NOUMEA: Islanders on the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia on Sunday rejected independence in a referendum that exposed weaker-than-expected fortify for Paris within the resource-rich and strategic outpost.
On the final depend, 56.four % of other folks rejected the proposition that New Caledonia -- some 18,000 kilometres (11,000 miles) from the French mainland — turn out to be unbiased. Turnout used to be prime at 80.63 %.
President Emmanuel Macron expressed his "immense pride that we have taken this historic step together" in an deal with to the country, adding it used to be "a sign of confidence in the French republic, in its future and its values."
The island is house to a quarter of the arena's identified provides of nickel — a vital electronics part — and is a foothold for France within the Pacific the place China is gaining influence.
But the profitable margin in New Caledonia, every so often referred to in France as "the pebble", might reason some concern in Paris, as well as in Australia which has been alarmed by Beijing's designs within the Pacific and its investment in island countries.
Polls previously had forecast an emphatic 63-75 % of New Caledonians would vote "no" when requested if the archipelago will have to "attain full sovereignty and become independent".
Under a 1998 deal called the Noumea Accord to devolve powers to the territory, two additional votes on independence can also be held by 2022 — a right independence leaders glance set to invoke.
"We're a short step away from victory and there are still two votes to come," Alosio Sako, head of the separatist movement FLNKS, said after the results had been introduced.
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe arrived on the island Monday the place he'll meet political forces on both sides of the independence vote to talk about the way forward for the territory.
As smartly as being house to French troops and being a source of nickel, the territory offers France a large, exclusive economic zone within the Pacific and wealthy fishing sources.
Macron visited island in May however largely stayed transparent of the campaign.
However, he has raised concerns over increasing Chinese influence within the Pacific, the place Beijing has invested heavily in Vanuatu, a territory which broke from France and Britain in 1980.
Accusing the US of "turning its back on the region in recent months", Macron said China used to be "building its hegemony step by step" — suggesting an unbiased New Caledonia might be Beijing's next goal.
During visits to New Delhi and Canberra since taking energy final yr, Macron has talked up France's Pacific presence to suggest an axis of democratic Asian maritime powers that would come with India and Australia.
There had been fears that the referendum in New Caledonia may inflame tensions between indigenous Kanak other folks, who generally tend to favour independence, and the white population which has settled since France annexed the islands in 1853.
Several vehicles had been burned and a few incidents of stone-throwing had been reported overdue Sunday, native authorities said, however the vote used to be another way non violent.
Tensions in New Caledonia boiled over into ethnic strife within the 1980s which claimed more than 70 lives.
That resulted in the 1998 Noumea Accord which prepared the ground for a gradual devolution of powers, as well as Sunday's referendum and perhaps two others earlier than 2022.
In recent years, France has confronted protests and calls for independence in different of its overseas territories, which can be a legacy of the country's colonial historical past and are every so often dubbed "the confetti of the French empire".
French Guiana in South America and the Indian Ocean archipelago of Mayotte had been rocked by primary protests over residing standards and perceived overlook.
Closer to house, the Paris government additionally faces renewed calls for independence from nationalists on the Mediterranean island of Corsica, which have been rebuffed by Macron.
Separatists had recommended Kanak voters to choose self-determination for Kanaky, their identify for New Caledonia, and throw off the shackles of the "colonial" authorities in Paris.
The Kanak neighborhood is economically disadvantaged compared with the white population and plagued by highschool dropout charges, power unemployment and deficient housing prerequisites.
But indigenous other folks make up not up to 50 % of the voters and some Kanaks again staying a part of France, no longer least because of the 1.3 billion euros ($1.5 billion) the French state fingers to the islands yearly.
Going it alone, "I'm not sure we have all the assets we'd need to succeed," said Marc Gnipate, a 62-year-old pensioner.
On the final depend, 56.four % of other folks rejected the proposition that New Caledonia -- some 18,000 kilometres (11,000 miles) from the French mainland — turn out to be unbiased. Turnout used to be prime at 80.63 %.
President Emmanuel Macron expressed his "immense pride that we have taken this historic step together" in an deal with to the country, adding it used to be "a sign of confidence in the French republic, in its future and its values."
The island is house to a quarter of the arena's identified provides of nickel — a vital electronics part — and is a foothold for France within the Pacific the place China is gaining influence.
But the profitable margin in New Caledonia, every so often referred to in France as "the pebble", might reason some concern in Paris, as well as in Australia which has been alarmed by Beijing's designs within the Pacific and its investment in island countries.
Polls previously had forecast an emphatic 63-75 % of New Caledonians would vote "no" when requested if the archipelago will have to "attain full sovereignty and become independent".
Under a 1998 deal called the Noumea Accord to devolve powers to the territory, two additional votes on independence can also be held by 2022 — a right independence leaders glance set to invoke.
"We're a short step away from victory and there are still two votes to come," Alosio Sako, head of the separatist movement FLNKS, said after the results had been introduced.
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe arrived on the island Monday the place he'll meet political forces on both sides of the independence vote to talk about the way forward for the territory.
As smartly as being house to French troops and being a source of nickel, the territory offers France a large, exclusive economic zone within the Pacific and wealthy fishing sources.
Macron visited island in May however largely stayed transparent of the campaign.
However, he has raised concerns over increasing Chinese influence within the Pacific, the place Beijing has invested heavily in Vanuatu, a territory which broke from France and Britain in 1980.
Accusing the US of "turning its back on the region in recent months", Macron said China used to be "building its hegemony step by step" — suggesting an unbiased New Caledonia might be Beijing's next goal.
During visits to New Delhi and Canberra since taking energy final yr, Macron has talked up France's Pacific presence to suggest an axis of democratic Asian maritime powers that would come with India and Australia.
There had been fears that the referendum in New Caledonia may inflame tensions between indigenous Kanak other folks, who generally tend to favour independence, and the white population which has settled since France annexed the islands in 1853.
Several vehicles had been burned and a few incidents of stone-throwing had been reported overdue Sunday, native authorities said, however the vote used to be another way non violent.
Tensions in New Caledonia boiled over into ethnic strife within the 1980s which claimed more than 70 lives.
That resulted in the 1998 Noumea Accord which prepared the ground for a gradual devolution of powers, as well as Sunday's referendum and perhaps two others earlier than 2022.
In recent years, France has confronted protests and calls for independence in different of its overseas territories, which can be a legacy of the country's colonial historical past and are every so often dubbed "the confetti of the French empire".
French Guiana in South America and the Indian Ocean archipelago of Mayotte had been rocked by primary protests over residing standards and perceived overlook.
Closer to house, the Paris government additionally faces renewed calls for independence from nationalists on the Mediterranean island of Corsica, which have been rebuffed by Macron.
Separatists had recommended Kanak voters to choose self-determination for Kanaky, their identify for New Caledonia, and throw off the shackles of the "colonial" authorities in Paris.
The Kanak neighborhood is economically disadvantaged compared with the white population and plagued by highschool dropout charges, power unemployment and deficient housing prerequisites.
But indigenous other folks make up not up to 50 % of the voters and some Kanaks again staying a part of France, no longer least because of the 1.3 billion euros ($1.5 billion) the French state fingers to the islands yearly.
Going it alone, "I'm not sure we have all the assets we'd need to succeed," said Marc Gnipate, a 62-year-old pensioner.
France's New Caledonia rejects independence in tighter-than-expected vote
![France's New Caledonia rejects independence in tighter-than-expected vote]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
November 05, 2018
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