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
Al-Saadi: There were concerns that Lahham would be placed under administrative detention.
Al-Saadi: The Israeli occupation authorities could not prove any allegations leveled against Nasser Lahham.
Lawyer Oussama al-Saadi: The oppressive Israeli measures of delaying Lahham's release had vengeful motives.
Nasser Lahham's lawyer said the journalist was released without any conditions or restrictions, adding that the conditions in which he was kept were terrible.
The Israeli occupation authorities release Al Mayadeen Palestine bureau chief Nasser al-Lahham.
Local Syrian sources: An Israeli airstrike targeted a tank and artillery battalion in the city of Izraa in the Daraa countryside
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in eastern Lebanon: 12 martyrs and 5 wounded in Israeli raids targeting the outskirts of Wadi Fa'ra in the northern Bekaa Valley
Local Syrian sources: More than 10 Israeli raids targeted Sweida, with information about more than five casualties from the Internal Security Forces
Local Syrian sources: Initial reports indicate that approximately 15 people were killed or wounded at the al-Radwan family's guest house in Sweida following a direct exchange of gunfire
Israeli media, citing Israeli political sources, reported that the Shas movement is expected to withdraw from the government within less than 24 hours

Unrest in New Caledonia after activists taken to France for detention

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 24 Jun 2024 09:17
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

The transfer of seven detainees 17,000 kilometers away on charges related to deadly unrest has been criticized as "political deportation."

Listen
  • x
  • A pro-independence supporter holds a flag of the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS) during a rally in support of the independence activists who were arrested. (AFP/Getty Images
    A pro-independence supporter holds a flag of the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS) during a rally in support of the independence activists who were arrested. (AFP/Getty Images)

Authorities reported that several buildings, including a police station and a town hall, were set on fire overnight in New Caledonia, as the French Pacific territory experienced a fresh wave of unrest.

This surge follows the transfer of seven independence activists, associated with a group accused of inciting deadly riots in the territory last month, to mainland France for pre-trial detention, according to a local prosecutor.

Christian Tein, an Indigenous Kanak leader of the pro-independence party known as The Field Action Coordination Unit, was flown to mainland France overnight Saturday, along with six other activists, prosecutor Yves Dupas said in a statement.

The seven Kanak activists were transferred to pretrial detention on “a specially chartered plane” because of “the sensitivity of the procedure,” Dupas stressed.

Moving the detained activists into custody 17,000 kilometers (10,500 miles) away from their homeland would allow the investigation into their alleged actions to continue “in a calm manner and without any pressure,” he further claimed.

“This transfer was organized during the night by means of a plane specially chartered for the mission,” prosecutor Yves Dupas detailed.

New Caledonia, with a population of about 270,000, has been rocked by unrest since May 13, sparked by French plans to impose new rules that would give tens of thousands of non-indigenous residents voting rights.

Why it matters

Related News

France announces State of New Caledonia, except with a twist

Curfew lifted in New Caledonia over 6 months after violent riots

The transfer of some defendants to detention centers in France has outraged independence activists, who labeled it a "political deportation."

Last month, riots erupted in New Caledonia in response to the electoral reform. The Indigenous Kanaks of the archipelago feared that the move would dilute their vote, undermining their hopes of ultimately achieving independence. The violence led to nine deaths, including two police officers, and caused widespread damage to businesses, shops, and homes.

Daniel Goa, president of the Union Calédonienne, the main independence party, said the transfer of the arrested activists to France was “political deportation”.

“The independence of the judiciary is a farce in New Caledonia,” said Goa.

Goa also criticized “France’s colonial, repressive, and retrograde policy against the Kanak people.”

Following a frantic campaign period for snap parliamentary elections in France, President Emmanuel Macron halted the modifications to voting rights in New Caledonia. However, the recent arrests risk exacerbating the rifts in the archipelago's political scene ahead of the elections' first round scheduled for June 30. Political leaders across all factions in New Caledonia have unanimously criticized the timing of these elections. 

The big picture

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.

It is worth noting that the territory contains roughly 10% of the world's total nickel reserve and is rich in resources. 

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

  • New Caledonia
  • France
  • Colonialism
  • activists

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
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025
This satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows damage after an Iranian attack at the al Udeid Airbase outside of Doha, Qatar, June 25, 2025 (Planet Labs PBC via AP)

Satellite images show Iran attack damaged US comms dome in Qatari base

  • Politics
  • 11 Jul 2025
An Israeli soldier abandons an excavator during an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades. Arabic text reads "The moment the soldier fled", July, 10, 2025 (Al Qassam Military Media)

Israeli media rue al-Qassam footage, alarmed by fighters among troops

  • Politics
  • 11 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Syrian government forces deploy at the Mazraa village on the outskirts of city of Sweida, where clashes erupted between Bedouin clans and Druze factions, southern Syria, Monday, July 14, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Gulf-backed negotiations underway in Syria's Sweida to end clashes

UN: 798 Palestinians killed while trying to reach aid in Gaza
Palestine

UN: 798 Palestinians killed while trying to reach aid in Gaza

A damaged car is seen at a field that was hit in an Israeli airstrike in Nabi Sheet village, in Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley, Wednesday, August 21, 2024 (AP)
Politics

Hezbollah condemns Israeli Bekaa massacre, urges action from Lebanon

Palestinians walk next to the closed humanitarian aid distribution center of UNRWA, the UN agency helping Palestinian refugees in Jabaliya, Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli regime cuts electricity, water supplies to UNRWA Gaza offices

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