Anti-independence ads accused of ?profound racism? against indigenous New Caledonians in court action

Cartoons urging New Caledonians to vote no to independence from France in this weekend's referendum have been accused of "profound racism and ridicule towards Pacific Islanders, especially the [indigenous] Kanak people", in a legal submission lodged with France's highest judicial body.

An urgent appeal has been lodged against the broadcast of the animations, which have been running on television in New Caledonia and online, with the Council of State in France.

The cartoon clips are run by Le Voix du Non - a grouping of various anti-independence parties - with themes such as the future of passports, environment, education, health and money under an independent New Caledonia.

They have been accused of portraying non-whites in a degrading and humiliating way, presenting them as having no mastery of French language and with accents "that signify their primitive and uncultivated state," the 12-page legal appeal has alleged.

The appeal from the pro-independence FLNKS, the non-aligned Lets Build party and an individual, Lueisi Waupanga, a member of the Polynesian community, to the Council of State follows unsuccessful calls to the Audiovisual High Council (CSA) to stop the broadcasts.

The legal appeal is signed by four citizens of New Caledonia, including Professor Mathias Chauchat, Professor of Law at the University of New Caledonia. The appeal argues the animations contravene the CSA broadcasting rules, and are racist, degrading and humiliating.

"Is this how you see us after 30 years?" said Waupang in the appeal. "Common growers of yams and manioc, incapable of thinking for ourselves, generally incapable?"