“The separatist parties are not at all in an insurrectionary strategy”

A referendum is to be held in December on the independence of New Caledonia, the separatists do not want to participate in the ballot, citing the Covid-19 epidemic. How to envisage the holding of the consultation? “The consultation is extremely badly started in this context since a third referendum of self-determination in which the colonized people would not take part would have enormous problem to be recognized at the international level”, explains Benoît Trépied, anthropologist and researcher at the CNRS, specialist from New Caledonia, guest of the 23 Hours of franceinfo, Friday 13 November.

Is there a precedent? “The last time there was a referendum under these conditions, where the Kanaks did not go to vote, was in 1987. It was the first step in a situation which degenerated until the famous Ouvéa cave affair “, specifies the anthropologist. Should we fear unfortunate events? “The separatist parties are not at all in an insurrectionary strategy as it could have been the case in the 1980s. They did not call for any demonstration. There are people who can despite everything go and create unrest,” concludes Benoît Tripod.