Vanuatu isolated over independence issue

Press, 10 August 1982, Page 1

Vanuatu isolated over independence issue

From OLIVER RIDDELL, in Rotorua

Consensus for a more gentle approach on the question of the political independence from France of New Caledonia has emerged at the South Pacific Forum in Rotorua

A day of fluctuating opinions among the 13 leaders of South Pacific countries attending the forum has seen the virtual isolation of Vanuatu and its Prime Minister (Father Walter Lini) on the topic. On Sunday, Father Lini made a strong plea in public for.quicker independence for New Caledonia. In doing so, he had a “swipe" at the attitude of the New Zealand Government, saying it • was more . interested in its economy than in human rights. A number of Forum leaders took umbrage at this when the Forum, went into closed session yesterday. Although the final wording of the decolonisation resolution was being discussed over■night, it was expected to be much more mild than Father Lini had sought. • The Forum ’ considered a report, from the Prime Minister of Fiji (Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara) on the mission he had' led to France to discuss the future of New Caledonia with the French Government.

At the end of the report, Ratu Mara gave Fiji’s stance on a more militant approach to the decolonisation process.. Given the policy of reform of the French Government, it w’ould be counter-productive to embarrass France at this time. That would be to run the risk of weakening the French resolve for the present reforms, which were in the right direction. He had been unable to obtain a clear commitment from the French Government on independence, but he believed the policies France was implementing were such as would lead to independence. Fiji would not pre-empt the decision of who should govern an independent New Caledonia by deciding who should be the recognised representatives of the Kanak people. That was a matter for them to decide without outside interference. “I.feel reasonably satisfied that important changes are taking place in New Caledonia far beyond what any of us envisaged when we

met at Vila (in Vanuata) last year.” Ratu Mara said.

When Ratu Mara arrived at the forum he seemed not to have had a firm commitment to the conclusion in his report. He seemed to' have been ready to become more militant if that were the feeling of Forum leaders.

But the comments of Father Lini on Sunday, and reaction within the Forum to them, confirmed the leaders in the belief that France had taken their advice to heart. The view of the leaders was represented by the President of Kiribati (Mr leremia Tabai) that everyone appreciated what France had done and accepted that it had acted in a positive way. This makes it very unlikely that Father Lini’s call for immediate independence will be adopted, or even that the Forum would take the matter to the United Nations.

“There is no point in trying to make people independent,” said the Premier of Niue (Mr Robert Rex). “Independence comes when the majority want it, and the pace in New Caledonia seems right for what the people want/’

The Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) said everyone had been pleasantly surprised by the speed at which things were moving. Both he and Mr Tabai said New Caledonian political independence might come as early as 1984, although in what form could not yet be predicted.