In 2013 the Kanak Socialist National Liberation, (FLNKS),
will be host a number of major events that will bring together the people of
Melanesia under the banner of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).
When MSG, will celebrate its 25th Anniversary next
year, New Caledonia (NC) will host the first Melanesia Games and the 19th
MSG Leaders Summit.
The FLNKS which is the Pro-Independence movement of NC is a
full member of the MSG since the informal meeting of the Head of the Governments
of Melanesia in 1986. It has the same
rights and responsibilities as the 4 other sovereign countries, Vanuatu,
Solomon Islands, Fiji and Papua New-Guinea.
The founding Leaders of Melanesia signed the “Agreed
Principles of Cooperation Among the Independent States of Melanesia”, on the 14th
of March 1988 in Port-Vila, Vanuatu formally establishing the Melanesian
Spearhead Group (MSG).
Peter Forau, Director General of the MSG secretariat said,
“25 years is a long time and we must remain committed to the cause, reinforce
our engagement with the FLNKS and today the expansion of the MSG Trade Agreement
and really important, the unity of the MSG.”
The Prime Minister of Fiji,
Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama and current MSG Chairman is scheduled to visit NC next
July as the Head of the second MSG Ministerial Mission to monitor the
implementation of the Noumea Accord and to ensure that the Accord respects the will of the Kanak
people. He also decided, before handing over the MSG Chair to the FLNKS in
2013, to visit every MSG Capitals. Earlier this year he visited Port Vila.
After the announcement of this visit in NC, two Pro-France
political parties “Caledonie Ensemble”(CE)
and “Le Mouvement dans la Diversite”
(LMD) in a press conference
stated that “they are strongly against Bainimarama’s visit in view of the present
situation in Fiji and will write to the French Government to voice their
concerns at the highest level in Paris.”
Victor Tutugoro, FLNKS representative on MSG issues said,
“those two political parties do not represent the majority of NC.”
For the FLNKS,
“Fiji is in the process of restoring
democracy and good governance and should
lead the country back to general elections in 2014.This is much less
known by these two political parties cause they only focus on what Australia
and New-Zealand says about Fiji” Tutugoro said.
He said that, “the FLNKS is working with the
government of NC , the Foreign Affairs of France through the French High
Commissioner in Noumea and the French
embassy in Fiji to prepare this ministerial visit. The FLNKS is waiting for
their answers.
But “if there’s any problem linked to the
presence of the MSG chairman in NC we will know where it comes from. However, France has never ceased its
diplomatic relations with Fiji.” Tutugoro said.
The Noumea Accord was signed among France, the Pro-France
party and the FLNKS in 1998 then approved by 72% of the population of
New-Caledonia. The Noumea Accord provides for the progressive transfer of power
to NC from France in an irreversible process.
A referendum on self-determination is scheduled to be held between 2014
and 2018.
Magalie TINGAL
Suva, April 2012
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