New Caledonia
Island group in the S Pacific, a French overseas territory between
Australia and the Fiji Islands
Area:
18,576 sq km/7,170 sq mi
Capital:
Nouméa
Physical:
Fertile, surrounded by a barrier reef
Industries:
Nickel (the world's third- largest producer), chrome, iron
Currency:
CFP franc
Population:
(1989) 164,200 (45% Kanak (Melanesian), 33% European, 7% Wallisian,
5% Vietnamese and Indonesian, 3% Polynesian)
Language:
French (official)
Religion:
Roman Catholic 60%, Protestant 30%
History:
New Caledonia was visited by Captain Cook 1774 and became French 1853.
It has been a French Overseas Territory since 1958. A general
strike to gain local control of nickel mines 1974 was defeated.
In 1981 the French socialist government promised moves towards
independence. The 1985 elections resulted in control of most regions
by Kanaks, but not the majority of seats. In 1986 the French conservative
government reversed the reforms. The Kanaks boycotted a referendum
Sept 1987 and a majority were in favour of remaining a French
dependency. In 1988 New Caledonia was divided into three autonomous
provinces. In 1989 the leader of the Socialist National Liberation
front (the most prominent separatist group), Jean-Marie Tjibaou,
was murdered. A referendum on full independence is scheduled for
1998. The French high commissioner is Didier Cultiaux.
|
