2024 New Caledonia unrest

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2024 New Caledonia unrest
Date13 May 2024 – present
(5 days)
Location
New Caledonia
Caused by
  • Attempt to modify France's constitution to enlarge the electorate in New Caledonia
MethodsProtests, riots, arson, looting
StatusOngoing
Parties
Counter-protesters
Number
~9,000 New Caledonian rioters
1,700 military personnel[4]
Casualties
Death(s)6
Injuries300+
Arrested200+

In May 2024, protests broke out in New Caledonia, a sui generis collectivity of overseas France in the Pacific Ocean.[5]

Violence broke out following a controversial voting reform aiming to ease existing restrictions which prevent up to one fifth of the population from voting in provincial elections.[6] Following the Nouméa Accord, the electorate for local election was restricted to pre-1998 residents of the islands and their descendants who live continuously on the territory for at least 10 years. The system, which excludes migrants from European and Polynesian parts of France, including their now adult children, was ruled by the ECtHR as valid "as part of a decolonization process" but "only if temporary".

Following the votes against independence in the 2018, 2020 and 2021 referendums, the system was considered obsolete as the process of the Nouméa Accord had ended. This was however rejected by independentists who, having boycotted the 2021 referendum, rejected its legitimacy and considered the process still continuing.

The French government wants to allow people who have resided in the territory for over 10 years to be able to vote in local elections[7] The reform has been decried for diluting the political voice of the indigenous Melanesian Kanak people by effectively allowing more people of European and Polynesian descent to vote.[8]

Context

New Caledonia location

New Caledonia is a French overseas territory in the southwest Pacific. It has a population of about 270,000; with the indigenous Kanak people constituting 44% of the population, the predominantly French Caldoche constituting 34%, and other ethnic minorities (including Wallisians and Tahitians) constituting the remainder. New Caledonia became a French overseas territory in 1946 and has representatives in both houses of the French Parliament, while the President of France serves as the territory's head of state. France maintains jurisdiction over New Caledonia's defence and internal security. In 1998, the Nouméa Accord was signed, facilitating a transition toward its current large autonomy within the French legal system as a sui generis collectivity. As part of the Accord, New Caledonia was allowed to hold three referendums to decide on the future status of the territory, with voting rights restricted to indigenous Kanak and other inhabitants living in New Caledonia before 1998.[9]

"Frozen" electorate

As part of the Nouméa Accord of 1998, the population of New Caledonia continue to vote in national elections—for the French president and National Assembly—but the number of people who can vote in provincial elections as well as independence referendums is restricted. This so-called "frozen electorate" consists only of those who were already living in New Caledonia in 1998 as well as their children, with the condition that they lived continuously on the Islands in the ten years previous to each election. This effectively deprived of voting rights the later migrants and their children from European France as well as the important local community originating from Polynesia, in particular from Wallis and Futuna. Excluded voters amounted to 8,000 in 1999, 18,000 in 2009 and 42,000 in 2023. That last year, the "frozen" eligible electorate numbered 178,000 while the total electorate able to vote in national elections amounted to 220,000, thus excluding one voter out of five from participating in provincial elections.[7][10]

Following a ruling by the French Constitutional Council in 1999 attempting to limit the restriction to a ten-year limit, a so-called "slippery electorate", French president Jacques Chirac amended the constitution in 2007 to include back the "frozen electorate" rule on the request of independentists. This was ruled as valid "as part of a decolonization process" and "only if temporary" by the European Court of Human Rights.[7][11]

Situation after independence referendums

New Caledonia then had three consecutive independence referendums (in 2018, 2020 and 2021), all of which voted to remain a part of France, although the 2021 referendum was boycotted by most supporters of independence. The system was considered obsolete as the process of the Nouméa Accord had ended.[12] The situation thus made the post-referendum transition in need of an clear end via a change of institutions to a definitive form, and simultaneously required that any change had to be made through a revision of the constitution.[7][10][9]

The refusal of the independentists to recognize the result of the third referendum, which they boycotted, led to an institutional deadlock as local talks ground to a halt, while the next provincial election—scheduled for 15 December 2024—loomed closer. On 26 December 2023, the Conseil d'État concluded that the current rules deviate in a particularly significant way from the principles of universality and equality of suffrage, by denying the right to vote to people born in New Caledonia or who have resided there for several decades.[7][10][9]

