Karawang, March 29, 2024 — This interview was conducted with Fadhlan Nur Hakiem as an International Relations lecturer who teaches International Relations in Asia Pacific.
New Caledonia is an island-shaped country in the Pacific Ocean as well as a federated or extra-territorial state of France. Although it is a federated state, New Caledonia has an indigenous tribe, the Kanak tribe who have inhabited the island since 6,000 years ago.
On September 24, 1853, France annexed New Caledonia. Ten years later, New Caledonia was officially made a French colony.
In 1998, a new agreement, the Nouméa Accord, was issued, which guaranteed the rights of self-government, the division of central-territorial sovereignty, the establishment of government institutions, and the transfer of power within the next 20 years. The Nouméa Accord was approved by 72% of New Caledonians by referendum and brought New Caledonia under French rule as a federated state until now.
"If we look at it actually being a favorable decision, yes, for New Caledonia. There are indeed some rebel groups or groups that contradict New Caledonia's decision to stay in France," Fadhlan said. "But if we look at the dynamics in the Pacific region, the South Pacific in particular, by staying with France it gives an advantage because he (New Caledonia) gets financial support. So there is something to help because we know in the South Pacific everything is difficult. Remote territories, limited naturalization, and so on. With France in place, they can survive these shortcomings." Fadhlan went into detail about New Caledonia's decision to remain under French rule. (03/29/24).
Although the majority voted anti-independence, some people insisted on voting pro-independence. This can be seen from a different history from France, where New Caledonia is a former colony.
"In the name of a former colony, of course there are groups that are trying to break away, and that's not wrong in my opinion. Thus, pro-independence efforts were natural in the former colonies. Although (some) of the people who remained (partial) in France benefited, the motivation to go out became an independent state; It can determine economic, political, socio-cultural rights." Fadhlan emphasized that the pro-independence party is not a mistake, but a natural because there is a motivation to stand alone.
However, judging from the second referendum in 2020, around 46.74% of the public remained pro-independence. In other words, the balance between anti-independence and pro-independence began to form.
Although there was already a seed of independence through a referendum 4 years ago, estimates of when New Caledonia could become an independent state are difficult to predict. This is because the peaceful way of secession of the country is a referendum, and the result of the referendum realized is anti-independence.
"If then France can meet the needs of the people of New Caledonia; giving economic, social, cultural, political, civil rights, and so on – then New Caledonia, I think will still accept France as the mother country as it was in the referendum," Fadhlan added of the French government's stance towards New Caledonia.