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INPRIMATU
Macron's visit does not stop Kanak's complaint
  • He has been in Iran on 23 May with French President Emmanuel Macron, loialists and independentists, and has met with all parties. It has shown them its willingness to launch "political dialogue", but the independentists say that it has not put conditions in place.
Jenofa Berhokoirigoin @Jenofa_B 2024ko maiatzaren 24a
Macronen bisita Kanaky herrian, maiatzaren 23an. Argazkia: AFP

Jin e id. The visit of its president, Emmanuel Macron, has left them a sweet taste. Although Paris has called for a "political dialogue", the independentists claim that the conditions for this are not complete. In fact, he has not promised anything concrete and has spoken to them with a generality: he has told them that he has no intention of "violently passing" the law of the electoral roll, which will dedicate "a few weeks" to the objectives of "achieving peace and reopening dialogue". But it has not regressed with regard to the legal amendment that has caused the complaint. The reform of the electoral roll law in Paris has led to major conflicts on the island of Kanaky, which remains dependent on France. A month after "starting a political dialogue", it informs local actors of its intention to reach a "general consensus".

The updating of this census means, in addition to reducing the weight of the Canacas, a lack of respect for the core of the Noumea Peace Accords of 1998. On 2 April the French senators voted in favour and on 15 May the Members voted in favour. It opens the right to vote for the provincial elections to people residing on the island for more than ten years – following the Noume Agreements, the right of non-indigenous people who were on the voting list before 1998. Robert Xowie, Senator for Independence, has spoken strongly against constitutional change: "In order to fulfil the French Government's objective of eliminating any possibility of independence from Canada, we have the dilution of Canadian citizenship within French citizenship."

Regarding incidents, Macron expects "a call at the end of all blockades" of all agents. He has spoken harshly against street people in recent days and has made it clear that he is going to put in place all the measures to "recover all the neighbourhoods, all the returns and all the blockades". Macron announces that, as soon as the incidents are over, he will decide on the end of the emergency situation. "Emergency aid for wages", "solidarity monetary fund" and Kanaky promises a series of economic measures to "rebuild" and "help those who suffer blockages".

Referendum "Objective"

He told reporters that the referendum on independence was "on the agenda" at the afternoon press conference. However, if it goes before the electoral roll is adapted, the achievement of the yes will be difficult for the independentists. 41.2% are now indigenous. Basically, immigration was the political strategy of Paris to regain the weight of the independentists. Proof of this is the letter sent by the Prime Minister, Pierre Messmer, to the French overseas secretary of state, Xavier Deniau, in 1972: "We will overcome the nationalist altar of the indigenous peoples if the communities we have not created in the Pacific form a majority. The massive immigration of French Metropolitans and Overseas should not threaten the presence of France in Caledonia." From 1969 to 1976 20,000 white immigrants settled on the island, increasing the population by 20%, and since then white migration has already done.