France's Macron to visit riot-scarred New Caledonia
Published: 04:05 PM,May 21,2024 | EDITED : 08:05 PM,May 21,2024
NOUMEA: French President Emmanuel Macron will visit riot-hit New Caledonia, Paris said Tuesday, as tourists are evacuated from the Pacific territory that has suffered over a week of unrest.
Macron 'will leave as soon as this evening,' government spokeswoman Prisca Thevenot said, hoping to soothe tempers over his government's voting reform plans rejected by indigenous Kanaks.
Earlier Tuesday an Australian Air Force transport aircraft evacuated trapped tourists from a small domestic airport in New Caledonia's capital Noumea, as separatist roadblocks still hinder access to the international hub.
Australia and New Zealand sent an initial batch of planes to Noumea Magenta airport, where AFP correspondents saw the first Australian C-130 Hercules aircraft land and several coaches waiting.
'Passengers are being prioritised based on need. We continue to work on further flights,' Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on social media, announcing two initial flights.
The first transport with evacuees landed in Brisbane in eastern Australia around 7:00 pm Tuesday.
A second C-130 was slated to land in Auckland, New Zealand around 1000 GMT, with Foreign Minister Winston Peters saying it would bring '50 passengers with the most pressing needs' and promising 'subsequent flights in coming days'.
The Pacific territory of 270,000 people has been in turmoil since May 13, when violence erupted over French plans to impose new voting rules that would give tens of thousands of non-indigenous residents voting rights.
Local prosecutors said Tuesday that around 400 shops and businesses had been damaged, many of them by fire, while the CCI on Monday tallied 150 businesses 'looted and set on fire'.
The French authorities in New Caledonia said police had so far arrested nearly 270 'rioters'.
French forces were slowly restoring calm across the territory, clearing burned-out vehicles from roads, and deploying troops to protect public buildings, authorities said.
French officials said at the weekend that security forces had destroyed 76 roadblocks along the critical 60-kilometre road from Noumea to La Tontouta airport.
Kanaks with scarfs over their faces, some armed with homemade catapults, were still manning a roadblock Tuesday on the road to the international airport.
In the Noumea beachside suburb of Magenta, journalists saw abandoned roadblocks and locals clearing up the streets.
France is considering extending a 12-day state of emergency, which has led to a night-time curfew, house arrests of suspected ringleaders. — AFP
Macron 'will leave as soon as this evening,' government spokeswoman Prisca Thevenot said, hoping to soothe tempers over his government's voting reform plans rejected by indigenous Kanaks.
Earlier Tuesday an Australian Air Force transport aircraft evacuated trapped tourists from a small domestic airport in New Caledonia's capital Noumea, as separatist roadblocks still hinder access to the international hub.
Australia and New Zealand sent an initial batch of planes to Noumea Magenta airport, where AFP correspondents saw the first Australian C-130 Hercules aircraft land and several coaches waiting.
'Passengers are being prioritised based on need. We continue to work on further flights,' Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on social media, announcing two initial flights.
The first transport with evacuees landed in Brisbane in eastern Australia around 7:00 pm Tuesday.
A second C-130 was slated to land in Auckland, New Zealand around 1000 GMT, with Foreign Minister Winston Peters saying it would bring '50 passengers with the most pressing needs' and promising 'subsequent flights in coming days'.
The Pacific territory of 270,000 people has been in turmoil since May 13, when violence erupted over French plans to impose new voting rules that would give tens of thousands of non-indigenous residents voting rights.
Local prosecutors said Tuesday that around 400 shops and businesses had been damaged, many of them by fire, while the CCI on Monday tallied 150 businesses 'looted and set on fire'.
The French authorities in New Caledonia said police had so far arrested nearly 270 'rioters'.
French forces were slowly restoring calm across the territory, clearing burned-out vehicles from roads, and deploying troops to protect public buildings, authorities said.
French officials said at the weekend that security forces had destroyed 76 roadblocks along the critical 60-kilometre road from Noumea to La Tontouta airport.
Kanaks with scarfs over their faces, some armed with homemade catapults, were still manning a roadblock Tuesday on the road to the international airport.
In the Noumea beachside suburb of Magenta, journalists saw abandoned roadblocks and locals clearing up the streets.
France is considering extending a 12-day state of emergency, which has led to a night-time curfew, house arrests of suspected ringleaders. — AFP