My take on the future of New Caledonia is not the attitude of the incumbent President, rather, the economic interests of the miners wreaking havok on the Islands.

As a far flung outpost, any French militaristic needs associated with the southern Pacific ended with the demise of nuclear testing.

But, the French and Anglo-French mining companies are doing very nicely from their ventures. I suggest the royalties/taxes they pay to Paris will hold more influence than local aspirations for independence; the threat of anarchy or conflict included.

Cheers

Conversation is a good source of information. You can hardly find this kind of news in the mainstream media. Western powers are allowed to occupy countries thousands of miles away, exploiting their resources, changing their culture and the voices of the natives can hardly be heard across the world. Yet, when other country is trying to develop it economy, building a harmony society, the West will use it resources to operate covertly, stir racial tension, social discontent or simply finance and train some locals to create problem for the host country. There is no love towards the west in most part of the world because of such behavior. Once Western economy been dramatically weaken, there will be more independent movement or break away within the western power themselves. Take note of how America will turn into chaotic once the dollar collapsed and hyperinflation set in. This will happen, hopefully soon. God bless the world.

It's lovely how the world is coming together, rather than endlessly fighting for separation (that's my rant on cosmopolitanism over). But for a more tangible concern, I think discussion on independence and self-determination needs to be deeper than black and white options: independence or colonialism. It is curious that this paradigm still persists amongst those seeking self-determination and amongst those commentating on it, given the unqualified success that independence has been over the past 60 years (that is sarcasm).

I am not advocating against independence, but for a less crude discussion on it. Your article does mention, after all, that the citizens of Nouvelle Caledonie do vote for their President (just like Alsace-Lorraine and Bretagne... and Hawaii?). New Caledonia's history is not so different to Australia's and New Zealand's, yet it is isolated and excluded from multi-lateral engagement in the Pacific. It is continually maligned, but if the French left now, one could argue that the extended presence of the French has given it a much better base for prosperity than its already-independent neighbours. It is developed and offers citizens opportunities and access that its neighbours, due to poverty and lack of industry, cannot. Of course, it is distressingly unequal (its GDP is higher than New Zealand's) and this is something needing to be addressed. Addressed through independence or policy though? Both?

I am interested in the power of the perception of political freedom and how it is so strong that it overawes concerns for quality of life and general happiness. Civil wars in Africa and the Pacific show how strong such perception can be. I say perception, becuase freedom is not all or nothing; none of us are free. 50% of Australians are often subject to governments for which they did not vote. The colonies were joined into a federation - not everyone agreed. The poorer Pacific countries are dominated - subjected even - by foreign capital, and these companies need not assume responsibilities for their 'subjected' peoples (unlike, arguably, colonising governments) (leasehold has seen many indigenous peoples in the Pacific lose access to the sea and gardens, and pushed them into slums, for example). We are all subject to international law and responsibilities. We are encumbered by mouting personal debt.

There are different types of freedom. There are different governance arrangements (federation, for example). I simply propose that this transition of power is done better than in the past. I propose that we look at it as a question of good governance, and strategies to improve the empowerment and situation of the poor and maligned in the country. If the best outcome turns out to be 'independence', then fantastic. But let not power be the object in this discussion. Let the object be the plight of the poor and the sustainability and prosperity of the country.