- New Caledonia - . A French overseas territory in the Pacific, New Caledonia has seen deep divisions between its indigenous and European populations, notably over the thorny question of independence. . Named by the British explorer Captain James Cook, who spotted similarities with the Scottish highlands, the territory was annexed by France in 1853 and became a destination for thousands of French convicts. . But as the European population burgeoned, tensions - often over the loss of land - rose between the incomers and the indigenous Melanesians, known as Kanaks. A Kanak revolt in 1878 claimed more than 1,000 lives and heralded further repression by the French rulers. . Pro-independence kanaks stand guard in a village in New Caledonia Tension between the authorities and the pro-independence movement came to a head in 1988 Kanaks represent about 45% of the population. Europeans, most of them born in the territory, account for about a third of the inhabitants. . The signing of the 1988 Matignon Accord marked a reconciliation between the Kanak and European communities. It proposed an end to direct rule from Paris and a vote on independence, to be held in 1998. . It also set out to tackle the economic imbalance between the wealthier - and mainly European - southern province and the rest of the territory. . Cultural Center Tjibaou in New Caledonias capital, Noumea Cultural Center Tjibaou in Noumea, capital of New Caledonia However, the planned referendum was postponed until the 2014-19 time period under the 1998 Noumea Accord, which also gave New Caledonia greater autonomy and created New Caledonian citizenship. . In 2006 the French parliament voted to restrict the voting rights of French citizens in the territory. The move, which means only long-standing residents can vote in territorial elections, had long been sought by the Kanak community. . In 2010, the New Caledonian Congress voted to adopt a second flag, the Kanak flag, to be flown alongside the French tricolour, despite continued opposition. . It is currently planned that the independence referendum will be in 2018. . The archipelago, which lies around 2,000 km from Sydney, Australia, has around a quarter of the worlds nickel deposits. The industry boomed in the 1960s, but is a hostage to price fluctuations. . Nevertheless, New Caledonia enjoys one of the regions highest average incomes per capita. . The main island, Grande Terre, is ringed by a coral reef. Mountains divide the verdant east from a drier west. The territory boasts abundant plant and animal life. Colonial buildings and fine beaches contrast with the infrastructure of the nickel industry. Marie.
Posted on: Mon, 06 Oct 2014 19:49:58 +0000
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