New Caledonia is not yet a state in its own right. The diktats of the DOM-TOM, the Ministry of Overseas Departments and Territories, no longer hold the force they once did. There is a limited amont of regional autonomy. There is a 54-member Congress made up of three provincial assemblies with members from the Loyalty Island Province, the North Province and the South Province including Noumea. The main parties are the right wing RPCR(Rally for Caledonia within the Republic) the left-wing FLNKS (Kanak Socialiste National Liberation Front), Jean-Marie Tjibaou was the founding leader of the FLNKS. In 1998 the Noumea Accord was signed by RPCR, FLNKS and the French state that provided for self-determination in 15 to 20 years time.


AQ (Australian Quarterly) Vol. 78 issue 2 March-April 2006