. The group also condemned the destruction of property and loss of life that have negatively impacted the economy.
