People in the French overseas territory of New Caledonia have narrowly rejected independence from France in a referendum. French President Emmanuel Macron was scheduled to make a televised address later Sunday from Paris. "New Caledonia's quite important for Australia, ... Posted 13 Dec December 2020 Sun Sunday 13 Dec December 2020 at 7:00pm, ... More From ABC NEWS. For "no" supporters, breaking ties with the French state is not an option. A volunteer counts ballots in a voting station of Noumea, New Caledonia, October 4, 2020. Otherwise, New Caledonia will remain a French territory — and therefore part of the European Union — with its residents keeping French citizenship. (CNN)— New Caledonia voted against independence from France on Sunday for a second time in two years. Almost 80 per cent of voters had already casted their ballots one hour before poll stations closed, according to the French Ministry of the Overseas. Others come from other Pacific islands or are of mixed heritage. New Caledonia: despite the violence, Vale announces the controversial sale of its nickel plant. If voters choose independence in 2020, an unspecified transition period will open so that the archipelago can get ready for its future status. The Vale nickel plant in New Caledonia, the sale of which arouses the anger of separatists and Kanak chiefdoms, was placed under the protection of the gendarmerie and its employees evacuated Thursday, December 10 due to violent intrusion attempts, a indicated the High Commission of the Republic. How did they react? News. A third referendum can take place by 2022, if requested by a third of the local assembly. A woman casts her ballot in a voting station of Noumea, New Caledonia, Sunday, Oct.4, 2020. The Code Coda expedition was concluded after two weeks at sea. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. France first claimed the islands, home to some 270,000 people, in 1853. While France is one of Europe's hardest-hit countries, with around 32,000 confirmed deaths, New Caledonia has reported no virus-related deaths. If voters choose independence in 2020, ... More from ABC News. (CNN) New Caledonia … All suggestions for corrections of any errors about New Caledonia Economy 2020 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page. More than 180,000 registered voters were asked to answer the question: "Do you want New Caledonia to gain full sovereignty and become independent?". VideoThe year the music stopped, ‘I saved my sister from a sniper’ Video‘I saved my sister from a sniper’, 'You can't be afraid when fishing for sharks', 'I knew my mum was a drinker but we never talked about it', The jailed Indian activist linked to Greta Thunberg, BBC Worklife: The tiny celebration that's good for you, Optimism as Cuba set to test its own Covid vaccine, The hypercar maker who was told to give up his dream. The South Pacific archipelago of New Caledonia voted against independence ... news, top stories and ... on the French South Pacific territory of New Caledonia, in Noumea on October 4, 2020. Fauci wins $1m prize for 'defending science'1, Full-face hot-wax TikTok videos prompt warnings2, Five sentenced to die for hacking blogger to death3, N Korean man caught by South after crossing border4, Winter storm tightens grip in US southern states5, NZ-Australia in citizenship row over terror suspect6, Why are two of the world's richest men battling it out?7, Myanmar army promises new elections amid protests8, Independent commission to investigate Capitol riots9, Spanish rapper in jail after fleeing to university10. New Caledonia has been a French territory for nearly 170 years. © 2021 BBC. A peace deal between rival factions was achieved in 1988. The independence referendum is part of a three-decade decolonisation effort aimed at settling tensions on the archipelago between native Kanaks seeking independence and residents willing to remain in France. The 2020 protests in New Caledonia began 28 October 2020 over a plan to sell a Vale-owned nickel and cobalt mine to a consortium led by Trafigura. The archipelago voted to remain French with 53.26% of votes, according to final results reported by AFP news agency. 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Myanmar army promises new elections amid protests, Spanish rapper in jail after fleeing to university, It is one of the UN's 17 "non-self governing territories". A result, " more balanced than any one envisioned. ‘I saved my sister from a sniper’ Video, Full-face hot-wax TikTok videos prompt warnings, Five sentenced to die for hacking blogger to death, N Korean man caught by South after crossing border, NZ-Australia in citizenship row over terror suspect. New Caledonia, a French overseas archipelago, is one of only a handful of territories to display year-on-year growth in 2020. In a similar vote two years ago, the margin was slightly wider, with 56.7% voting to stay French. French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the result as a "sign of confidence in the republic", adding he also felt "humility" in view of the results. New Caledonia has kept its borders almost completely closed, suspending nearly all flights, with only a few exceptions and a mandatory 14-day quarantine and testing on travellers. The brands podium is unchanged on … The coronavirus pandemic has added an extra wrinkle to the vote. NOUMEA, New Caledonia (AP) — Voters in New Caledonia, a French archipelago in the South Pacific, will choose whether they want independence from France in a … More than 53.2% of voters said they wanted their … Independence activists campaigning for the "yes" vote want all sovereign powers, including justice, police, the military, currency and foreign relations, to be transferred from France to New Caledonia. ... 