NEW DELHI: After three nights of violent clashes resulting in four deaths and hundreds injured, France landed soldiers at the ports and international airport of New Caledonia, banning TikTok and placing it under a state of emergency on Thursday.
The indigenous people have staged demonstrations against French plans to introduce new voting rules applicable to the Pacific archipelago; these are pro-independence protests. This has been the most violent clash since the eighties with a police officer being killed and some others dying from gunshots.
According to witnesses, most roads on which dozens of buildings were torched had their remains littered with pieces of burnt rubble and broken cement that seemed to have been hurled during riots.
Armoured vehicles rolled through streets flanked by palm trees that are normally packed with tourists.
Fearing for their lives, residents in the area piled heaps of materials like wheelbarrows, bed frames, pallets made from wood, scraps of fencing, tree fronds or plastic jerricans right across roadways.
To this effect five suspected ringleaders were put under house arrest as part of a broad response by France. The statement was issued by the high commission, which represents the French government in New Caledonia.
“House searches will be undertaken ‘in coming hours’, it said.”
More than 200 “rioters” have been arrested since clashes first erupted early this week according to the high commission.
Hundreds have been injured including 64 policemen according to officials.
“We need milk”
French authorities reported another night of “clashes”, but AFP correspondents on Noumea’s streets said they appeared quieter than previous evenings.
White inhabitants belonging to certain districts sat down on garden chairs taking charge of barricades while exhibiting makeshift white flags. This gesture was an indication that their intention was merely peaceful monitoring out there in public places
People went slowly around what was left after fires destroyed store fronts and entered twisted grilles still hanging on their windows. They also moved among empty shelves and packaging materials that had been discarded.
“One woman in the suburbs of the capital, who wished to remain anonymous, said: ‘We just grabbed what there was in the shops to eat. Soon there will be no more shops.’”
“I do not see it as looting; we need milk for the children,” she told AFP.
France is setting up an “air bridge”, according to the high commission, to bring emergency supplies into New Caledonia but also speedily deploy troops and police reinforcements.
President Emmanuel Macron of France offered talks with New Caledonian lawmakers on Thursday in Paris and called for a resumption of political dialogue.
TikTok is banned.
The Prime Minister Gabriel Attal informed a crisis ministerial meeting that soldiers were protecting ports and the international airport, which is not open for commercial flights
He announced a TikTok ban due to its use by rioters. By Thursday morning, AFP could locate less than 20 accounts connected with violence on the platform.
New Caledonia lies between Australia and Fiji. It is one of several territories worldwide that are still under predominantly French control post-colonialism.
France colonized this part of Oceania in the late 19th century giving it a unique distinction from other outlying territories in France’s possession.
Three times, popular vote has rejected independence but it strongly supported by Kanak people whose ancestors have lived there for centuries.
The state of emergency allows authorities to enforce travel bans, place individuals under house arrest and conduct searches.
Restrictions also include curfew at night in addition to gatherings, carrying weapons and sale of alcohol.
According to a spokeswoman for the French government, nearly 1.8 thousand police officers have been mobilized with additional support from 500 more forces.
Engagement in arson and looting as this is an act of vandalism against property.
People protested. The National Assembly of France which is located 17,000 km (10,600 miles) away voted on Tuesday to allow residents who have lived in New Caledonia for ten years voting rights. However, this reform still needs the approval from both houses in a joint session.
The pro-independence claim that such a move will reduce Kanak’s influence at the polls where they represent about 41% of the population.
In response supporters of these changes say that lists with voters’ names have not been updated since 1998 making it impossible even for people coming later with a permanent residence right on one of islands to take part in provincial elections.
Macron said that unless there is an agreement between New Caledonia’s two opposing factions on new text that “takes into account progress made and everyone’s hopes”, French lawmakers will vote definitively on adopting the constitutional change by the end of June.
Pro- and anti-independence parties jointly issued a statement demanding ‘calm and reason’ while adding “we are destined to keep living together’.