At the beginning of 2024, the French government thus began a revision of the constitution which would "unfreeze" the electorate by keeping only the ten-year limit, making it "slippery" again. This was calculated to allow 25,841 people into the electorate out of the 42,000 excluded : 12,441 citizens who were born and grew up on New-Calédonia who would automaticaly join the electorate, and up to 13,400 citizens who can justify of a continuous ten years residence on New-Caledonia, who would be able to individually request to join it[13]. A total of 16,000 citizens would remain excluded from participating in the provincial election[13]. It included a clause that would prevent it to be implemented if a local deal between pro- and anti-independentists was made at the very least ten days before the election.[10][14][15]

A parliamentary group of both left- and right-wing deputies sent by the National Assembly to consult politics, religious and tribal leaders concluded on the "legal and democratic necessity" of "unfreezing" the electorate, all while advising waiting several more months before implementing it. In its report released mid-March, it noted in particular the pessimist mood prevalent on the island because of the chaotic political situation and permanent uncertainty about its future for several years, causing the migration of New Caledonians, which are often those excluded from the electorate, but also of educated Kanaks. This demographic situation clashed with the independentist claim of a demographic replacement via "massive immigration". The report caused controversy by relaying the opinion of several independentist among which was Roch Wamytan, Président of the Congress of New Caledonia, who asked whether Emmanuel Macron was considering "recolonizing" New Caledonia and asserted that the "tolerance's threshold of whites" by Kanaks had been reached. Members of the independentist Caledonian Union notably assured that "If you make a change of the electorate, it will be war. Our youth is ready to go for it. If we have to sacrifice a thousand, we will do so".[16][17]

On 2 April 2024, the French Senate, the French Parliament's upper house, voted to endorse constitutional amendments tabled by Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin to extend suffrage to those who had been residing in New Caledonia for an uninterrupted 10 years.[9] On 15 April, groups of supporters and opponents staged competing marches in Nouméa in response to the proposed French constitutional amendment. The pro-independence march was organised by a field action coordination committee close to Union Calédonienne (UC), which is part of the FLNKS umbrella. The pro-French march was organised by the two pro-French parties Le Rassemblement and Les Loyalistes [fr]. The French High Commission estimated that a total of 40,000 people (15% of the territory's 270,000 strong population) attended the marches. Pro-independence organisers claimed 58,000 attended their rally and pro-French organisers claimed 35,000 attended their rally.[18]

On 15 May, the National Assembly, the French Parliament's lower house, voted in favour of the constitutional amendments by a margin of 351 to 153 votes. While right-wing parties supported "unfreezing" the list of voters, left-wing parties voted against the amendments. After passing both houses, the constitutional amendments still need to be approved by a two third majority of the Congress of the French Parliament (a joint sitting of both the National Assembly and Senate).[9]

Response to the bill

Local leaders said that giving "foreigners" the right to vote would dilute the vote of indigenous Kanak people and increase the vote share for pro-France politicians.[19][20]

Unrest

Supermarkets and car dealerships were looted and vehicles and businesses were burned.[21][22] Areas affected include Nouméa and the neighbouring towns of Dumbéa and Le Mont-Dore.[23] Authorities imposed a curfew and public gatherings were banned for two days.[24][25] The French Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin announced that police reinforcements were being sent to the island.[26] Thirty-six protesters were arrested.[27]

Clashes erupted between supporters and opponents of independence.[28] Three Kanak protestors were killed during a drive-by shooting committed by someone whose car was stopped at a barricade, while a gendarme was killed in an ambush.[29][30]

Prime Minister of France Gabriel Attal deployed the army to protect ports and airports, and issued a ban on TikTok in response,[31] which French authorities said had previously been used to organize riots.[32]

Casualties

Between 13 and 16 May, five people were killed, including two gendarmes. Another 64 police officers were injured.[33] Five independence activists accused of violence were placed under house arrest.[34]

On 16 May, the death of another French gendarme in New Caledonia from accidental gunshot wounds was announced by Gérald Darmanin in a message to Agence France-Presse.[35]