11 Jan 2021. The nickel mine and plant is known as the Goro mine. THE NEWS SECTION. Several agreements were signed including the 1998 Noumea Accord, which set out a roadmap for greater autonomy for the territory. Road blocks in New Caledonia have been removed after protests and riots over the sale of the Vale nickel plant had cut key roads in the Noumea area for several days. The disruption, which also forced the cancelation of all international flights, prompted the anti-independence parties to organise a weekend march in central Noumea to denounce the violence. The residents of the French overseas territory New Caledonia spoke out against a separation from France on Sunday for the second time after 2018. In Noumea, the capital, large lines of people waited to vote under the hot sun, sometimes for hours. (New Caledonia) operations have been evacuated following a night of protests at and near the site by independence activists in New Caledonia. An independence referendum was held in New Caledonia on 4 October 2020. New Caledonia prepares for the 2020 referendum Photo: provided In the event that a majority of voters chooses the status quo, a third referendum could be held within two years. The cyclone is expected to continue strengthening as it moves close to New Caledonia over the next 24 to 48 hours. | Photo Credit: AP The “no” vote won 53.26% of votes cast votes, a … The referendum also coincides with geopolitical reconfiguration in the Pacific, where China is expanding its influence at the expense of traditional Western players. French Minister of the Overseas Territories Sebastien Lecornu on an official visit to New Caledonia with the French “tricolor” flag in the background, October 24, 2020. EN DIRECT | Déclaration suite au second vote sur l’accession à l’indépendance de la Nouvelle-Calédonie. The Pacific island territory of New Caledonia will again vote on Sunday on whether to become independent of France. The poll was the second to be held under the terms of the Nouméa Accord, following a similar referendum in 2018.. The South Pacific archipelago of New Caledonia has voted against independence from France for the ... News New Caledonia votes against independence from France. It enjoys a large degree of autonomy but depends heavily on France for matters like defence and education and still receives large subsidies from Paris. Text by: RFI Follow . Tropical Cyclone "Uesi" formed on February 9, 2020, about 340 km (210 miles) west of Sanma, Vanuatu as the 4 th named storm of the 2019/20 South Pacific cyclone season. Fauci wins $1m prize for 'defending science', Winter storm tightens grip in US southern states, The year the music stopped. The vote is key to determining the future of the archipelago and its 270,000 inhabitants including both native Kanaks, who once suffered from strict segregation policies, and descendants of European colonisers. For the Mellacois, Louis Le Pensec, "November 4 will remain in the history of New Caledonia as a historic day by the conditions of the smooth conduct of the referendum and the result that follows. " Follow our live coverage for the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic. The Noumea Accord issued by the French Government in 1998 gave additional autonomy to the territory and said it could have, at most, three referenda on its independence from France. Voters were asked if they “want New Caledonia to assume full sovereignty and become … Why are two of the world's richest men battling it out? Read More → 11 Jan 2021. This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. We showed volunteers an anti-vax video. Under this agreement, New Caledonia is allowed up to three referendums on independence. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of New Caledonia Economy 2020 information contained here. Voters in New Caledonia came in large numbers to choose whether the archipelago in the South Pacific should get independence from France and break ties first established in the mid-19th century. Turnout - at 85.6% - was high. Referendums in 2018 and 2020 both rejected independence. The referendum was part of a series of votes agreed two decades ago, following bouts of violence in the 1980s over the issue of independence between the islands' indigenous Kanak people and descendants of European settlers. In the referendum on the archipelago in the South Pacific east of Australia, according to official figures, 53.3 percent of the electorate voted to remain and 46.7 percent were for independence. Protesters reportedly wanted for nickel ore to be processed in New Caledonia and not to be exported. Kanaks represent around 40% of the population, while Europeans, mostly born in the territory, make up about a third. “ Several intrusion attempts took place on the industrial site, classified Seveso. New Caledonia, with a population of about 290,000, is also grappling with the question of decolonisation. New Caledonia’s South Pacific region is also stepping into the debate. New Caledonia has large deposits of nickel, a vital component in manufacturing electronics, and is seen by France as a strategic political and economic asset in the region. 