France imposed a state of emergency on Wednesday after violent clashes and protests erupted on the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia. The emergency is imposed for at least 12 days and the security forces have been increased in the archipelago.
History of the Archipelago
The French territory of New Caledonia has long-lasting tensions between the French authorities and the indigenous people. The island held referendums in 2018 and later in 2020 demanding independence. Both these referendums saw close French victory with 43.4 per cent people favoring independence in 2018 while 46.7 people demanded independence in 2020.
The 2021 referendum was the third and final one on New Caledonia’s Independence. This referendum was to be held in relation to the Noumea Accord. Signed on 5th May 1998, the Noumea accord was a promise by the French Republic to give more political rights to New Caledonia’s people, the Kanaks. The 2021 referendum was asked to be delayed due to the COVID crisis, but France rejected the request. The referendum was held, and France won with 96.5 percent vote but with a voter turnout of 44 percent.
Why the sudden uproar?
The constitutional reform will move to the next step after the French parliament on Wednesday passed a favourable vote by the Assemblée Nationale. The government’s bill already passed by the Senat, received 351 votes in favor and 153 against.
The reform provided for the expansion of the electorate for New Caledonia’s provincial elections, whic will now include all citizens who have been residents of the country. Currently, the electorate is limited to people registered from the previous 1998 consultation and their descendants. After the reform, the residents who arrived after 1998 will also be included, which is estimated to be around 40,000. “It is no longer acceptable that today, the proportion of voters excluded from the right to vote in provincial and congressional elections is close to 20 percent,” said LR MP Philippe Gosselin.
The Kanaks fear the loss of political influence with the inclusion of white European residents in the electorate. The left-wing MPs blamed the government for “further marginalizing the Kanak people.”
Curfews and chaos
A wave of violence erupted in New Caledonia on Monday night. Stores were looted, houses were burnt and the police attacked.
The French high commissioner announced a curfew which came into force at 6 pm, Tuesday evening. The curfew included a ban on social media access in the territory. The curfew failed to work as vandalism resumed in the night. The people destroyed public property, cars and businesses while the law enforcement officers patrolled the streets with trucks carrying mobile gendarme units. Armed clashes led to the death of 4 people and left 300 people injured.
9. France has deployed troops in New Caledoniaand clashes with natives are ongoing. pic.twitter.com/xr3emLkrJG
— The Poll Lady (@ThePollLady) May 16, 2024
Wednesday morning: Food storage was rampant due to vandalism leading to food shortages and longer queues. Some stores in Nouméa were overrun, while others were virtually empty, with no bread or rice left to sell, as AFP’s correspondent observed.
On Thursday, Darmanin told France 2 television that 10 CCAT leaders were under house arrest. “Nothing can ever justify violence,” Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said. “Our absolute priority for the next few hours is the return to order and calm.”
Pro-independence groups including the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS), which includes multiple political parties, want the creation of a new nation that supporters call “Kanaky”.
What’s next for France’s colonies?
French President Emmanuel Macron has not shown any sign of fear or calling back of the law. The legislators are pushing the bill despite the violence. Macron has called for “calm” and “face-to-face dialogue” but in parliament, continued to show support. He has ordered the French prime minister, Gabriel Attal, and Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin to start talks with anti-France political parties in New Caledonia.
Attal said, “To restore order, an airlift was set up. An additional 1,000 security forces are being deployed there. This will bring the workforce in New Caledonia to 2,700. In the coming hours, the Government will bring together representatives of the economic world to support them, enable them to hold on, get back on their feet and rebuild.”
En Nouvelle-Calédonie, la situation reste très tendue, avec des pillages, des dégradations et des violences inacceptables. Deux gendarmes sont tragiquement décédés. Je pense à eux, à leurs proches, à toutes les forces de l’ordre dont l’engagement est exemplaire.
Cette situation…
— Gabriel Attal (@GabrielAttal) May 16, 2024
New Caledonia is among the few colonies which France still holds across the globe. It enables France to maintain a global presence and access to important locations.
Paris is facing protests from Kanak supporters and left-wing legislators against the reform and the rights of indigenous people. People criticized the actions of the Macron government. “Whenever they could, the Kanaks preferred the path of dialogue. Today, they have the impression that it no longer exists.”, reported Telerama.
