CoveragePost
May 14, 2024
By Stephen Wright and Stefan Armbruster of BenarNews French authorities have imposed a curfew on New Caledonia’s capital Nouméa and banned public gatherings after supporters of the Pacific territory’s independence movement blocked roads, set fire to buildings and clashed with security forces. Tensions in New Caledonia have been inflamed by French government’s plans to give ... <a title="Curfew in New Caledonia after Kanak riots over French voting change plan" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/05/14/curfew-in-new-caledonia-after-kanak-riots-over-french-voting-change-plan/" aria-label="Read more about Curfew in New Caledonia after Kanak riots over French voting change plan">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
April 16, 2024
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist A pro-independence activist in New Caledonia is warning France to immediately halt its planned constitution amendments or face “war”. The call for a u-turn follows proposed constitutional changes to voting rights which could push the number of eligible anti-independence voters up. Pacific Independence Movement (le Mouvement des Océaniens indépendantistes) ... <a title="Pro-independence activist issues dire warning to France over Kanaky New Caledonia" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/04/16/pro-independence-activist-issues-dire-warning-to-france-over-kanaky-new-caledonia/" aria-label="Read more about Pro-independence activist issues dire warning to France over Kanaky New Caledonia">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
April 15, 2024
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk New Caledonia’s capital was on Saturday flooded by two simultaneous waves of French and Kanaky flags with two rival demonstrations in downtown Nouméa, only two streets away from each other and under heavy security surveillance. The French High Commission in Nouméa provided an official count of ... <a title="New Caledonia: Flags and emotions flying high over proposed changes" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/04/15/new-caledonia-flags-and-emotions-flying-high-over-proposed-changes/" aria-label="Read more about New Caledonia: Flags and emotions flying high over proposed changes">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
April 4, 2024
ANALYSIS: By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific The French Senate has endorsed a Constitutional review project bearing significant modifications to the local electoral rules for New Caledonia, but with amendments. The text passed on Tuesday with 233 votes in favour and 99 against. It aims at modifying the conditions for French citizens to ... <a title="French Senate endorses new election rules for New Caledonia – but with amendments" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/04/04/french-senate-endorses-new-election-rules-for-new-caledonia-but-with-amendments/" aria-label="Read more about French Senate endorses new election rules for New Caledonia – but with amendments">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 21, 2024
ANALYSIS: By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk An “organic law” to postpone New Caledonia’s provincial elections has passed the final hurdle and been endorsed by the French National Assembly. During a session on Monday marked by poor attendance (only 104 MPs out of 577) and sometimes heated debates, 71 French MPs voted ... <a title="New Caledonia’s provincial elections delay passes final voting hurdle" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/03/21/new-caledonias-provincial-elections-delay-passes-final-voting-hurdle/" aria-label="Read more about New Caledonia’s provincial elections delay passes final voting hurdle">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 22, 2024
Pro-independence militants and protesters clashed with police in downtown Nouméa this week as New Caledonia hosts three French government ministers. The crowd — an estimated 2000 according to organisers, 500 according to police — had been called on Wednesday to voice their opposition to a French-planned constitutional amendment process which would include modification of New ... <a title="Pro-independence protesters, French police clash in New Caledonia" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/02/22/pro-independence-protesters-french-police-clash-in-new-caledonia/" aria-label="Read more about Pro-independence protesters, French police clash in New Caledonia">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
September 27, 2023
By Nic Maclellan In a major electoral upset, Kanak independence politician Robert Xowie has won one of Kanaky New Caledonia’s two seats in the French Senate in Paris. His second-round electoral victory over Loyalist leader Sonia Backès came on September 24, the 170th anniversary of France’s annexation of its Pacific dependency. Xowie is the Mayor ... <a title="FLNKS mayor wins run-off poll to take unprecedented French Senate seat" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/09/27/flnks-mayor-wins-run-off-poll-to-take-unprecedented-french-senate-seat/" aria-label="Read more about FLNKS mayor wins run-off poll to take unprecedented French Senate seat">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 24, 2023
By Hilaire Bule in Port Vila Benny Wenda, the interim president of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), has welcomed the Melanesian Spearhead Group’s confirmation that its application for full membership would be discussed at the 22nd MSG Leaders’ Summit in Port Vila — but warned it would be a test. Wenda conveyed ... <a title="‘The world is watching’ – it’s a test for Melanesian leaders over West Papua, says Wenda" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/08/24/the-world-is-watching-its-a-test-for-melanesian-leaders-over-west-papua-says-wenda/" aria-label="Read more about ‘The world is watching’ – it’s a test for Melanesian leaders over West Papua, says Wenda">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 23, 2023
By Kelvin Anthony, RNZ Pacific journalist in Port Vila The Melanesian Spearhead Group Secretariat’s Director-General, Leonard Louma, says the Pacific region continues to be the centre of geopolitical interests by global superpowers. The 22nd MSG Leaders’ Summit is taking place in Port Vila this week– the first full in-person meeting since the covid pandemic. The ... <a title="Senior MSG official calls for Melanesia to remain neutral in geopolitical battle" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/08/23/senior-msg-official-calls-for-melanesia-to-remain-neutral-in-geopolitical-battle/" aria-label="Read more about Senior MSG official calls for Melanesia to remain neutral in geopolitical battle">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
July 31, 2023
Asia Pacific Report Indonesia has stepped up its campaign of repression against West Papuans peacefully rallying for full membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), says a Papuan advocacy leader. Benny Wenda, interim president of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), said a “massive military and police presence” greeted Papuans who had taken ... <a title="Wenda accuses Jakarta of crackdown in response to Papuan MSG rallies" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/07/31/wenda-accuses-jakarta-of-crackdown-in-response-to-papuan-msg-rallies/" aria-label="Read more about Wenda accuses Jakarta of crackdown in response to Papuan MSG rallies">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 24, 2023
By Finau Fonua, RNZ Pacific journalist France’s grip on its overseas territories in the Pacific may be waning, with pro-independence delegates now claiming to have the support of the majority of their indigenous people in their territories. The delegates from New Caledonia and French Polynesia spoke during talks at the UN’s Special Committee on Decolonisation ... <a title="‘We carry the voice of the colonised people’, delegates tell UN" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/06/24/we-carry-the-voice-of-the-colonised-people-delegates-tell-un/" aria-label="Read more about ‘We carry the voice of the colonised people’, delegates tell UN">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 30, 2023
By Walter Zweifel, RNZ Pacific reporter New Caledonia’s pro-independence FLNKS (Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front) 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 President of New Caledonia’s Congress — told a UN ... <a title="Kanaky New Caledonia’s FLNKS wants ICJ advice on contested vote" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/05/30/kanaky-new-caledonias-flnks-wants-icj-advice-on-contested-vote/" aria-label="Read more about Kanaky New Caledonia’s FLNKS wants ICJ advice on contested vote">Read more</a>
