A senior New Caledonian politician has challenged the plan by the pro-independence FLNKS to seek a third referendum on independence from France.
Pierre Frogier, who is a member of the French senate and a former president of New Caledonia, said twice in two years a majority has voted to stay French, an outcome which he says is final.
On 4 October, 53 percent voted against independence but the Noumea Accord, which Mr Frogier co-signed on behalf of the anti-independence side, provides for three referendums.
New Caledonia politician Pierre Frogier Photo: AFP
In an open letter, he accused the FLNKS of recreating a rupture between two sections of the population of comparable importance and wanting the submission of one camp to the convictions of the other.
He said since the last referendum, the FLNKS had made almost warlike declarations that keep being multiplied.
Mr Frogier warned the FLNKS that it is not the embodiment of the general will of the Caledonians, nor even of a majority.
His statement comes as the anti-independence camp is trying to persuade France to prevent a third referendum.
Last week, Mr Frogier published another open letter addressed to the French overseas minister Sebastien Lecornu, saying it was the minister's obligation to spare fellow citizens fatal clashes.
He said for years the French state had been passive and lacking in authority, instead of helping finding a wise way forward.
Last year, Mr Frogier raised the spectre of a partition of New Caledonia.
He said the differences between the pro and anti-independence provinces were so pronounced that there were two Caledonias, which he said would refuse to submit to the outcome of the independence referendum process.