France given three months for new plan

Press, 5 March 1987, Page 8

France given three months for new plan

PA Auckland South Pacific Forum nations have given France three months to devise a new independence formula for its divided colony of New Caledonia. The forum countries say the Paris proposal for a referendum on independence falls short of accepted United Nations principles and practices, and they want it changed. As part of an increased tempo of diplomatic activity over the future of New Caledonia, the forum members have called for talks among all parties.

In the meantime, they want France to put the referendum “on hold.”

These points emerged yesterday from a briefing by the forum chairman, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, at the end of forum

Foreign Ministers’ talks in Auckland. Ratu Sir Kamisese, Prime Minister of Fiji, also said France appeared to be stepping up its campaign to curry favour with forum nations in a bid to win backing for its New Caledonia policy. He quoted from a letter which, he said, France had sent to an unidentified forum member. It said, in part ... “France appreciates the importance of your role due to your moderation, your discernment, your wisdom, widely appreciated in the region ...”

France, he said, had also made more direct offers through aid. Several members had been approached and it appeared the French administration wanted to divide the forum.

But Ratu Sir Kamisese said forum countries were united on the New Caledonia issue. Ratu Mara said France had until the next full forum meeting in Western Samoa in May to respond. Depending on its move, the forum nations would then reconsider the issue, one possibility being to send a delegation to Paris. Forum members agreed that independence in New Caledonia was “inevitable and desirable,” but the policy France adopted towards its colony and the referendum it wanted to conduct by August had serious shortcomings. The Chirac Government “favoured- the aspirations of one section of opinion and frustrated those of the largest and only indigenous ethnic group,” the Kanaks.

Its proposed referendum, which forum members had studied in draft form, did not meet United Nations principles fundamental to a free and genuine act of self-deter-mination, said Ratu Sir Kamisese.

France, he said, had posed a choice of independence or keeping the existing situation. Instead, the forum endorsed the United Nations’ position regarding decolonisation which included options such as integration, internal self-government and associated independence.

In particular, he said, there had to be special recognition of Kanak rights, especially on the question of land tenure. The forum remained concerned that Kanaks should not be punished by a particular option.