The crisis involving the sinking of New Caledonia in mid-May was discussed at the UN this week. Spokespeople and other voices from the independence and non-independence movements spoke before the C24 decolonization group in New York on Monday. An international showcase that allowed each camp to exhibit completely different positions.
The crisis that has been rocking Caledonia for a month has been at the center of C24 discussions (during this session). On Monday 10 June, believers took the stage at the UN to respond to Daniel Goa’s speech. On June 8, during the steering committee of the Caledonian Union, its leader spoke about sovereignty. “unspeakable” By September 2025.
“International Laws Must Be Respected”François Suay, leader of the Loyalists in New Caledonia Congress, insisted. “There will be no freedom on September 24 [2025] President of the Caledonian Union, Daniel Goa, recently declared during a threatening speech, because Caledonians have opposed it three times under the supervision of the United Nations. It is therefore imperative that legitimate independent political forces disassociate themselves from the terrorist activities of the CCAT.”, Field Operations Coordination Division. “Take the responsibility to join us at the discussion table.”
For Naya Wado, the fourth vice-president of the Congress and an elected loyalist, ““Thirty years of contracts were reduced to ashes overnight.”.
On the pro-independence side, some delegates were unable to travel to New York this week. For FLNKS, Samuel Hnebeun recalls that New Caledonia was on the list of areas to be decolonised.
FLNKS advocate for forty years, Me François Roux also spoke on behalf of the separatists. He said discussions should be held only between the Chief Minister and the government. “In this event, the intervention of representatives of colonists and allies is a betrayal of the aims of this group.”he pleaded. “I respect the people, but I ask them to reject the statements of those who are loyal to the executive power. Second point, “I am asking you here to help decolonize France (…) My country does not know how to decolonize.
“We call on all political forces to give priority to negotiations without disqualifying this or that partner”France’s political coordinator at the United Nations, Isis Jaraud Darnault, announced (Read here) “This dialogue must be in keeping with the spirit of the Nouméa Accords: building a common rule for New Caledonia based on consensus.” And add that to Paris “It will continue its cooperation with the United Nations and the C24, including during this critical period.”
Fiji’s representative, Filippo Tarakinigini, spoke on behalf of his archipelago and Papua New Guinea. He urged C24 to send a UN decolonization mission to New Caledonia.
Created by the United Nations General Assembly in 1961, the Committee on Decolonization monitors the implementation of international commitments to grant independence to colonized peoples. Seventeen territories are under its jurisdiction, most of which belong to the former British Empire. In the Pacific, American Samoa, French Polynesia, Guam, Pitcairn and Tokelau are on the C24 list of non-self-governing territories, as well as New Caledonia, which was relisted in 1986.