Page 23 - Zenith2024

| 2) Global Issues | 23

The second referendum in 2020 also
ended in failure, with 47% voting in
favor and 53% against. Despite this,
the second vote garnered about 8,000
more votes for independence compared
to the first, giving hope for the third
referendum.

However, in 2021, the outbreak of
COVID-19 caused significant casualties,
leading indigenous people to request
a postponement of the referendum to
2022. France denied this request and proceeded with the vote. The indigenous people boycotted,
resulting in a final vote of 4% in favor and 96% against independence.
New Caledonia's independence activists claimed the third vote was illegitimate, but it was not
annulled, and three years passed.
In December 2023, France proposed a new law recognizing the voting rights of new settlers after
1998. Indigenous people, fearing increased social and institutional discrimination and the loss of
their dream of independence, protested. On May 15, 2024, France declared a state of emergency,
deployed public security forces, and violent clashes ensued.
The situation in New Caledonia remains complex and tense. The indigenous people continue to
fight for their rights and independence, while France maintains its hold on the territory. The recent
law recognizing the voting rights of new settlers has only deepened the divide, leading to further
unrest and violence. As New Caledonia stands at a crossroads, the path forward is uncertain, with
the struggle for autonomy and self-determination far from resolved. The world watches closely as
this island nation navigates its tumultuous journey towards potential independence.

Kim SoMin (2-8)
alicia070312@naver.com