2) The rank that you see is the CIA reported rank, which may have the following issues: The island chain enjoys a large degree of autonomy but depends heavily on France for matters such as defence and education. 12 June 2020 Virtual New Caledonia Groupama Race start 21 June 2020 Sunday 21st June 2020, Take the start of the virtual New Caledonia Groupama Race, On your screens at 18:00 in … AFP - FRED PAYET. Two years ago, 56.4 per cent of voters who participated in a similar referendum chose to keep ties with Paris — 16,000 kilometres and nine times zones away — instead of backing independence. https://t.co/cuacUzABPb. The vote was long-planned and is focused on local issues, but comes at a time when the legacy of colonialism is under new scrutiny globally after protests in recent months against racial injustice inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement in the US. 2 Dec 2020. The overseas ministry said results show 53.3 per cent of the voters who participated in the referendum on Sunday (local time) have chosen to maintain ties with France, while 46.7 per cent supported independence. Read about our approach to external linking. Featured. Read about our approach to external linking. AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), Accusations fly as fleeing Islamic State terror suspect sparks row between Australia and New Zealand, COVID or the flu jab — here's the consensus on which we should get first, Next day 'crucial' for Victoria, but Premier says state on track for scheduled end to lockdown, Bill Gates says nuclear power could be one of the answers to climate change, Boy, 13, hit and killed by bus outside SA high school, Williams beats Halep to set up blockbuster Australian Open semi against Osaka, Australian Open live scores: Novak Djokovic takes on Alexander Zverev. The South Pacific archipelago of New Caledonia has voted against independence from France in a referendum, full provisional results showed. (AP) The vote has been marked by a very high turnout. Both referendums are the final steps of a long process that started 30 years ago after years of violence that pitched pro-independence Kanak activists against those willing to remain with France. It is one of the UN's 17 "non-self governing territories" - where the process of decolonisation has not been completed. Late on Sunday, the estimated turnout had been 79.63 per cent, according to the Office of the High Commissioner of the Republic in New Caledonia. The South Pacific archipelago has been part of France since 1853. Independent commission to investigate Capitol riots. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Some polling stations in Noumea closed an hour late because people were still waiting to vote at the planned closing time. The weekend vote is the second of three possible referenda negotiated between Paris and pro-independence groups in 1998 and comes two years after 56.7 percent of the New Caledonians who voted decided against cutting ties with France in 2018. From more than 10,000 miles (16,000km) away, the French government subsidises the territory with approximately €1.5bn (£1.3bn) every year, the equivalent of more than 15% of New Caledonia… People in the French overseas territory of New Caledonia have narrowly rejected independence from France ... according to final results reported by AFP news … "The plant is currently under the protection of the Gendarmes (military forces) and operations have been halted … The Goro nickel plant in southern New Caledonia, sold on December 9, 2020 by the Brazilian Vale. Pro-independence supporters celebrate the results of the vote in Noumea, New Caledonia, Sunday, Oct.4, 2020. A new report from the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation (KSLOF) provides a promising assessment of the status of coral reefs in New Caledonia. New Caledonia set for 2nd ... French national flags during the last meeting of the loyalists for the 'no' to the self-determination referendum of New Caledonia… Updated 11:30 AM ET, Sun October 4, 2020 A woman casts her vote at a polling station in Nouméa, the capital of New Caledonia, on Sunday. Independence was rejected, with 53.26 percent of voters opposing such a change, a slight drop from the 2018 result in which 56.7 percent voted "no". 4 min US House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi says it will be modelled on the 9/11 attacks inquiry. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Why are global weekly COVID cases falling? Thanks to a very solid December score (+20.8%), new car sales are up 1.9% to 7.909 units. 2 Dec 2020. Photograph: de Theo Rouby / Hans Lucas via AFP. The agreement has stood the test of time, however, and a first referendum was held in 2018 as part of the gradual and irreversible transfer of power from France to New Caledonia. Released today, the …