Minggu, 04 Oktober 2020

New Caledonia votes to reject independence from France - Sky News

New Caledonia has rejected an independence referendum which would have led it to cut ties with France.

The southwest Pacific archipelago voted on whether it wanted independence from France following a three-decade decolonisation effort.

The "no" camp won 53.26% of the vote, after provisional results earlier showed it was edging ahead.

It means New Caledonia will now remain a French territory.

An independence supporter stands near a flag of the Socialist Kanak National Liberation Front
Image: An independence supporter stands near a flag of the Socialist Kanak National Liberation Front

More than 180,000 voters were asked: "Do you want New Caledonia to gain full sovereignty and become independent?"

Earlier on Sunday morning, partial results released by France's ministry for overseas territories showed the "no" vote had 52% support with 226 out of 304 polling stations counted.

The independence referendum was part of a process aimed at settling tensions between native Kanaks who want independence and those who want to keep ties with France.

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The vote was the final step of a process that started 30 years ago following years of violence between the two groups.

The Kanaks had once suffered from strict segregation policies and the vote comes at a time when the legacy of colonialism is under scrutiny across the world.

Loyalists hold French national flags
Image: Loyalists hold French national flags

A similar referendum took place two years ago, when 56.4% of voters chose to keep the status quo.

Independence supporters wanted all sovereign powers - including justice, police, military, currency and foreign relations - to be transferred from France to New Caledonia.

New Caledonia became French in 1853 under Emperor Napoleon III and for decades was used as a prison colony.

After the Second World War, it became an overseas territory and all Kanaks were granted French citizenship in 1957.

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2020-10-04 11:48:45Z
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