French representatives to visit New Caledonia in September

The President of the New Caledonian Congress Roch Wamytan says a visit with French representatives will take place on September 12.

The new minister for France's overseas territories, Jean-Francois Carenco, will meet New Caledonia's government representatives for the first time.

In an interview with La Premiere Wamytan said he still doesn't know what will be discussed during the visit.

"We are awaiting to tell us because we had talked over the phone but without any additional information. He will come September 12, however, I, who is a key signatory and President of the Congress, have no official information on the reason for his arrival in New Caledonia."

A spokesperson for the pro-independent FLNKS, Charles Wea, said they will not be speaking with the delegation as it is only meeting members of the government.

"The FLNKS no but institutions yes, such as the Congress or the government, they are talking institutionally but there is still no contact between the FLNKS and the French government on the institutional question. Now is the time to wait and hear what the French government is about to propose on the future of the New Caledonian question."

Pro-independence Kanaks have not engaged with France since they boycotted the third and final independence referendum under the Noumea Accord resulting in an overwhelming majority voting in favour to remain with France.

They were unhappy with France for ignoring their pleas to postpone polling because of the effects of the pandemic.

According to Wea, the FLNKS will hold a congress after Carenco's visit followed by another one in January to work out what strategy to propose to France, in a bilateral talk.

"It is a congress that will work out the institutional question concerning the future of New Caledonia and questions on how the FLNKS fits into all that. It is a general meeting about everything. They will all be assembling on September 17."

The pro-independence FLNKS movement, which has the Caledonian Union as a key component, refuses to recognise the result of the third and final referendum as a legitimate outcome of the decolonisation process.

Speaking at a recent Caledonian Union congress meeting, Daniel Goa, reiterated they will only meet with France bilaterally and that decolonisation is still very much on their agenda.

"For the bilateral, the talks will include two subjects. One on the irreversible constitutions and one of liberation. All talks with an electoral body as big as France would show that it wants to continue its colonial power over the people. The decolonisation process will end when the independence of New Caledonia Kanaky occurs."

Despite the Kanak boycott of the final independence referendum, Paris insists the vote was carried out legally and stands by its outcome.

It now plans to submit a new statute for New Caledonia to vote on in June.