New Caledonia was on edge on Tuesday, with fears tensions might spill over into recent unrest because the territory marked the anniversary of the French takeover – and a few independence figures ready to situation requires sovereignty.
September 24 is a symbolic day in New Caledonia, lengthy thought to be a day of mourning among the many Indigenous Kanak inhabitants. This yr the anniversary comes after months of deadly unrest and heightened tensions within the French Pacific territory between pro-independence Kanak folks and the communities loyal to Paris.
Authorities have stepped up the police presence, tightened curfews, and banned alcohol and gatherings over the four-day vacation interval. Whereas relative calm had returned to many of the territory in latest weeks, studies on Thursday that two men had been shot dead throughout a police operation south of Nouméa rekindled the anger of Kanak youth.
In Might, unrest within the territory erupted after information of plans in France for a bill to enlarge the electoral body for native elections. The transfer angered Kanak folks – who make up about 41% of the inhabitants – over fears it will weaken their electoral energy and undermine longstanding efforts to safe independence. 13 folks, principally Kanaks, and together with two cops, have been killed and almost 3,000 folks arrested over the violence.
In Nouméa’s Tuband district, the place clashes have been frequent since Might, barricades had been erected forward of Tuesday. The neighbourhood was coated in purple, white and blue flags. They confronted the Kanaky flags of the neighbourhood reverse, an emblem of two teams residing subsequent to one another, with out ever actually mixing.
“We’re not as scared as we had been initially of the riots, however we’re not resistant to younger folks eager to mark the date,” mentioned Mathieu, a Tuband resident in his 50s.
About 6,000 officers, gendarmes and firefighters had been to be deployed throughout New Caledonia amid fears of recent clashes.
The loyalists have referred to as on supporters within the capital, Nouméa, to mark the 171st anniversary of the French takeover by honking horns throughout a radio broadcast of France’s nationwide anthem, La Marseillaise. Individually, the Nationwide Council of Chiefs of the Kanak folks was to satisfy on the neighbouring Maré island and was anticipated to unilaterally announce a declaration of sovereignty.
Nonetheless, some within the independence motion downplayed the danger of violence on Tuesday.
“There are rumours, but it surely received’t be that. It received’t be a declaration of independence for Kanaky,” Marcel Toyon, one of many leaders of CCAT, the group coordinating pro-independence actions on the bottom, mentioned in a video posted on his Fb web page this week.
In Maré, Inaat ne Kanaky, the council of nice customary chiefs, was to carry a ceremony to “unilaterally declare the sovereignty of the chiefdoms over their customary territories,” the council mentioned.
Roméo Zéoula, a conventional chief from the neighbouring Lifou island, was to be on the ceremony.
“This might be a symbolic gesture, to remind people who the taking of possession 171 years in the past was not respectable, after which we’ll go on this work to all of the nation’s customary authorities,” Zéoula mentioned.
‘We shouldn’t be afraid’
Within the Magenta district, which is commonly the scene of clashes between younger folks and the police, 30-year-old Abraham Neyoukoeo, like many different activists, additionally emphasised the necessity for recognition of the Kanak folks.
“Our battle goes past the political dimension. It’s a query of recognising our id, because it all the time has been. Recognition of our id and recognition that this land has been trodden for hundreds of years, because the Lapita [Kanak ancestors] lengthy earlier than the arrival of the white man.”
On Tuesday, he and his buddies peacefully flew the Kanaky flag “to mark the event”. The younger man with lengthy dreadlocks, who stood as much as the police within the early days of the riots, sought to reassure people who “the independence we’re combating for is for all Caledonians.”
“We shouldn’t be afraid, however we should always get to know one another higher,” he mentioned.
Tensions have simmered for many years between Kanak folks, who’ve lengthy sought to interrupt free from France after affected by strict segregation insurance policies and widespread discrimination.
The latest outbreak comes at a time of political change in France, as new prime minister Michel Barnier formed a government on Saturday. Barnier’s first choice on New Caledonia is prone to be whether or not to carry or postpone provincial elections scheduled for 15 December.
Regardless of the issues about what would possibly unfold on 24 September, in Tuband, Mathieu, who arrived in New Caledonia about 15 years in the past, remained optimistic concerning the territory’s future.
“Our youngsters have grown up right here, it’s our house, we’ve invested the whole lot right here and we now have no intention of leaving, even when we did give it some thought at first …
“I believe we should always focus extra on what brings us collectively reasonably than what separates us,” he mentioned.