Nic Maclellan
@MaclellanNic
Journalist in the Pacific Islands. Correspondent, Islands Business magazine (Fiji). Author "Grappling with the Bomb" (ANU Press). RT not endorsement
ID:1201484280389464066
02-12-2019 12:52:48
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'Republican order' is at the very heart of the #NewCaledonia crisis. Leaders across the political spectrum want an end to violent clashes. But significant numbers of New Caledonians, including the vast majority of indigenous Kanak, do not want to remain in the French Republic.
At the French High Commission in #Noumea , flanked by Overseas Minister Gérald Darmanin and Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu, French President Emmanuel #Macron calls for a minute's silence for the six people killed in last week’s rioting in #NewCaledonia (footage Fil info NC1ère).
For people in Melbourne, I've been invited to address the Australian Institute for International Affairs @AIIAVic next Wednesday 29 May, to discuss the implications of the #NewCaledonia crisis for the region (sorry, no zoom).
Perhaps it is time for the Pacific Islands Forum under the leadership of the PIF #TROIKA to explore the options for crisis management and conflict resolution in #Kanaky as set out in the 2000 Biketawa Declaration. Notably, Annex A indicates that actions only need to be 'discussed' with the
As Pacific leaders gather in Tonga in August for the annual Pacific Islands Forum, the #NewCaledonia crisis will be on the agenda. NC has been a full Forum member since 2016, and leaders dialogue has started (below). @forumsec plans discussions with NC President Louis Mapou soon.
Thank you to Defence Australia for their support in flying 108 Australians and other tourists from New Caledonia to Brisbane on two assisted-departure flights yesterday.
French authorities will be conducting a flight today to enable more tourists to depart New Caledonia.