French police reinforcements began arriving in New Caledonia on Friday in a massive push to regain control of the capital, the top French official in the Pacific Island territory said, after rioting in which four people were killed and hundreds arrested.
Rioting broke out over a new bill, adopted by lawmakers in Paris on May 14th, that will let French residents who have lived in New Caledonia for 10 years vote in provincial elections—a move some local leaders fear will dilute the Kanak vote. Parliament members voted overwhelmingly in favour of the new law by a vote of 351—153. The French government argues that this move “supports democracy” in the group of islands.
Violence has been burning the French Pacific territory this, forcing France to impose a state of emergency and dispatch extra security forces to quell unrest in the archipelago which has long independence.
France declared a state of emergency on the Pacific Island of New Caledonia on Wednesday, 15th May, after three young indigenous ‘Kanak’ and a police official were killed in riots over electoral reform.
President Emmanuel Macron’s office said a state of emergency would be declared in the French Pacific territory after violent protests erupted over the passage of a constitutional reform that angered pro-independence forces. The announcement came hours after President Emmanuel Macron’s office said a state of emergency would be declared in territory after a cabinet meeting in Paris.
After three nights of upheaval, Thursday night was relatively quiet and calm, France’s High Commissioner Louis Le Franc said, although he added standoffs continued in parts of the capital city Noumea.
French Police reinforcements began arriving in New Caledonia of Friday in massive push to regain control of the capital, the top French official in the Pacific Island territory said, after rioting in which four people were killed and hundreds arrested.
The island is now relatively unruffled but there were still points of confrontations and concerns in Noumea. The number of police and para-military police officials on the island will rise to 2700 from 1700 by Friday evening.
Pro-independence groups including the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS), which includes multiple political parties, want the creation of a new nation that supporters call “Kanaky”.
Gabriel Attal, the French Prime Minister, announced a ban on TikTok, citing its use by rioters. It is found fewer than 20 accounts on the platform that were connected to the unrest.
This is the worst violence New Caledonia has seen in 30 years, observers say. The most violent conflict in New Caledonia since the 1980s has resulted in burnt debris, rocks, and cement lying on the streets after four days of unrest along with armoured vehicles patrolling normally tourist-filled palm-lined streets as France declared a state of Emergency in hopes to control the situation. Fearful residents have constructed makeshift roadblocks from various materials.
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Leaders from nearby Pacific countries have expressed their support for the Kanak people. The secretary general of the Pacific Islands Forum — a regional bloc — Henry Puna said while the violence was “unfortunate’, it was expected. “That’s something that we really need to talk about openly and honestly. What the causes of the problem are, and what the solutions be,” he said.
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown stated that the Kanak people require more independence.” It is cause to recognize greater autonomy and greater independence from the people on those islands.” he said. New Zealand’s foreign minister Winston Peters has called for a “peaceful attacks resolution’.
