More Wallisians leave for New Caledonia



Wallis and Futuna, the third and smallest of French Pacific possessions, has published the findings of a 2003 census that show the territory continues to suffer a heavy drain of its Polynesian population to mainly New Caledonia, where there are bouts of violent communal friction between Wallisians and indigenous Kanaks. There are an estimated 20,000 Wallisians present in New Caledonia and only 15,000 in Wallis. In 2001, tension between the two communities at a village near Noumea caused violence, several deaths and eventually the evacuation of 170 Wallisian families under armed guard to a location in Noumea.


Repair rift

New Caledonia, with France, hopes to repair a rift caused in 1980 when Vanuatu's progression to independence from joint French and British rule was impeded by an unsuccessful secessionist rebellion by French settlers that the French high commission in Port Vila covertly supported. Vanuatu subsequently deported many Francophone settlers and some of their indigenous supporters.

At talks in Noumea in March between officials from New Caledonia and France and a delegation led by Vanuatu's deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Sato Kilman, it was agreed to renew a three-year co-operation pact signed in 2002, with plans for future assistance for Vanuatu.

This is to be decided after a mission to Vanuatu by a fact-finding team from New Caledonia.
The Noumea talks didn't touch on counter claims that began 20 years ago for the uninhabited islands of Matthew and Hunter that lie between the two countries.

The only real value of the islands is that they can be used to expand the areas of the claimants' 200-mile exclusive economic zones. The argument is being dealt with at government-to-government level that excluded the New Caledonia territorial government.


Lafleur protests

Accompanied by about 40 supporters, Jacques Lafleur, former leader of the anti-independence RPCR party and one of New Caledonia's wealthiest businessmen, held a protest demonstration outside the French high commission office in Noumea.

He claimed that a police investigation into property dealings was really aimed at him. Police said the investigation was focused on the building, sale and purchase of flats in one of Noumea's upmarket suburbs and a possible conflict of interest involving an RPCR supporter.

At the time of the deal, a member of RPCR controlled the Southern provincial government. The matter is in the hands of an investigating judge.


Samoa/NZ talks

Joint ministerial consultations were held in Apia in March between a New Zealand delegation, led by the foreign minister Phil Goff, and Samoa prime minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and his cabinet, as an extension of other contacts. Both sides agreed the meeting, the first of its kind, was a milestone in relations between Samoa and its former ruler. Trade, aid and immigration subjects were discussed. An agreement was reached on the opening of New Zealand to a wide range of Samoan agricultural exports and arrangements for the recruitment of Samoans to work in labour short New Zealand. Next year's consultation will be held in New Zealand.


Vivian's premier once again

Niue's premier, Young Vivian, was one of seven parliamentarians who in an April general election kept their seats uncontested. Toke Talagi was less lucky, missing out by a single vote. Then he got lucky. A recount placed him equal with a candidate who had won the first count and the matter was settled by the drawing of a name from a hat: Toke Talagi.


Anti-royalist Edwards now an MP

Former Tonga cabinet minister Clive Edwards was a surprise victor for the new Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) in the May by-election for the two commoner seats vacated by Human Rights and Democracy Movement (HRDM) supporters appointed to the cabinet. Even the PDP said it had not expected him to win a seat occupied by Dr Fred Sevele. The by-election reduced HRDM numbers to seven of the nine commoner seats.


Tavola's group reviews RAMSI

An eminent persons group from the Pacific Islands Forum arrived in the Solomon Islands May 9 to spend two weeks reviewing the work of RAMSI. It was led by Fiji's foreign minister, Kaliopate Tavola, accompanied by Samoa's Ombudsman, Iulai Toma, and the Forum's secretary-general, Greg Urwin.


Sisilo's Pacific rep to WTO

The Solomon Islands ambassador to the European Union, Robert Sisilo, resigned in April to become the permanent representative for the Pacific Islands Forum countries to the World Trade Organisation in Geneva.


Dinger US ambassador?

Larry Dinger, a career officer with the United States' State department and a former officer with the US embassy in Fiji, has been nominated for consideration by the US Senate to succeed David Lyons as US ambassador to Fiji, Tonga, Tuvalu, Kiribati and Nauru.