On 18 May, a Caldoche man was shot dead in a gunfight in Kaala-Gomen, after being denied passage with his son at a roadblock monitored by Kanak protesters. Two Kanak protesters were injured. [36]

Impact

The looting and destruction cost more than 200 million euros in damage. More than 150 firms were destroyed and about 1,750 jobs were lost.[37][38] La Tontouta International Airport was closed for commercial flights.[34]

According to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry president, 80 to 90% of the grocery distribution network has been taken out.[34]

The Olympic Torch Relay for the 2024 Paris Olympics, which was to pass New Caledonia on 11 June, will not pass the territory, as announced on 17 May.[39]

The Nouméa buses' network is suspended since 14 May and until further notice, citing "security reasons". [40]

Responses

New Caledonia

In response to the unrest, pro-independence President of the Government of New Caledonia Louis Mapou called for a "return to reason". Meanwhile, the FLNKS called for "calm, peace, stability and reason", the lifting of blockades and the withdrawal of the controversial French constitutional amendments.[9][41] He also appealed to French President Emmanuel Macron to prioritise a comprehensive agreement between "all political leaders of New Caledonia, to pave the way for the archipelago's long-term political future".[41]

A group affiliated with the National Union for Independence (UNI) also stated they were "moved by and deplored the exactions and violence taking place". North Province provincial assembly UNI member Patricia Goa said it was "necessary to preserve all that we have built together for over thirty years and that the priority was to preserve peace, social cohesion".[41]

Jacques Lalié [fr], the anti-independence President of the Loyalty Islands Province, said absolute priority must be given to dialogue and the search for intelligence to reach a consensus. Louis Le Franc [fr], the French High Commissioner to New Caledonia, told the media he would use military force "if necessary" and that reinforcements from metropolitan France would arrive on 16 May.[9]

The economy and unemployment were reportedly factors in the unrest due to the local nickel mining economy having experienced a downturn.[42]

Metropolitan France

Emmanuel Macron indicated that he would delay convening the upcoming Congress of the French Parliament until at least June 2024 "to give a chance for dialogue and consensus". He also extended an invitation to New Caledonian political leaders to attend a meeting in Paris to cover various including the constitutional amendments around franchise extension and the current economic crisis in the nickel industry sector. The Paris meeting is scheduled to take place in late May 2024 under the supervision of French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal.[9]

International

Governments

  •  Azerbaijan: On 16 May, French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin accused Azerbaijan of interfering in the unrest on France 2, saying "Sur l'Azerbaïdjan, ce n'est pas un fantasme, c'est une réalité" ("Regarding Azerbaijan, it is not theatre, it is reality"), referring to a previous claim the country was stirring troubles in New Caledonia in retaliation for French military aid to Armenia. He then accused independentists of having made a deal with Baku.[43] Azerbaijan later rejected Darmanin's accusations.[44]
  •  New Zealand: On 14 May, Foreign Minister Winston Peters cancelled plans to visit New Caledonia in response to the unrest. National carrier Air New Zealand also stated it was monitoring the situation in the territory ahead of its next flight to Nouméa at 8.25am on 18 May.[45] Following the closure of La Tontouta International Airport, the airline cancelled its flights to Nouméa scheduled for 18 and 20 May.[46] The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed that 219 New Zealanders were registered with Safe Travel in New Caledonia. Peters confirmed that the Government was exploring ways of evacuating New Zealanders including deploying the Royal New Zealand Air Force. While the New Zealand Consulate General remained open, staff were working remotely due to safety concerns.[47]

