New Caledonia, the Face of Western Colonialism in the Pacific
The US, UK and France control a region of the Pacific that the UN considers incapable of self-governance.
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French military police panzers in one corner of Paita, New Caledonia, on May 19, 2024.
Riots over voting rights regulations have brought New Caledonia back to attention. Some Earthlings are realizing that there are still areas of the Pacific that are controlled by Western nations. The United States and England also have territories in the Pacific.
After two weeks, the New Caledonia riots have not stopped. Saturday (25/5/2024), a native of New Caledonia was shot dead by police sent there by France. The shooting occurred hours after French President Emmanuel Macron left Noumea, the capital of New Caledonia.
Also read: Australia and New Zealand Evacuate Citizens from New Caledonia
Through a video broadcasted on social media on Sunday, Christian Tein urged the people of New Caledonia to continue their resistance. Tein is a figure of Kanak independence, the indigenous tribe of New Caledonia.
"We are lifting the roadblocks around Noumea for the delivery of food, fuel, and medicine in the north and south of the island. However, the obstruction continues until the French government releases Kanak activists from house arrest. We will continue to fight. Our goal is to achieve full independence for our country," he said.
French officers stand guard in Noumea, New Caledonia, on May 18, 2024.
New Caledonia is one of six Pacific territories still controlled by Western nations. This control is a legacy of the era colonization before World War II.
Other regions
German media, Deutsche Welle (DW), once again discussed the six regions in their report last Friday, which deals with colonialism in the Pacific. DW's attention is focused on regions that are recognized by the United Nations as not having independent governance. These regions are controlled by the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and New Zealand.
Also read: New Caledonia, Source of Nickel and Spearhead of French Ambitions in the Pacific
Apart from New Caledonia, France also controls French Polynesia. Meanwhile New Zealand controls Tokelau. The British controlled Pitcairn Island.
While the United States controls Guam and American Samoa. Apart from that, the US also controls the Northern Mariana Islands. Washington has controlled the islands since 1986.
Vanuatu's Prime Minister, Bob Loughman Weibur (third from the right), and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (third from the left), witnessed the signing of a bilateral agreement in Port Vila on June 1, 2022.
The value of that region is increasingly rising amidst geopolitical competition. China's presence in the South Pacific is the reason why the US, its allies and partners are trying to draw the attention of South Pacific nations once again.
After China reached an agreement with Vanuatu, France is worried that New Caledonia may also be targeted. Moreover, New Caledonia also has important nickel resources for the electric car industry.
Also read: Mining Shares Soar After Riots in New Caledonia
New Caledonia, with a population of 270,000, is estimated to have 20 percent of the world's nickel reserves. Currently, the Kanak tribe only accounts for 40 percent of the entire population. Many French people come and work in New Caledonia, while the Kanak people struggle to live and work in France.
Tourist center
Paris also controls French Polynesia. In the past, the area was used as a testing ground for French nuclear weapons. The region also has world-class tourist attractions, Bora-bora and Papette. For some people, the name Tahiti is better known than French Polynesia.
Kauli Vaast became the winner of the Tahitian Surfer trial, August 19 2019.
The pro-independence group, Tavini Huiraatira, won seats in the French Polynesia Parliament in 2023. With a total area of 3,520 square kilometers and 120 islands, French Polynesia is home to almost 300,000 people. Unlike New Caledonia, the native population of French Polynesia is the majority.
The islands located more than 17,000 kilometers from Paris not only grapple with colonialism issues but also face the impacts of climate change. The rise in sea level threatens the islands in French Polynesia.
Also read: Tonga, a small country home to "giants"
A similar threat is faced by the Pitcairn Islands, controlled by Britain. In 2021, only 47 people live there. They are said to be descendants of the crew of the HMS Bounty who rebelled against Captain William Bligh in 1790.
This region is located 5,519 kilometers from New Zealand and 2,170 kilometers from Tahiti, French Polynesia. The Pitcairn Islands consist of Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno islands. The total area of the island territory is 47 square kilometers, with only Pitcairn Island being inhabited.
Koa Rothman from Hawaii rides in the tube. Photo taken from underwater in Teahupoo, Tahiti, on August 15, 2019.
This area is one of the most isolated regions in the world, like the island of Santa Helena in the Pacific Ocean. Daily needs in the Pitcairn Islands are supplied from New Zealand via sea.
Military base
Meanwhile, the United States has made Guam one of its bases in the Pacific. Guam was originally inhabited by the Chamorros people, who are similar to the inhabitants of the Philippines, Taiwan, and parts of Indonesia. In 2023, there will be 172,000 Chamorros living in Guam.
Also read: North Korea Tests Missiles within Range of US Base in Guam
The United States has bases in Santa Rita, Yigo, and Kwajalein. Santa Rita serves as a naval base, Yigo is used as an air base, while Kwajalein is a national guard post. The total area of Guam is slightly smaller than DKI Jakarta.
The US also controls American Samoa, with its capital in Pago Pago. There are two Samoas in the Pacific, namely American Samoa and Samoa. The territory of American Samoa is almost twice the size of Jakarta.
As reported by the Associated Press news agency, Typhoon Mawar that hit Guam is the strongest typhoon to hit the island in over two decades.
Renowned author Robert Louis Stevenson, one of the critics of the US occupation in Samoa, was buried there. Germany, England, and France were also criticized by the author in the 19th century.
The author of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was friends with King Kalakua of Hawaii. Later on, Hawaii also came under US rule. The difference is that Hawaii became a state, whereas American Samoa did not receive such status.
Also read: Portrait of Guam after being hit by Typhoon Mawar
Now, Pago-pago has become the fourth largest tuna processing center in the world. The majority of the native inhabitants of American Samoa, the Polynesians, are in the United States. There are only about 45,000 Samoans in American Samoa, while there are 240,000 in the US. They are citizens, though not residents, of the United States. Therefore, American Samoans do not have the right to vote in US elections.
Polynesians also reside in Tokelau, located north of Samoa. The Tokelau Islands consist of Fakaofo, Nukunonu, and Atafu, with a total area of 10 square kilometers. The region is only inhabited by 1,500 people.
High waves from Typhoon Mawar hit Ipan Beach in Talofofo, Guam, Wednesday (24/5/2023).
Like Guam and Samoa, Tokelau was once under US rule until half a century ago. Recently, the US handed over Tokelau to New Zealand and it remains under its governance till today.
In 2006, there was a referendum on the management of the area. As a result, the people of Tokelau still wanted to be controlled by New Zealand. (AP/REUTERS)
