New Caledonia's largest pro-independence party said it will not give up on the gains made in terms of decolonisation from France under the 1998 Noumea Accord.
The president of Union Calédonienne, Daniel Goa, made the statement in an address at the party congress in the north of the main island earlier this month, outlining its key points ahead of negotiations with Paris about the territory's institutional future.
Last December, just over 96 percent voted against independence from France in the third and last referendum provided under the Noumea Accord.
However, the plebiscite was boycotted by the pro-independence side after it had unsuccessfully asked Paris to postpone the vote because of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on mainly the indigenous Kanak population.
Joining me is RNZ Pacific senior journalist Walter Zweifel kia ora Walter tell us more about this position UC and by extension the FLNKS are maintaining.
FLNKS supporters wave the Kanak flag of New Caledonia on the night of the second independence referendum in October 2020. Photo: AFP or licensors
