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WORLD NEWS Saturday 3 November 2018

New Caledonia in Pacific to vote on independence from France

By SYLVIE CORBET tions that laid the ground
Associated Press for the referendum.
PARIS (AP) — New Caledo- Visiting the territory in May,
nia, a French archipelago in French President Emmanu-
the South Pacific, is prepar- el Macron acknowledged
ing for an independence the “pain of colonization”
referendum — the last step and paid tribute to the
in a three-decades-long courage of those involved
decolonization effort. in the peace process.
Sunday’s vote is key to set- He also handed the Cale-
tling tensions between the donian government a
native Kanaks, who once document that stated the
suffered from strict segre- archipelago became a
gation policies, and de- French possession in 1853 —
scendants of European col- a gesture intended to sym-
onizers. It is also a test of the bolize the final chapter in
depth of the links between the period of colonization.
France and the territory, “We are no longer in a time
which lies east of Australia of possession, but a time of
and has about 270,000 in- choice”, he said.
habitants. Under French colonial rule,
Voters have to answer the the Kanaks were forced to
question “Do you want live on reserves in remote
New Caledonia to gain full This Monday, May 9, 2018 file photo shows a general view of the bay of Noumea, the capital of areas, pay specific taxes
sovereignty and become New Caledonia with the yachting port in the background. and do mandatory work
independent?” Observers Associated Press for very low wages. They
say that, based on past ucation. died after they took French Merle said. “This is the first had to respect curfews
electoral results and polls, The referendum is the result police hostage in a cave time a carefully thought- and were not allowed into
voters are likely to back re- of a process that started on the New Caledonian is- through peaceful decolo- some places reserved for
maining in France. 30 years ago after years of land of Ouvea. Four soldiers nization process has been European settlers.
The territory enjoys a large violence that pitched pro- were also killed. considered,” she said. Merle, whose researches
degree of autonomy, but independence Kanak ac- The violence represented a The Ouvea events prompt- focus on France’s decolo-
relies on the French state tivists against those willing “tremendous shock” and a ed a peace deal that year nization process, said this
for its defense, police, for- to remain in France. “key moment” for France, between rival loyalist and led to “a big gap between
eign affairs, justice and ed- In 1988, 19 Kanak tribesmen French historian Isabelle pro-independence fac- the local communities.”q

2 stabbed in fight at Sony Music’s London HQ; both arrested

Associated Press sent to Derry St. in Kensing- Simon Neville, who works
LONDON (AP) — Two men ton at about 11 a.m. amid for the Mail on Sunday
were stabbed Friday when reports of a stabbing, and newspaper just across the
a fight erupted between the building was evacu- street, said he saw work-
kitchen staff at the London ated as a precaution, the ers running from the build-
headquarters of Sony Mu- Metropolitan Police force ing and a man in a red
sic. said. It said the incident jacket being tackled to the
Police said two men suf- was not being treated as ground.
fering from stab wounds terrorism and no guns were Sony Music said “two mem-
were arrested on suspicion involved. Photos showed a bers of the catering team
of causing grievous bodily large number of police cars were involved in a violent
harm. Police said the inju- and ambulances in front of altercation. The incident
ries are not life-threatening. the building in an upscale is now in the hands of the Police officers and security watch as people re-enter a building
Armed police officers were London neighborhood. Metropolitan Police.” q after a stabbing incident in central London, Friday, Nov. 2, 2018.
Associated Press