Non-state organisations

See also

References

  1. ^ "France accuses Azerbaijan of fomenting political violence in New Caledonia". Euronews. 17 May 2024. Archived from the original on 17 May 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  2. ^ Molinié, William. "Nouvelle-Calédonie : terrain de jeu des services secrets turcs et azerbaïdjanais". Europe 1. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  3. ^ "French report blames Turkey for interference in New Caledonia unrest". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  4. ^ "REPLAY. Violences en Nouvelle-Calédonie : le bilan humain est passé cinq morts, Gabriel Attal annonce un millier de forces de sécurité supplémentaires en cours de déploiement". Nouvelle-Calédonie la 1ère (in French). 16 May 2024. Archived from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  5. ^ "About New Caledonia". New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  6. ^ "New Caledonia: Two dead as riots escalate after French vote". BBC News. 15 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e Wéry, Claudine (20 January 2005). "Nouvelle-Calédonie : la controverse sur le gel du corps électoral continue" [New Caledonia: the controversy over the freezing of the electorate continues]. Le Monde (in French). ISSN 1950-6244. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  8. ^ "New Caledonia announces curfew after riots over voting reforms". Le Monde.fr. Agence France-Presse. 14 May 2024. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h "Explainer: What sparked New Caledonia's deadly civil unrest?". RNZ. 16 May 2024. Archived from the original on 16 May 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  10. ^ a b c d "Dégel du corps électoral calédonien : 12 clés pour comprendre le projet de loi constitutionnelle" [Thawing of the New Caledonian electorate: 12 keys to understanding the draft constitutional law]. Nouvelle-Calédonie la 1ère (in French). France Info. 26 March 2024. Archived from the original on 13 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  11. ^ "Révisions constitutionnelles de février 2007" [Constitutional Law No. 2007-237 of February 23, 2007 amending Article 77 of the Constitution [Electoral body of New Caledonia]]. Constitutional Council (in French). Archived from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  12. ^ https://blog.juspoliticum.com/2022/01/03/3eme-referendum-en-nouvelle-caledonie-laccord-de-noumea-est%E2%80%91il-vraiment-caduc-par-lea-havard/
  13. ^ a b https://www.senat.fr/rap/l23-441/l23-441_mono.html#toc127
  14. ^ Becel, Rose Amélie (13 February 2024). "Nouvelle-Calédonie : un projet de loi constitutionnelle pour élargir le corps électoral prévu au Sénat en mars" [New Caledonia: a constitutional bill to expand the electoral body planned for the Senate in March]. Public Sénat (in French). Archived from the original on 13 May 2024. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  15. ^ "Nouvelle-Calédonie: l'Assemblée nationale adopte le projet de révision constitutionnelle" [New Caledonia: the National Assembly adopts the constitutional revision project]. BFMTV. Agence France-Presse. 15 May 2024. Archived from the original on 15 May 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  16. ^ "Dégel : « un texte qui répond à une nécessité juridique et démocratique »" [Dégel: "a text which responds to a legal and democratic necessity"]. La Voix du Caillou. 1 May 2024. Archived from the original on 17 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  17. ^ Ferbos, Aude (16 May 2024). "Émeutes en Nouvelle-Calédonie : « On a une population qui fait preuve d'un racisme extrême »" [Riots in New Caledonia: "We have a population that demonstrates extreme racism"]. SudOuest.fr. Archived from the original on 16 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  18. ^ Decloitre, Patrick (15 April 2024). "New Caledonia: Flags and emotions high over proposed changes". RNZ. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  19. ^ Stargardter, Gabriel (14 May 2024). "Explainer: Why are there riots in New Caledonia against France's voting reform?". Reuters.
  20. ^ "France imposes curfew in New Caledonia after unrest by people who have long sought independence". ABC News. 14 May 2024. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  21. ^ Livingstone, Helen (14 May 2024). "New Caledonia imposes curfew after day of violent protests against constitutional change". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 17 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  22. ^ Kaminov, Liza (14 May 2024). "Pro-independence protests in French territory of New Caledonia turn violent". France 24. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  23. ^ "New Caledonia: 'Shots fired' at police in French territory amid riots over voting reforms". France 24. 14 May 2024. Archived from the original on 15 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  24. ^ Perelman, Marc (14 May 2024). "France imposes curfew in New Caledonia after unrest over voting reform". France 24. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  25. ^ Zhuang, Yan (14 May 2024). "Curfew Imposed Amid Protests in Pacific Territory of New Caledonia". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  26. ^ Press, Associated (14 May 2024). "France imposes curfew in New Caledonia to quell independence-driven unrest". