There has been a rebuke in New Caledonia of last week's cross-party statement acknowledging the gains made during the 30 years of the Matignon Accords and the Noumea Accord.
Edouard Philippe Photo: AFP
The statement was made and signed by the remaining seven members of a group formed at the behest of the French prime minister Edouard Philippe to look at New Caledonia's future after the November independence referendum.
One of the anti-independence parties to quit the group of ten leaders has described the document as a farce, saying it reflects only the views of those who signed it.
The Rassemblement secretary general Virginie Ruffenach has told the public broadcaster that there is nothing collegial about the collegial government, which is made up of the parties represented in Congress.
She also said the document revels in talking about citizenship based on a Caledonian identity while excluding 30,000 people who have lived in New Caledonia for a long time.
Another politician who quit the group Sonia Backes said the document is hollow and tepid because it omitted the degraded economy.
The seven leaders to sign the document said the two key accords of the past 30 years have allowed New Caledonia to turn the page of violence to one of peace and prosperity.
