Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: At least two soldiers killed by anti-tank missile fired at Israeli army forces in the Gaza Strip
Local Syrian sources: Mortar shells fell on more than nine villages in the Sweida countryside
Local Syrian sources: Dozens of dead and wounded have arrived at Sweida hospitals as a result of ongoing clashes at several locations in the western Sweida countryside
Local sources: Civilians, including children and women, were injured in the al-Maqous neighborhood of Sweida, in Syria, as a result of ongoing clashes
Israeli media outlet: Security incident reported in the Gaza Strip
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: No new date or venue has been set for the meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff, and no negotiations will take place until the outcome is guaranteed
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation

Police killing of man in New Caledonia risk jeopardizing calm efforts

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 24 May 2024 17:46
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

The killing of a 48-year-old man by police on Friday raised the death toll from the unrest to seven.

  • x
  • New Caledonia
    People man a roadblock barricade, with Kanak flags, controlling access to a district in Noumea, France's Pacific territory of New Caledonia, on May 24, 2024. (AFP)

A policeman in New Caledonia killed a man on Friday, as French President Emmanuel Macron warned against the French Pacific territory turning into a new "Wild West".

The latest casualty dealt a severe blow to hopes for peace following Macron's visit, which some officials had anticipated as a turning point after more than a week of violence that has resulted in seven deaths.

Macron traveled to the southwest Pacific archipelago on Thursday, approximately 17,000 kilometers (10,600 miles) from mainland France, in an urgent attempt to mitigate a growing political crisis over voting reforms.

The killing of a 48-year-old man by police on Friday raised the death toll from the unrest to seven, including two gendarmes. The incident marked the first civilian death at the hands of law enforcement since the protests began on May 13.

A police officer and his colleague were "physically attacked by a group of around 15 individuals" in Dumbea just outside the capital Noumea, forcing him to draw his weapon, said prosecutor Yves Dupas.

"In circumstances that have yet to be determined, the officer is said to have fired a shot from his service weapon to extricate himself from the physical altercation," Dupas said in a statement.

"Initial findings show traces of blows to the officers' faces," the statement said.

The officer who fired the shots was taken into custody, the prosecutor said, adding that a probe into voluntary manslaughter by a person in authority was launched.

France has declared a state of emergency, deploying hundreds of police and military reinforcements to restore order in the territory situated between Australia and Fiji.

The deadliest violence in four decades erupted over a French voting reform plan that indigenous Kanaks say will weaken their voice.

"Violence should never be allowed to take root," Macron said during a televised interview with local journalists at the end of his visit. "What I want is a message of order and return to calm as this is not the Wild West," he said.

Related News

France announces State of New Caledonia, except with a twist

Curfew lifted in New Caledonia over 6 months after violent riots

"A path must be opened for the calming of tensions and this will allow us to build what happens next."

He said that all roadblocks should be "immediately" removed.

New Caledonia has been under French rule since the 1800s, but many Indigenous Kanaks continue to resent France's control over their islands and seek greater autonomy or independence.

France had planned to extend voting rights to thousands of non-indigenous long-term residents.

Macron acknowledged the need for further discussions on the voting reforms, assuring that changes would "not be forced through in the current context."

"We will allow some weeks to allow a calming of tensions and resumption of dialogue to find a broad accord" among all parties, he added, saying he would reassess the situation within a month.

Macron stated that Caledonians would be invited to vote on their future if leaders could achieve a comprehensive agreement. The French parliament's lower house had approved the voting reform, but it still required final ratification.

However, on Friday, uncertainty loomed over whether Macron's intervention would succeed in quelling the unrest.

In Noumea's Montravel district, activists awaited further instructions from the FLNKS, a pro-independence party, with one activist expressing readiness "to continue protesting because apparently the president of the Republic doesn't want to listen to us."

Separatists have erected barricades, cutting off entire neighborhoods and the main route to the international airport, which remains closed.

Since Tuesday, New Zealand and Australia have been carrying out special evacuation flights to bring home hundreds of tourists stranded in New Caledonia.

Read more: France to curb New Caledonia independence protests 'whatever the cost'

  • New Caledonia
  • Emmanuel Macron
  • France

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS