The move hopes to create space for political dialogue with protesters in the wake of recent unrest.
French President Emmanuel Macron has decided to lift the state of emergency in the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia in a move meant to allow political dialogue following the unrest that left seven people dead and a trail of destruction, his office said.
The decision aims at “enabling meetings of the various components” such as the pro-independence movement Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front . In the statement, he insisted it is “the necessary condition for the opening of concrete and serious negotiations”.The statement said 480 additional gendarmes will arrive on the archipelago “in the next few hours”, putting security reinforcements at more than 3,500. The seven people killed in shootings include two gendarmes.
This month’s unrest erupted as the French legislature in Paris debated amending the French constitution to change voter lists in New Caledonia.The leader of a pro-independence party in New Caledonia on Saturday called on supporters to “remain mobilised” across the French Pacific archipelago and “maintain resistance” against the Paris government’s efforts to impose electoral reforms that the Indigenous Kanak people fear would further marginalise them.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
New Caledonia: France bolsters security forces on island after deadly rioting over Paris voting reformsA proposed change to elections by President Emmanuel Macron's government is the latest flashpoint in long-standing tensions over French rule of the mineral-producing Pacific island some 930 miles east of Australia.
Read more »
Macron heads to New Caledonia as Australia and New Zealand evacuate citizens after deadly riotsSix people, including two police officers, have been killed in the violence which erupted after protests over voting reforms being pushed through by Mr Macron's government.
Read more »
New Caledonia: State of emergency to be declared as riots rage in French Pacific territoryAt least two people have been killed and more than 300 injured in the riots, as France's National Assembly approves controversial changes to voting rules in the territory in the South Pacific.
Read more »
French president convenes ministers to discuss violence in New CaledoniaOn Tuesday, the French Interior Ministry sent police reinforcements to New Caledonia.
Read more »
French president convenes ministers to discuss violence in New CaledoniaOn Tuesday, the French Interior Ministry sent police reinforcements to New Caledonia.
Read more »
France imposes state of emergency on Pacific territory rocked by violenceFour people have died in New Caledonia amid protests over voting changes.
Read more »