France to curb New Caledonia independence protests 'whatever the cost'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
19 May 2024 18:34

The French government's high commissioner warns that new raids on independence strongholds would be staged.

This photograph shows armored vehicles of the French Gendarmerie clearing the roadway from a burnt-out car and other branches and debris used by protesters to filter traffic, parked at La Pirogue pass in the commune of Paita, in the Pacific territory of New Caledonia on May 19, 2024. (AFP)

French forces dismantled numerous barricades in an effort to regain control of the main road to New Caledonia's airport, as a senior official stated on Sunday that Paris is determined to reclaim the entire Pacific territory from independence advocates "whatever the cost."

After six nights of violence that have left six dead and hundreds injured, French government high commissioner Louis Le Franc warned in a televised address that new raids on independence strongholds would be staged.

"Republican order will be re-established whatever the cost," Le Franc said, adding that if separatists "want to use their arms, they will be risking the worst."

New Caledonia, with a population of about 270,000, has been rocked by unrest since Monday, sparked by French plans to impose new rules that would give tens of thousands of non-indigenous residents voting rights.

Angry protesters against the plans have set vehicles, businesses, and public buildings on fire and taken control of the main road to La Tontouta International Airport, which has been closed to commercial flights.

Authorities say about 230 people have been detained while an estimated 3,200 people are either stuck in New Caledonia or unable to return to the archipelago.

France says about 1,000 security forces have been sent to the islands.

Some 600 heavily armed police and paramilitaries took part in an operation Sunday to retake the 60-kilometer (40-mile) main road from the capital Noumea to the airport, authorities said.

Forces with armored vehicles "broke through" around 60 barricades on the road with only minor clashes, Le Franc mentioned.

The highway is needed to restore supply chains as the archipelago faces shortages of items from groceries to blood for transfusions. "We are starting to run short of food," the official warned.

A night-time curfew, state of emergency, ban on TikTok, and reinforcements failed to prevent more unrest overnight from Saturday to Sunday.

Unidentified groups set two fires, raided a petrol station, and destroyed schools, pharmacies, and supermarkets, Le Franc's office claimed.

The local government said schools would be closed until May 24, but authorities insisted the situation is improving, noting "the night has been calmer."

Le Franc said security forces would now stage "harassment" raids to reclaim other parts of the Pacific territory held by pro-independence groups.

"This will all come to an end, believe me," he added.

New Caledonia has been a French territory since the mid-1800s. Almost two centuries on, its politics remain dominated by debate about whether the islands should be part of France, autonomous or independent.

Indigenous Kanaks make up about 39% of the population but tend to be poorer and have fewer years of schooling than European Caledonians. Kanak groups argue that the latest voting regulations would undermine their vote.

The presidents of four other French overseas territories -- La Reunion in the Indian Ocean, Guadeloupe and Martinique in the Caribbean, and Guyane in South America -- on Sunday called for the withdrawal of the voting reform in an open letter.

"Only a political response can halt the rising violence and prevent civil war," they warned, calling "on the government to withdraw the constitutional reform bill aiming to change the electoral roll... as the precursor to a peaceful dialogue."

French officials have accused a separatist group known as CCAT of being behind the violence and placed at least 10 of its activists under house arrest.

CCAT on Friday called for "a time of calm to break the spiral of violence."