By France has declared a state of emergency on the Pacific island of New Caledonia following the deaths of three young indigenous Kanak and a police official during riots sparked by a controversial electoral reform bill. The state of emergency, which took effect at 5 a.m. local time (1800 GMT) on Wednesday, grants authorities additional powers to ban gatherings and restrict movement on the French-ruled island.
The unrest erupted in response to a new bill, passed by lawmakers in Paris on Tuesday, that allows French residents who have lived in New Caledonia for 10 years to vote in provincial elections. Some local leaders fear this change will dilute the voting power of the indigenous Kanak population.
In an effort to restore order, France has sent police reinforcements, adding 500 officers to the 1,800 typically stationed on the island. Rioters have torched vehicles and businesses, and looted stores, prompting the closure of schools and the imposition of a curfew in the capital.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal has vowed that “no violence will be tolerated” and stated that the state of emergency “will allow us to roll out massive means to restore order.” He also signed a decree declaring the state of emergency for a period of 12 days and announced the deployment of French soldiers to secure New Caledonia’s main port and airport.
In a bid to curb the spread of unrest, authorities have also decided to ban the video app TikTok, which the government previously accused of helping rioters organize and amplify chaos during riots on France’s mainland last summer.
Earlier on Wednesday, a spokesperson for New Caledonia’s President Louis Mapou confirmed the deaths of three young indigenous Kanak during the riots. The French government later reported that a 24-year-old police official had died from a gunshot wound while attempting to engage with residents.
Noumea resident Yoan Fleurot, who spoke to Reuters via Zoom, expressed his fear for his family’s safety and his doubts about the country’s ability to recover from the unrest. Fleurot, who carries a gun during the day when he ventures out to film the rioters he calls “terrorists,” said he is staying at home to respect the nightly curfew.
The electoral reform is the latest flashpoint in a long-standing struggle over France’s role in the mineral-rich island, which lies in the southwest Pacific, approximately 1,500 km (930 miles) east of Australia. France annexed New Caledonia in 1853 and granted it the status of an overseas territory in 1946, but the island has long been rocked by pro-independence movements.
New Caledonia, the world’s third-largest nickel miner, has been hit by a crisis in the sector, with one in five residents living below the poverty line. Some locals attribute the unrest to the significant economic disparities and the unresolved issues surrounding colonization.
The French government has defended the change in voting rules as necessary for democratic elections. However, it has stated that it will not rush to call a special congress of the two houses of parliament to rubber-stamp the bill. Instead, it has invited pro- and anti-independence camps to engage in talks in Paris regarding the island’s future, potentially opening the door to a suspension of the bill.
The major pro-independence political group, Front de Liberation Nationale Kanak et Socialiste (FLNKS), which condemned the violence, has accepted the offer of dialogue and expressed its willingness to work towards an agreement that would allow New Caledonia to follow its path toward emancipation.
As the unrest continues, most residents remain indoors, with some, like witness Garrido Navarro Kherachi, expressing their reluctance to vote under the new rules out of respect for the Kanak people and their struggle.
Credit: Reuters
