French authorities to reopen N. Caledonia's airport, ease restrictions

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
16 Jun 2024 08:39

After Macron's call for snap elections killed chances for local electoral reforms in the archipelago of New Caledonia, French authorities have eased restrictions on natives.

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French soldiers patrol the tarmac of Magenta airport during French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Magenta's district, Noumea, New Caledonia, on May 23, 2024. (AP)

New Caledonia's main international airport will reopen as of Monday after being shut down last month after natives called for the archipelago's independence from France.

The territory is located more than 17,000 kilometers from mainland France in the southern Pacific Ocean and is comprised of several islands, yet Paris has relentlessly asserted its right over the territories.

The high commission in the territory has recently decided to reopen the archipelago's airport during the day and reduce curfew hours.

On Sunday it announced that it "decided to reopen the airport during the day" and to "push back to 8:00 pm (from 6:00 pm) the start of the curfew as of Monday."

Massive protests and rallies broke out on the archipelago on May 13 after a voting reform that would allow non-native long-term residents of the island to participate in local polls.

The Indigenous Kanaks on the archipelago, driven by the fact that the move would dilute their input on decisions on their native lands, led demonstrations against the French government.

After deploying troops under the guise of police control in the South Pacific territories, French President Emmanuel Macron has recently suspended the reform plan.

Macron justified the decision by stating "ambiguity" ahead of the French elections, adding that it was to prioritize "dialogue in the field and restoring the order."

If the reform were to go through, French nationals on the territories would have been eligible to vote in local elections after residing in the territory for at least 10 years.

The electoral reform plan in New Caledonia had been approved by both France's National Assembly and Senate and was waiting on a constitutional congress of both houses to become part of the basic law.

Caledonian pro-independence movements had already considered reform dead given Macron's call for snap elections back in mainland France.

"This should be a time for rebuilding peace and social ties," the Kanak Liberation Party (Palika) said Wednesday before the announcement.

Now the full resumption of flights at Tontouta airport has been achieved by the reopening of an expressway linking it to the capital Noumea that had been blocked by demonstrators, the commission said.