There has been serious unrest in the tropical paradise of New Caledonia since Monday. Paris has now declared a state of emergency in its overseas territory. But the riots still continue.
Separatist riots broke out in the French overseas territory of New Caledonia for the third night in a row. According to official information, four people have died in the serious unrest so far, including a police officer.
Hundreds more people were injured. Local media published photos and videos of looted and completely destroyed supermarkets and gas stations. Since the beginning of the week, independence supporters have repeatedly set fire to shops and cars.
Yesterday, Paris declared a state of emergency for an initial period of twelve days in response to the violence in the archipelago in the South Pacific. This enables the authorities, among other things, to issue bans on demonstrations, block public places and websites and grant the police and judiciary expanded powers.
Planned constitutional reform reason for riots
The protests by independence supporters are about a planned constitutional reform by the government in Paris that would give the right to vote to thousands of French-born citizens who have lived continuously in New Caledonia for at least ten years. This would give them more political influence. The Kanak population in particular – New Caledonia’s indigenous people – has long been hoping for their own state.
The High Commission in New Caledonia announced that around 5,000 rioters were taking part in the unrest in the greater area of the capital Nouméa. Despite curfews, the situation was still not under control. The largest hospital in the archipelago, Médipôle de Koutio, said it is currently treating mainly emergencies. However, due to road blockages, many sick people have problems even reaching the clinic.
Huge economic damage
La Tontoura airport remained closed. Long queues of concerned citizens formed in front of many shops because food was already being rationed, as the 1ère Nouvelle-Calédonie broadcaster reported. Gas stations ran out of gas.
The president of the southern province Sonia Backes, a prominent activist for remaining with France, asked the government in Paris for financial support: “Our territory has been in the grip of unprecedented violence for 72 hours,” she wrote in a letter to Prime Minister Gabriel Attal. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry estimates the initial damage to New Caledonia’s economy at 150 million euros.
From 1853 to 1946, New Caledonia was a French colony. The archipelago with 270,000 inhabitants, which lies 1,500 kilometers east of Australia, had already achieved extensive autonomy through the Nouméa Agreement in 1998. For Paris, the territory is particularly important geopolitically, militarily and because of its large nickel deposits. Paris is currently trying to reach a new agreement with the political forces in Nouméa.
Source: Stern
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