Hello everyone,

The APROFED association comes back to you on this commemorative date of June 18 relating to the appeal of General de Gaulle during the Second ^World War (1940) aimed at calling on the French to resist the oppressor and to continue the fight rather than capitulate.

In this regard, the association is sharing with you below the appeal from one of our members to our brothers in the Pacific to remind them of the current situation in New Caledonia and so that they do not forget us.

Call to our brothers in the Pacific Noumea, June 18 , 2025

The voices of freedom are not silenced, even in the face of headwinds. Today, New Caledonia is going through a grave ordeal. Its people, in their diversity, their dignity, their will to exist fully, are confronted with the inaction of a distant central power, deaf to the deep aspirations of this island territory.

For decades, our archipelago has patiently built the foundations of its emancipation, with respect, dialogue, and peace. But today, these foundations are threatened by the stubbornness of a state that refuses to listen, refuses to see, and imposes, without regard for the will expressed by a growing portion of our population.

We don’t want a brutal break. We don’t want chaos. But we can no longer accept silent injustice, the freezing of our future, the disregard for our right to decide for ourselves.

Therefore, on this solemn day, I call upon the sister nations of our region—to Australia, to New Zealand, to the peoples of the Pacific:

Hear our call. Observe our struggle. Support our approach. Because what’s at stake here is not just the future of a territory, but also the future of respect for peoples, the right to self-determination, and stability in our region.

We ask for your diplomatic vigilance. We request your moral solidarity. We hope, if necessary, for your physical, peaceful, and fraternal presence.

New Caledonia does not want to be a neglected piece on the chessboard of a centralized Republic. It wants to be a free, equal, and upright partner among the nations of the Pacific.

We know the road is difficult. We know the interests at stake are numerous. But we also know that nothing great has been achieved without courage, without faith, without support.

So, in the name of our land, our people, and our future, we launch this appeal for help and solidarity. May the voice of Oceanians respond to that of Caledonians. May hope prevail over resignation.

Long live free and dignified Kanaky New Caledonia,
Long live the brotherhood of the Pacific.

The association also takes this opportunity to recall, in the event of a further failure of the upcoming negotiations in Paris, the proposal made by the AI ​​presented in our article of May 1, 2025 (see AI Solutions in case of disagreement – APROFED ) aimed at creating a “Caledonian forum for the future”, a sort of citizens’ convention, where it would be up to civil society to express itself on its future, or even to write its own agreement given the failure of our political representatives at all levels.

The association also proposes to reflect now on the basis of its article of January 20, 2025 on democracy (see Representative democracy is dead, make way for direct or semi-direct democracy – APROFED ) on a possible change of democracy during the next vote in the provincial elections to be held at the end of this year 2025 in order to campaign for a single idea consisting of electing representatives from civil society directly by drawing lots for the provincial elections in 2025, then for the municipal elections in 2026, as at the origin of Athenian democracy and as is done to appoint jurors in the courts, returning to the foundations of Rousseau, at the time of the Enlightenment, namely that sovereignty should be popular and not national.

To this end, you will find below a proposal to this effect:

Citizens’ proposal: For a fairer local democracy

What we offer

We, citizens, convinced of the need to renew local democracy, want to experiment with a new way of doing politics at the provincial and municipal level : by appointing ordinary citizens by drawing lots to sit in place of the current elected representatives in the provincial and municipal councils.

Our goal is to introduce more diverse, inclusive and disinterested representation , in place of traditional elective representation.

Why this change?

Because :

• • Current democracy does not represent the diversity of citizens well.

• • Many people do not recognize themselves in the elected officials.

• • The draw would allow people on the ground , without political ambition, to participate in decisions that concern them.

Concretely, how would it work?

• • This system could be tested at the provincial and municipal levels.

• • The councilors would be drawn by lot from among the adult citizens who are native-born, volunteers and registered on the provincial and municipal electoral lists. Representatively elected representatives during the previous term will not be eligible for re-election if they were randomly selected.

• • A call for volunteers is launched. In the event of underrepresentation of certain groups (women, young people, working-class backgrounds, etc.), a statistical adjustment is possible.

• • Selected citizens may refuse without justification .

• • They sign an ethics charter , committing to impartiality, transparency and confidentiality.

• • The process ensures transparency, neutrality and fairness.

• • The draw is carried out publicly, under the control of an independent authority .
  • The population would continue to go to the polls, not to elect a representative or a platform, but to determine the objectives and actions to be implemented during the term. A limit of three objectives and/or actions would be set per voter. The administration will then be responsible for compiling all of this data and thus defining priorities for the newly elected representatives drawn by lot during their training period.

• • Citizens drawn by lot:

• • • would be trained to understand their role,

• • • would have the right to vote in decisions,

• • • would be compensated like elected officials,

• • • would benefit from legal and administrative support.

For how long?

• • The experiment would last 5 to 6 years, depending on the term.

• • Citizens drawn by lot sit for a non-renewable term immediately.

• • At the end, an assessment would be made to decide whether this system can be extended to other institutions and communities.

• • An independent evaluation committee (researchers, magistrates, and randomly selected citizens) will be established. It will submit an annual report and a final assessment to Parliament and the public. This assessment could serve as a basis for generalizing or adapting the system.

What we ask for

We ask you, citizens:

• • To support this proposal ,

• • To share it , and to talk about it around you in view of the next elections for a possible concretization in 2025-2026.

A more vibrant democracy is possible.

Let us bring new, sincere voices , close to everyday life, into our institutions.

This proposal embodies a renewed democracy, built on the foundations of ordinary citizens. By introducing random selection at the provincial and municipal levels, we can test and build together institutions that are more representative, fairer, and closer to the realities on the ground.

We wish you a pleasant read and remind you that federalism is the only solution to reconcile unity in diversity.

The APROFED association