The Oceanian Awakening, a pivotal formation on the Caledonian political scene, took a position Friday for a
"no, not now"
, in view of the referendum on independence of December 12 but will not campaign because of the health context and of the non-participation of the separatists, announced its leaders.
Read also The future of New Caledonia will be played out on December 12
"We say
" not now "(at independence, editor's note)
because we do not currently have the capacity to assume our sovereignties"
, declared Milakulo Tukumuli, president of Oceanian Awakening at a press conference (EO) and elected territorial. He cited in support the health crisis of Covid-19 which led New Caledonia to contract a first loan of 240 million euros in 2020, then to request another of 208 million, while it has benefited from 125 million euros in subsidies, 400,000 doses of vaccine and help from the mainland health reserve.
The EO, emanating from the large Wallisian and Futunian community of Caillou, deemed any campaign
"impossible"
, due to the health context and the decision of the Kanak separatists not to participate in the vote, citing the violence of the epidemic , which has killed 272 people since the beginning of September.
“This election will not be legally contestable but it will be political nonsense.
Its result cannot be taken into account for the rest of the process ”
, estimated Milakulo Tukumuli whose party, with three elected out of 54 in Congress (deliberative assembly), has the capacity to shift the majorities into the loyalist or independence camp. .
To read also "Referendum in New Caledonia: once again, the perilous unknown of the day after"
Beyond the referendum - which is the third and last of the Nouméa Accord (1998) - the Oceanian Awakening affirmed that
"the important thing is the day after"
:
"France, which is a big brother , must review its relations with New Caledonia, in a pragmatic approach
, ”he advocated. In June in Paris, the Caledonian actors had decided with the State that after December 12 would open
“a period of stability and convergence”
before a
“project referendum”
by June 2023.
“We encourage the separatists to come to the table of discussions because nothing in this country will be able to be done without them
, moreover urged the leaders of the EO.
Two previous referendums took place on November 4, 2018 and October 4, 2020 and were won by the pro-France with 56.7% and then 53.3% of the votes.
