18 Nov 2020

Caledonian Union stops dialogue with France over Vale sale plan

5:21 pm on 18 November 2020

New Caledonia's main pro-independence party says it won't hold talks with France about the territory's institutional future until Paris takes concrete steps towards New Caledonia's decolonisation.

Daniel Goa addesses Caledonian Union

Daniel Goa addesses Caledonian Union Photo: FB Union caledonienne

In an open letter, the president of the Caledonian Union said he told the visiting French overseas minister Sebastien Lecornu last month how important it was to find a solution to the planned sale of the Brazilian-owned Vale nickel plant.

Daniel Goa said the minister didn't take on board the Kanaks' proposals but fell into the old habit of considering the Kanaks' word as a negligible quantity.

He said Lecornu failed to understand that the Kanaks would yield nothing, insisting the plant become New Caledonian to the benefit of all residents.

Vale is in sales negotiations with a new consortium, Prony Resources, which Goa described as a deadly proposal allied to interests within the provincial and territorial governments and the colonial French state.

The plan triggered territory-wide demonstrations in support of a bid by Sofinor of the Northern Province.

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