Indigenous rights? Democracy? Peace? What matters in New Caledonia
You may have seen news stories this year from New Caledonia (also known by its indigenous name Kanaky) covering political violence and civil unrest – obviously an issue of justice and peace. In this complex political situation, it is difficult to know how to be on the side of justice. The French Government is accused of enforcing colonialism through armed repression, while protesters are accused of inciting violence to prevent democracy.
Recent events
Kanaky–New Caledonia’s history is far too rich and complex to cover in this article. If you are unfamiliar, you can find many great sources online. Below is a brief context of current events.
The two major ethnic groups on the island are indigenous Kanaks and French settlers. Many Kanaks support independence from France, and most French oppose independence. Political violence in the 1980s led to a 1998 agreement for self-government, and three independence referenda. The first two referenda narrowly rejected independence, while the third was held controversially during Covid and boycotted by the independence movement, leaving the island’s future uncertain.
Another part of the agreement was that new French immigrants to the islands since 1998 would not be able to vote in provincial elections. In 2024 the French parliament voted for legislation to repeal this condition and give local voting rights to all French citizens living at least 10 years in Kanaky–New Caledonia. This sparked widespread protests, many of which turned violent, including roadblocks and riots. France has since sent police and military forces to quell the violence, and the legislation has been paused.
Democracy and Catholic Social Teaching
France’s justification for extending voting rights is very simple: every French citizen is equal, and everyone living in Kanaky–New Caledonia deserves equal voting rights. Catholic social teaching emphasises the human dignity of every person, and our fundamental equality being created in the image of God, and calls for everyone’s participation in decision making. It is clear why we might support the new measure, but we must understand Kanaky–New Caledonia’s history to see why people oppose it.
Indigenous rights and equality
Although they are the largest ethnic group in Kanaky–New Caledonia, Kanaks have a clear fear that immigration from mainland France is being used to erode their democratic voice. France has a history of such actions – in 1986 the French Government redrew electoral districts to prevent Kanaks holding a majority in any district. Since 1986, a pro-independence Kanak representative was not elected until the 2024 election.
French colonisation has severely harmed the Kanak people. Historically they were stripped of their lands and resources, sent to reservations, violently suppressed and their population almost halved due to disease. Today, inequality is rife – Kanak families earn about a quarter of the income of Europeans, and European families own two thirds of the land despite Kanaks being the largest ethnic group. This obviously contravenes Catholic social teaching values of human dignity and distributive justice, and has fuelled much of the conflict and unrest in the islands.
UN experts have heavily criticised France’s recent actions, beginning with its unilateral move to progress electoral reform without consulting Kanak people. The UN experts also reported excessive use of force by France against Kanak protesters, hundreds of arbitrary arrests and more than 500 victims of forced disappearances, as well as failure to protect Kanak civilians from heavily armed militias of settlers. Clearly this does not uphold human dignity.
What is the answer?
It is clearly wrong for indigenous people to be dispossessed of their homelands and subject to economic equality and political disenfranchisement. At the same time, it is not sustainable to treat citizens’ votes unequally. It is hard to know how to solve this problem – and this is for the people of Kanaky–New Caledonia to decide.
What is clear is that violence is not the answer. Only through genuine dialogue and understanding, not forced under armed occupation or at threat of violence, can a solution be found that will accommodate the rights and dignity of all in Kanaky–New Caledonia.