Max Hufanen Rai, Permanent Representative and Ambassador of Papua New Guinea to the United Nations yesterday pleaded in New York for a postponement of the third referendum “to an appropriate time when the situation improves.” A request on behalf of the Melanesian Spearhead group.
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He spoke on behalf of the Melanesian Spearhead group, of which the FLNKS is a part. Max Hufanen Rai, Permanent Representative and Ambassador of Papua New Guinea to the United Nations yesterday called in New York to the chair of the Special Political Affairs Committee about the third consultation scheduled for December 12.
Presenting at length the current health situation and judging that the social environment is not “auspicious”, he asked “With respect to France, as the administering power of New Caledonia to consider postponing New Caledonia’s third self-determination referendum to an appropriate time, when the situation improves.”
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Raise serious questions about credibility and completeness of results
According to him “Failure to do so could have serious consequences on the meaningful participation of eligible voters in the referendum process, and in particular on vulnerable communities who already suffer disproportionately from the Covid-19 pandemic. It could also raise serious questions about the credibility and completeness of the referendum results. This must be avoided. “
He also took the opportunity to suggest sending another United Nations visiting mission to New Caledonia. “to examine the situation of the territory in the context of the self-determination process.”
New Caledonia has been on the United Nations list of countries to be decolonized since December 2, 1986.
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