3:20 pm on 30 May 2023 – Walter Zweifel, RNZ Pacific Reporter walter.zweifel@rnz.co.nz
New Caledonia’s pro-independence FLNKS movement says the advice of the International Court of Justice is being sought over the contested 2021 referendum on independence from France.
The movement – represented by Roch Wamytan, who is the president of New Caledonia’s Congress – told a UN decolonisation committee meeting in Indonesia that it considered holding the vote violated the Kanaks’ right in their quest for self-determination.
New Caledonia has been on the UN decolonisation list since 1986, and under the terms of the Noumea Accord three referendums on restoring New Caledonia’s full sovereignty were held between 2018 and 2021.
The date for the last one was set by Paris but because of the impact of the covid-19 pandemic on the Kanak population, the pro-independence parties asked for the vote to be postponed.
READ FULL ARTICLE : https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/490978/new-caledonia-s-flnks-wants-icj-advice-on-contested-vote
