Militants were guarding New Caledonia’s two airports and ports, and hundreds of French police were on their way to the Pacific region after three nights of violent riots that left four people dead.
France’s High Commissioner Louis Le Franc said military police faced around 5,000 rioters in three French federated municipalities, including 3,000 to 4,000 in the capital Nouméa.
By Thursday, 200 people had been arrested, 64 military police and police officers had been injured, and road barricades set up by protesters were creating a “dire situation” for people’s medicine and food, Le Fran said. he added.
France declared a state of emergency in New Caledonia from 5 a.m. Wednesday, giving authorities additional powers to ban public gatherings and restrict the movement of people on the island.
Police reinforcements were added to the island’s usual 1,800 officers by 500 after rioters torched vehicles and businesses and looted stores.
Nouméa resident Yoan Fleurot said he witnessed looting and destruction of property. Some store owners are reportedly having their shelves vandalized, pleading with them not to destroy their stores.
He said it was difficult to get through the barricades and he faced insults and threats of violence.
“I’m a New Caledonian, but I don’t know my country anymore,” he said.
“Caledonia will have a hard time recovering from this crisis… everything is 80% destroyed.”
Noumea’s main and secondary roads are blocked by barricades with burning cars and shells, some with booby-trapped gas bottles and ignition systems, Le Fran said. It is said that there was.
“I call on the leadership of CCAT to stop these acts, which are potentially murderous and deadly acts that leave families grieving,” he said, adding that local action organizing the incident He referred to the Coordination Office (CCAT). The protests began on Monday.
He said CCAT was “an organization of thugs committing acts of violence”, distinguishing it from the main pro-independence party FLNKS and other pro-independence political groups.
FLNKS condemned the violence and called for dialogue to resolve the situation.
He said there were clashes between active members of CCAT and self-defense groups and militias formed to protect them, adding that militias were also violating the curfew and the ban on carrying weapons.
On Tuesday, riots broke out over a bill adopted by the French parliament in Paris. The bill would allow non-Caledonian French people who have lived in New Caledonia for 10 years to vote in provincial elections, a move some local leaders argue would dilute the indigenous Kanak vote. There is.
Three Kanak youths were killed in the riot, and a 24-year-old police officer also died from gunshot wounds.
A state of emergency was declared for 12 days, and authorities banned the video app TikTok.
The electoral reform is the latest flashpoint in a decades-long dispute over France’s role in the mineral-rich island chain in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, 1,500 km (930 miles) east of Australia.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australians were being advised to reconsider their need to travel to New Caledonia due to “social unrest, travel disruption and restrictions on essential services”. .
“Once again, we take this opportunity to reiterate Australia’s call for calm. We respect and support the referendum process and the ongoing discussions between all parties, and we respect and support the referendum process and the ongoing discussions between all parties to shape New Caledonia’s future. We encourage all parties to work together to achieve this goal.”
Reuters
