Pacific Island nations blame France for New Caledonia violence
7 killed in unrest after French gov't initiated constitutional reform that could reduce electoral influence of indigenous Kanaks
Seyma Uzundere |31.05.2024 -
ANKARA
Pacific island nations held France responsible for the violence in New Caledonia, one of the five French island territories across the Indo-Pacific, where seven people were killed.
Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu's climate change minister, said the events in New Caledonia were foreseen three years ago at the 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States.
Regenvani accused France of ignoring calls for a third independence referendum by the indigenous Kanak people, thus setting the stage for the current crisis.
Regenvani stated that French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to the island for "dialogue" had no impact on resolving the crisis and urged France to withdraw the proposed constitutional reform, which has mobilized independence supporters.
He also warned that violence would continue if the Macron administration did not take this step.
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown, the Pacific Islands Forum chair, which includes New Caledonia, expressed concerns about the political developments on the island in a letter to the New Caledonian government, expressing his readiness to help resolve the crisis.
Brown mentioned that there were several mechanisms among the forum members to address historical and complex issues and noted that the Pacific region hosts many independent experts who could contribute to the political process in New Caledonia.
The French government initiated a constitutional reform that would reduce the electoral influence of the indigenous Kanaks, prompting independence supporters on the island to mobilize.
In response to the unrest, which erupted on May 13, the French government dispatched a large number of police and gendarmes to the island and declared a state of emergency. Seven people were killed in the clashes.
During his visit, Macron did not withdraw the constitutional reform proposal and allowed time for dialogue between independence supporters and their opponents.
The indigenous Kanaks believe the French government's constitutional reform initiative violates the 1988 Noumea Accord. The proposed changes would allow French citizens who have lived on the island for at least 10 years to vote in local elections.
New Caledonia gained autonomy with the Noumea Agreement in 1998, which restricted voting rights to those who resided on the island before 1998 and their descendants to prevent the indigenous population from becoming a minority.
Three referendums on independence, held in 2018, 2020, and 2021, all resulted in a "no" vote.
The pro-independence Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front boycotted the 2021 referendum, protesting France's influence on the elections and demanding that the referendum be held at a later date less affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
*Writing by Seda Sevencan
By Associated Press
Jun 1, 2024
It comes after two weeks of unrest that had left seven people dead and significant destruction in the archipelago that has seen decades of tensions between those seeking independence and those loyal to France.
Gerald Darmanin said in a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, on Friday that "a major police operation has taken place successfully" in the Riviere-Salee district of Noumea, the last area of New Caledonia's capital that was under the protesters' control.
Darmanin said 400 members of French and New Caledonia's security forces were involved in the operation, including members of the French elite anti-terrorism and anti-organised crime police unit and its counterparts of the French military.
Twelve people were arrested in the operation and 26 roadblocks were dismantled and cleared, the minister said.
The violence flared on May 13 in response to attempts by French President
Emmanuel Macron's government to amend the French Constitution and change voting lists in New Caledonia.
France declared a state of emergency in its Pacific territory on May 15 and rushed hundreds of troop reinforcements to help police quell the revolt that included shootings, clashes, looting and arson.
Both sides of New Caledonia's bitter divide — Indigenous Kanaks, who want independence and those loyal to France — erected barricades, either to revolt against authorities or to protect their homes and properties.
Pro-independence protesters built up barricades of charred vehicles and other debris, turning parts of the capital, Noumea into no-go zones.
Pro-independence parties and Kanak leaders have urged Macron to withdraw the electoral reform bill if France wants to "end the crisis".
Opponents fear the voting legislation will benefit pro-France politicians in New Caledonia and further marginalise the Indigenous Kanaks who have long pushed to be free of French rule amid sharp economic disparities and decades of discrimination.
Although violence has subsided in the past days, tensions remain as pro-independence leaders have called on supporters to and "remain mobilised" and "maintain resistance" against France.
While emergency measures have been lifted, an evening and overnight curfew is still in place.
Travel is banned in New Caledonia between 6pm and 6am except for health emergencies, and a ban on public gatherings, transport and carrying of weapons and sale of alcohol remains in place.
The main international airport, La Tontouta, will remain closed to commercial traffic at least until Monday, and schools will not resume before mid-June, according to local authorities.
New Caledonia became French in 1853 under Emperor Napoleon III, Napoleon's nephew and heir.
It became an overseas territory after World War II, with French citizenship granted to all Kanaks in 1957.
French authorities in New Caledonia regained full control of their Pacific territory's capital, the French interior and overseas minister said on Friday.
It comes after two weeks of unrest that had left seven people dead and significant destruction in the archipelago that has seen decades of tensions between those seeking independence and those loyal to France.
Gerald Darmanin said in a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, on Friday that "a major police operation has taken place successfully" in the Riviere-Salee district of Noumea, the last area of New Caledonia's capital that was under the protesters' control.
Darmanin said 400 members of French and New Caledonia's security forces were involved in the operation, including members of the French elite anti-terrorism and anti-organised crime police unit and its counterparts of the French military.
Twelve people were arrested in the operation and 26 roadblocks were dismantled and cleared, the minister said.
The violence flared on May 13 in response to attempts by French President
Emmanuel Macron's government to amend the French Constitution and change voting lists in New Caledonia.
France declared a state of emergency in its Pacific territory on May 15 and rushed hundreds of troop reinforcements to help police quell the revolt that included shootings, clashes, looting and arson.
It comes after two weeks of unrest that had left seven people dead and significant destruction in the archipelago that has seen decades of tensions (AP)
Both sides of New Caledonia's bitter divide — Indigenous Kanaks, who want independence and those loyal to France — erected barricades, either to revolt against authorities or to protect their homes and properties.
Pro-independence protesters built up barricades of charred vehicles and other debris, turning parts of the capital, Noumea into no-go zones.
French President Emmanuel Macron decided on Monday to lift the state of emergency in New Caledonia to help facilitate dialogue between local parties and French authorities for the future of the 270,000 residents of the archipelago and restore peace.
French President Emmanuel Macron decided on Monday to lift the state of emergency in New Caledonia to help facilitate dialogue between local parties and French authorities for the future of the 270,000 residents of the archipelago and restore peace.
Pro-independence parties and Kanak leaders have urged Macron to withdraw the electoral reform bill if France wants to "end the crisis".
Opponents fear the voting legislation will benefit pro-France politicians in New Caledonia and further marginalise the Indigenous Kanaks who have long pushed to be free of French rule amid sharp economic disparities and decades of discrimination.
France declared a state of emergency in its Pacific territory on May 15 and rushed hundreds of troop reinforcements to help police quell the revolt
(Ludovic Marin/Pool Photo via AP)
Although violence has subsided in the past days, tensions remain as pro-independence leaders have called on supporters to and "remain mobilised" and "maintain resistance" against France.
While emergency measures have been lifted, an evening and overnight curfew is still in place.
Travel is banned in New Caledonia between 6pm and 6am except for health emergencies, and a ban on public gatherings, transport and carrying of weapons and sale of alcohol remains in place.
The main international airport, La Tontouta, will remain closed to commercial traffic at least until Monday, and schools will not resume before mid-June, according to local authorities.
New Caledonia became French in 1853 under Emperor Napoleon III, Napoleon's nephew and heir.
It became an overseas territory after World War II, with French citizenship granted to all Kanaks in 1957.
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