Massive uprising in response to a voting reform which would have allowed many more 'local residents' (non-Indigenous) to vote in local elections. The previous situation limited voting to those who had been residents of the island at least 10 years pre-1998. Effectively, this voting reform was to dilute the Native vote, which is of critical importance. Under the Nouméa Accord of 1998, France promised to grant increased political power to New Caledonia over a twenty-year "transition period". They have held multiple referendum votes on whether to remain a "special collectivity of France" or to become and independent, which have failed to pass in close votes. France has sent many more settlers to New Caledonia since the Nouméa Accord and intends to deny Kanak independence through this voting reform by allowing these fresh settlers voting rights.