Paris plans airlift to New Caledonia – special unit deployed
Published: Friday, May 17th 2024, 05:50
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After days of serious riots in the French overseas territory of New Caledonia, the situation has eased slightly with the declaration of a state of emergency. This was stated by French High Commissioner Louis Le Franc on Friday. However, the international airport remains closed and food is becoming increasingly scarce. Long queues formed outside supermarkets, as the public broadcaster 1ère Nouvelle-Calédonie reported on Friday. France's government announced an airlift to supply the population of the South Pacific archipelago with essentials.
The state of emergency initially imposed by Paris for twelve days means that the authorities can now ban demonstrations, block public places and websites and grant the police and judiciary extended powers, among other things. Nevertheless, according to local media reports, there were still incidents on Friday, especially in parts of the capital Nouméa. Stores continued to go up in flames and even a kindergarten was looted and completely destroyed.
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced the deployment of 1,000 additional troops to support his colleagues on the ground. Among others, members of the French National Gendarmerie Intervention Force (GIGN) have reportedly already arrived from Polynesia.
The protests by supporters of independence for the archipelago, which lies 1500 kilometers east of Australia, are about a planned constitutional reform by the government in Paris. This is intended to give thousands of citizens of French descent the right to vote and therefore more political influence. However, the Kanak population group in particular - New Caledonia's indigenous inhabitants - have long hoped for their own state. The national council of the Kanaks accused Paris of pushing ahead with the controversial reform without taking into account the resistance of the vast majority of the indigenous population.
Five people have died so far in the riots that began on Monday, including two police officers. Hundreds of people were injured. In some districts of Nouméa, the situation remains difficult, said High Commissioner Le Franc. There, hundreds of rioters were just waiting to engage in skirmishes with the police.
The former French colony had already gained extensive autonomy through the Nouméa Agreement in 1998. Paris is currently trying to conclude a new agreement with the political forces in the geopolitically and militarily significant territory.
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