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  27. ^ Staff, Our Foreign (14 May 2024). "'High-calibre weapons' fired in riots on French Pacific island". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 15 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  28. ^ "France backs controversial New Caledonia vote changes amid continued unrest". Al Jazeera. 15 May 2024. Archived from the original on 15 May 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  29. ^ "Three dead in New Caledonia amid violent unrest — reports". 1News. 15 May 2024. Archived from the original on 15 May 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  30. ^ Cazaux, Stéphane (15 May 2024). "Émeutes en Nouvelle-Calédonie : le gendarme blessé par balle est décédé". Actu17.fr (in French). Archived from the original on 15 May 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  31. ^ "Nouvelle-Calédonie : Gabriel Attal annonce le déploiement de l'armée, le réseau social TikTok interdit" [New Caledonia: Gabriel Attal announces the deployment of the army, the social network TikTok banned]. France Bleu (in French). 15 May 2024. Archived from the original on 15 May 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  32. ^ "New Caledonia riots: France declares state of emergency, bans TikTok". South China Morning Post. 16 May 2024. Archived from the original on 16 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  33. ^ "En direct, émeutes en Nouvelle-Calédonie : Gérald Darmanin annonce l'arrivée de renforts" [Live, riots in New Caledonia: Gérald Darmanin announces the arrival of reinforcements]. Le Monde.fr (in French). Archived from the original on 16 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  34. ^ a b c Mazzoni, Julien (17 May 2024). "New Caledonia riots: parts of territory 'out of state control', French representative says". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 17 May 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  35. ^ "Nouvelle-Calédonie : Un gendarme tué ce matin à la suite « d'un tir accidentel », annonce Gérald Darmanin" [New Caledonia: A gendarme killed this morning due to an accidental shooting, announces Gérald Darmanin]. Le Monde (in French). 16 May 2024. Archived from the original on 16 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  36. ^ "Un mort et deux blessés dans un échange de tirs au niveau d'un barrage à Kaala-Gomen, dans la province Nord" [One killed and two injured in a gunfight at a roadblock in Kaala-Gomen, in the Nord province]. Le Monde (in French). 18 May 2024. Archived from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  37. ^ Moniteur, Le (16 May 2024). "Nouvelle-Calédonie: les dégâts des émeutes estimés à 200 millions d'euros" [New Caledonia: damage from riots estimated at 200 million euros]. Le Mouniteur (in French). Archived from the original on 16 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  38. ^ Dumoulin, Sébastien (16 May 2024). "Nouvelle-Calédonie : des dégâts économiques déjà considérables" [New Caledonia: economic damage already considerable]. Les Echos (in French). Archived from the original on 16 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  39. ^ "Émeutes en Nouvelle-Calédonie – JO de Paris 2024 : le Premier ministre annonce que la flamme olympique ne passera pas sur l'archipel". lindependant.fr (in French). Archived from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  40. ^ "SYNTHESE. Nouvelle-Calédonie : nuit d'émeutes dans le Grand Nouméa". Nouvelle-Calédonie la 1ère (in French). 14 May 2024. Archived from the original on 17 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  41. ^ a b c Decloitre, Patrick (15 May 2024). "New Caledonia unrest: Pro-independence calls for calm 'to preserve peace'". RNZ. Archived from the original on 16 May 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  42. ^ "'Ripped open a seam in society': Why New Caledonia's violent riots this week are unsurprising for many". ABC News. 17 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  43. ^ "Nouvelle-Calédonie : Gérald Darmanin accuse l'Azerbaidjan d'ingérence" [New Caledonia: Gérald Darmanin accuses Azerbaijan of interfering]. Le Monde (in French). 16 May 2024. Archived from the original on 16 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  44. ^ "Azerbaijan Rejects 'Baseless' French Claims Of Interference In New Caledonia". Barron's. Agence France-Presse. 16 May 2024. Archived from the original on 16 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  45. ^ "Winston Peters cancels New Caledonia visit amid violent unrest". RNZ. 14 May 2024. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  46. ^ "New Caledonia's Nouméa airport is closed until Tuesday, Air New Zealand says". RNZ. 17 May 2024. Archived from the original on 17 May 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  47. ^ Crimp, Lauren (17 May 2024). "NZers trapped by New Caledonia riots feel 'abandoned' by their own country". RNZ. Archived from the original on 17 May 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  48. ^ "'It's a revolution here, using Tiktok' – Pro-independence activist on New Caledonia unrest". RNZ. 17 May 2024. Archived from the original on 17 May 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
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