As protests rage, France declares a state of emergency in New Caledonia.
The most severe violence in decades is the most recent flare-up in long-running disputes about Paris's place in the archipelago.
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| In France's New Caledonia, a state of emergency was declared on Wednesday at 8 p.m. (Paris time). |
As protests rage, France declares a state of emergency in New Caledonia.
In France's New Caledonia, a state of emergency was declared on Wednesday at 8 p.m. (Paris time).
Paris: Following violent protests against electoral changes that resulted in the deaths of one police officer and three others, France has imposed a state of emergency on the Pacific territory of New Caledonia, according to the Washington Post.
Notably, hundreds of kilometers off the eastern coast of Australia sits the French overseas territory of New Caledonia.
The most severe violence in decades is the most recent flare-up in long-running disputes about Paris's place in the archipelago.
In France's New Caledonia, a state of emergency was declared on Wednesday at 8 p.m. (Paris time).
Paris: Following violent protests against electoral changes that resulted in the deaths of one police officer and three others, France has imposed a state of emergency on the Pacific territory of New Caledonia, according to the Washington Post.
Notably, hundreds of kilometers off the eastern coast of Australia sits the French overseas territory of New Caledonia.
The most severe violence in decades is the most recent flare-up in long-running disputes about Paris's place in the archipelago.
At a news conference on Wednesday after a ministerial meeting, government spokesperson Prisca Thevenot stated, "On behalf of the government, I reiterate before you the call for calm and appeasement."
Honoring the four individuals who perished in the turmoil, she demanded "the resumption of political dialogue" as a means of putting an end to the bloodshed.
The island's capital, Noumea, saw the declaration of a state of emergency on Wednesday at 5 am and 8 pm (Paris time)."Every act of violence is unacceptable and will face a strong response to guarantee the restoration of order," stated a statement issued on Wednesday by the office of French President Emmanuel Macron.
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal responded to the violent demonstration by stating, "Since the start of the week, New Caledonia has been hit by violence of a rare intensity." A state of emergency, he continued, "will allow us to roll out massive means to restore order."
State of emergency declarations are permitted under French law in cases of "imminent danger resulting from serious breaches of public order."
According to the Washington Post, it gives local authorities more authority to, among other things, bar the public from visiting particular locations, conduct searches, and keep people from entering such places if they are thought to pose a risk to public safety.
As French parliamentarians got ready to cast their votes on whether to extend voting rights in the region, rioting broke out on Monday. Critics counter that this might help pro-French politicians and marginalize the Indigenous Kanak population. Overnight, the National Assembly approved the modification.
However, a final vote in both chambers of parliament is still required for the proposal to become law, according to Voice of America.
According to the Washington Post, it gives local authorities more authority to, among other things, bar the public from visiting particular locations, conduct searches, and keep people from entering such places if they are thought to pose a risk to public safety.
As French parliamentarians got ready to cast their votes on whether to extend voting rights in the region, rioting broke out on Monday. Critics counter that this might help pro-French politicians and marginalize the Indigenous Kanak population. Overnight, the National Assembly approved the modification.
However, a final vote in both chambers of parliament is still required for the proposal to become law, according to Voice of America.
While the descendants of European colonists want to stay a part of France, groups representing the Kanak people, who make up approximately 40% of the territory's population of 3,00,000, have long advocated independence, according to the Washington Post.
Voting was to be limited to Kanaks and those born before 1998 under the terms of the 1998 Noumea Accord, which contributed to putting an end to a decade of conflict. However, the new constitutional amendment will weaken the influence of the Kanaks by granting the right to vote in local elections to anybody who has lived in New Caledonia for ten years.
Voting was to be limited to Kanaks and those born before 1998 under the terms of the 1998 Noumea Accord, which contributed to putting an end to a decade of conflict. However, the new constitutional amendment will weaken the influence of the Kanaks by granting the right to vote in local elections to anybody who has lived in New Caledonia for ten years.
As Voice of America put it, "We feel oppressed, we're angry," the woman said to Caledonia TV. Did French people really listen to Kanaks like her? she wondered.
Gerald Darmanin, the French Minister of the Interior and Overseas Territories, said on RTL French radio early on Wednesday that "hundreds" of people had been hurt, including roughly 100 gendarmes and police officers whose barracks had been attacked with live bullets and axes.
"Calm must absolutely be restored," he stated. "There are hundreds of injured in New Caledonia, dozens of houses and businesses that have been burned, set alight."
On Wednesday, the French High Commission announced that at least 130 persons had been taken into custody. Additionally, it detailed "many" instances of looting and arson against establishments, public buildings, and infrastructure. A 'jail break' attempt had been made, the mission added.
The deployment of more gendarmes and police officers as reinforcements has been announced by the French government.
In addition, the French government outlawed gatherings in the capital, Noumea, and enforced an overnight curfew. Commercial flights are no longer operating out of La Tontouta International Airport in New Caledonia.
The deployment of more gendarmes and police officers as reinforcements has been announced by the French government.
In addition, the French government outlawed gatherings in the capital, Noumea, and enforced an overnight curfew. Commercial flights are no longer operating out of La Tontouta International Airport in New Caledonia.
France acquired mineral-rich New Caledonia in 1853, and all of its population were granted French citizenship in 1957. Nonetheless, the Washington Post claims that conflicts over independence have existed for decades in the region between Kanaks and their European descendants.
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Together with voting rights regulations, the 1998 Noumea agreement included provisions for three referendums to determine the future of New Caledonia; nevertheless, 'independence' was rejected in each of them. Notably, pro-independence parties boycotted the final vote in December 2021 due to the coronavirus outbreak.
You can only listen to the newest music on JioSaavn.com.
Together with voting rights regulations, the 1998 Noumea agreement included provisions for three referendums to determine the future of New Caledonia; nevertheless, 'independence' was rejected in each of them. Notably, pro-independence parties boycotted the final vote in December 2021 due to the coronavirus outbreak.
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