French territory gripped by unrest
Macron to visit New Caledonia
paRIS — French president Emmanuel macron is making a surprise trip to New caledonia, the French pacific territory that has been gripped by days of deadly unrest and where Indigenous people have long sought independence.
“he will go there tonight,” government spokesperson prisca thevenot said after a cabinet meeting on tuesday where the president said he’d decided to make the more than 20,000mile round trip himself to the archipelago east of australia.
Six people have been killed, including two gendarmes, and hundreds of others injured in New caledonia during armed clashes, looting, and arson, raising new questions about macron’s handling of France’s colonial legacy.
there have been decades of tensions between Indigenous Kanaks, who seek independence for the archipelago of 270,000 people, and descendants of colonizers and others who have settled on the island and who want to remain part of France.
the unrest erupted may 13 as the French legislature in paris debated amending the French constitution to make changes to New caledonia voter lists. Opponents fear the measure will benefit pro-France politicians in New caledonia and further marginalize Kanaks who once suffered from strict segregation policies and widespread discrimination.
the violence is the most severe to shake New caledonia since the 1980s, when France also imposed emergency measures on the island that became French in 1853 under Emperor Napoleon III.
Last wednesday, paris declared a 12-day minimum state of emergency on the island and rushed in 1,000 reinforcements to bolster security forces that lost control of parts of the capital, Nouméa.
“Faced with the outbreak of violence, the priority is the return of order to allow dialogue to resume in New caledonia,” thevenot, the government spokeswoman, said. “we are clear: much remains to be done before the return to normal. the government is fully mobilized.”
Leaving tuesday night will, because of the distance and time difference, see macron arrive thursday morning in New caledonia,
nd his office said. It said he is with police given emergency expected to stay for one day. powers and a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
macron will meet with political, curfew in effect, French authorities business, civic, and youth say security forces are starting leaders and aim to “renew the to contain unrest. they announced thread of dialogue” in search of another 22 arrests tuesday “a comprehensive political for a total number near 300. agreement,” prime minister gabriel the violence in New caledonia attal told parliament, has led to fresh discussion where lawmakers stood for a about France’s colonial past. macron’s moment of silence for the six efforts to address that people killed in the violence. have largely focused on africa,
Interior minister gerald Darmanin where France had colonies and said he’ll join macron, where local frustration in some along with the ministers for defense countries has led to recent calls and for France’s overseas for French forces to get out. territories. the visit will give a priority for French authorities macron and his ministers a firsthand in New caledonia since the look at some of the destruction weekend has been clearing the that turned parts of highway to Nouméa’s international Nouméa into no-go zones, with airport of barricades and buildings torched, shops pillaged, the burned hulks of vehicles, and barricades erected raising the prospect for stranded both by pro-independence supporters, tourists of being able to leave. some armed, and people australia and New Zealand banding together to protect livelihoods sent planes to New caledonia on and homes. tuesday to begin bringing citizens home. australian Foreign minister penny wong said australia received clearance from French authorities for two evacuation flights and would work on further ones.
australia’s Department of Foreign affairs said 300 australians were in New caledonia. It did not immediately confirm whether the flights would evacuate other stranded foreign nationals, believed to number in the thousands.
New Zealand’s government announced an evacuation effort for about 50 citizens.
“New Zealanders in New caledonia have faced a challenging few days — and bringing them home has been an urgent priority for the government,” Foreign affairs minister winston peters said. “In cooperation with France and australia, we are working on subsequent flights in coming days.”