Hot debate sparks torching of cars, shops
Indigenous Kanaks in New Caledonia rejects a French national assembly bill expanding the provincial electorate of France’s Pacific territory
Daily TribuneIndigenous Kanaks in New Caledonia rejects a French national assembly bill expanding the provincial electorate of France’s Pacific territory
BURNT cars are pictured at a car dealer store in the Magenta district in Noumea, amid protests linked to a debate on a constitutional bill aimed at enlarging the electorate for upcoming elections of the overseas French territory of New Caledonia.
THEO ROUBY/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
A heated debate in France’s parliament on expanding one of its two Pacific territories’ provincial electorate has reportedly angered ethnic separatists in New Caledonia triggering them to riot in Noumea since Monday night.
Ethnic Kanaks rejected a proposed constitutional reform at the national assembly that expands New Caledonia’s electorate to include voters who arrive from mainland France in the past 25 years, fearing it would dilute their votes.
Groups of demonstrators took over several roundabouts and confronted police, who responded with non-lethal rounds, while the territory’s high commissioner said shots had been fired at security forces during the riots.
Hundreds of cars were set on fire, as were more than 30 businesses, shops and factories, according to a group of employers’ representatives.
The group issued an appeal for calm and said nearly 1,000 jobs on the island had been put at risk by the unrest.
The fire brigade recorded nearly 1,500 calls and counted around 200 fires in the overnight unrest.
At least two car dealerships and a bottling factory in the capital Noumea were set on fire in arson attacks, an Agence France-Presse journalist saw.
The island’s public transport network has also been cut off, with the territory’s flag carrier Aircalin announcing that it was cancelling all its flights for Tuesday.
A total of 36 people were arrested and 30 police officers injured, according to authorities, who also announced a night-time curfew on Tuesday and a ban on public gatherings.
No deaths have been reported.
While the situation appeared more calm in parts of Noumea on Tuesday, there were still clashes in the suburbs, where a supermarket was looted after being rammed during the night.
Many other businesses also bore the marks of attempted break-ins and few shops were open. Long queues were forming in front of the few that are still open.
