There is a little bit of France in the Pacific ocean, way offshore from Queensland. The Island of New Caledonia was claimed by the French and annexed in 1853 and from 1864 until 1897 is was developed as a penal colony. In modern times it contains a vast deposit of Nickel and this valuable export underlines the island economy, together with tourism.
The Kanak people were the original inhabitants and still make up about 63% of the population. Like Britain, the French colonial empire began shrinking after the end of the second world war and the idea of independence from France has become a lively issue in recent times. It was subjected to a referendum in 1987 in which the vote was overwhelmingly in favour of retaining the French connection.
On November 4 the people of New Caledonia again went to the polls to decide this French issue and the result was a lot closer. 56.4 % decided to retain French nationality, while 43.6 % voted to become a new, independent world nation. In a strange twist, this question will again be raised by new referendums in 2020 and 2022.
New Caledonia is a beautiful island with a pleasing sub tropical climate. The numbers on the voting roll for this referendum totalled 174,995 people who got the vote by way of island birth, long term residence or durable connection to the island economy. As a result, 35,948, comprising 17% were excluded from the poll.
It seems that more recent French residents moving to the island favour retaining the French connection because France spends about a billion francs a year on island support and the small population would have problems financing an adequate military defence. There is also the value of being protected by what many regard as a world country that has veto rights at the United Nations because of its nuclear arsenal.
There is also fear that with a dwindling number of Pacific possessions the French may withdraw and concentrate their attention in Europe. This referendum was virtually trouble free, but support for independence is stronger in the Kanak population and access to the voting roll will be under pressure as further referendums approach.
New Caledonia looks to Australia as the big, friendly neighbour which provides advanced medical services and access to world class finance and associated legal facilities. It is a favoured Australian holiday destination, but rather eclipsed by an unfavourable exchange rate that makes it " expensive " in Australian eyes. Air services and travel offers tend to favour Bali and other Pacific destinations.
New Caledonia came to prominence in the second world war when it became the staging post for the American push to repel the Japanese military threat to Australia. Thousands of troops were trained and passed through the island on their way to battles and many of the big guns that defended the island remains in place there today.
The one certainty is that this independence issue is not yet settled. If in the end the island becomes an independent new nation is seems evident that it will seek shelter under the Australian defence umbrella.
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