Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I want to talk about the staunch, powerful Kanak peoples who continue to resist French colonial occupation to assert their sovereignty and right to self-determination and independence. The Kanak people are the First Peoples of so-called New Caledonia. France has been denying the Kanak peoples their right to self-determination, sending in the military, who have killed human rights defenders, arrested thousands and arbitrarily detained others in France, thousands of kilometres from their homeland.

Last month, I had the honour of meeting Kanak Great Chief Sinewami, a king of the Kanak peoples and a real sovereign king, who shared stories of his people's struggle for liberation against colonial violence. And this morning I met with First Peoples leaders from across the Pacific, including Viro Xulue, Kanak chief and United Nations human rights and Indigenous rights representative. He told me how the UN Human Rights Council recently called on France to uphold the Noumea Accord, which sets out a process for decolonisation and upholds the Kanak people's right to self-determination. These calls have been supported by four UN special rapporteurs, yet the colonial government in this country has been silent. He said that France must respect the recommendations from the UN report and special rapporteurs and must uphold their obligations under the Noumea Accord.

To Viro and my brothers and sisters of Kanaky, I send you strength and solidarity in your ongoing resistance and struggle. I stand with you and for the liberation of all First Peoples across the Pacific and the world. (Time expired)