1y ago

French president is considering imposing a state of emergency in the territory of New Caledonia

apnews.com

4 comments

Reminder that colonialism is still alive and well.
- I thought, "New Caledonia, I wonder how close to the French coast it is..." It's closer to Australia and no where near France. That island should have had it's independence long ago.
There have been decades of tensions on the archipelago between Indigenous Kanaks seeking independence and descendants of colonizers who want to remain part of France. [...] The unrest started on Monday with a protest over France’s efforts to expand voter lists that would benefit pro-France politicians on New Caledonia and further marginalize the Kanak people, who once suffered from strict segregation policies and widespread discrimination.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
More than 130 people have been arrested and more than 300 have been injured since Monday, when protests over a constitutional voting reform pushed by Paris turned violent in the archipelago, which has long sought independence.
French Minister of Interior and Overseas Territories Gérald Darmanin said that 100 gendarmes were evacuated during violence overnight following “an attack on their station with an ax and live ammunition.”
He was evacuated in critical condition to the medical unit of the Pacific Marine Infantry Regiment, French broadcaster BFM reported.
Le Franc warned that if calm isn’t restored, there will be “many deaths” in the area of the capital, Noumea, where protests over the voting rights turned violent on Tuesday.
The unrest started on Monday with a protest over France’s efforts to expand voter lists that would benefit pro-France politicians on New Caledonia and further marginalize the Kanak people, who once suffered from strict segregation policies and widespread discrimination.
Macron said he would convene the Congress, a joint session of lawmakers from both houses of the French parliament, by the end of June to amend the constitution and make it law in the absence of a meaningful dialogue with local representatives.
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