NOUMEA (AFP) – France has deployed more than 600 armed police to take control of a road in New Caledonia that connects the capital Noumea to its international airport.
New Caledonia is a French territory with a special status, located east of Australia. The tribals are protesting against the new change in election rules. They fear a loss of political influence over plans to give all people living on the islands the right to vote for at least ten years.
The archipelago east of Australia has been in turmoil for six days. Six people have been killed and hundreds injured since the riots began. Groups of people set fire to a gas station and looted it, the French representative’s office said. New Caledonia’s pro-independence crowd has blocked access to the airport. Flights to and from New Caledonia have been cancelled.
Tourists are stranded, especially with neighboring Australia and New Zealand poised to expel them once they get the green light from France. Mediation efforts have so far failed and French President Emmanuel Macron is trying to contact independence supporters and opponents to bring the parties to the table.
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