June 24 () –
The riots in New Caledonia have re-emerged on Sunday night with attacks on security forces, arson and roadblocks, after six weeks of mobilizations against the granting of the vote to French citizens in the local elections, which are They have so far resulted in nine deaths.
“The night has been turbulent and has been marked by disturbances throughout the territory, (as well as) on the islands of Pins and Maré, which have required the intervention of numerous reinforcements,” indicated the High Commissioner of New Caledonia in a statement published on its website.
The authorities have indicated that in the territory’s capital, Noumea, several fires have been controlled. In other towns around the capital, such as Dumbéa or Paita, fires have occurred in premises and vehicles of the Municipal Police and private cars, as well as “abuse and destruction.”
In addition, firefighters have “quickly” controlled a fire in the Koumac Town Hall, at the northern end of the main island. On the island of Maré the security forces have also been attacked. “The quick and decisive action of law enforcement and firefighters has made it possible to restore the situation in all these places,” added the High Commissioner.
The conflict broke out on May 13 after the debate in the French Parliament on an electoral reform that grants the vote to French citizens. The text proposes the right to vote for French citizens who have been residing in the territory for at least ten years and was initially approved by the National Assembly but the country’s president, Emmanuel Macron, has paralyzed its ratification so as not to “force” the crisis.
The Kanaks, and especially the independence alliance of the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS), have denounced the proposal as a blow to their aspirations at a particularly critical moment in relations with France, after the alliance boycotted the last independence referendum of 2021, which resulted in victory for the unionists.
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