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submitted 5 months ago by DolphinMath@slrpnk.net to c/world@lemmy.world

SYDNEY, May 16 (Reuters) - Armed forces were protecting New Caledonia's two airports and port after a third night of violent riots that have killed four people, the Pacific Island's top French official said on Thursday morning, adding at least four alleged instigators were under house arrest.

In three municipalities on the French-ruled island, gendarmes faced about 5,000 rioters, including between 3,000 and 4,000 in the capital Noumea, France's High Commissioner Louis Le Franc said in a televised press conference.

Two hundred people have been arrested, and 64 gendarmes and police injured, while road barricades put up by the protesters were causing a "dire situation" for medicine and food for the population, he added.

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[-] NegativeInf@lemmy.world 18 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Rioting broke out over a new bill, adopted by lawmakers in Paris on Tuesday, that will let French residents who have lived in New Caledonia for 10 years vote in provincial elections - a move some local leaders fear will dilute the indigenous Kanak vote.

So, an island 10500 miles away from France (Literally next to flipping Australia) is ruled by France. They wanna make it so french people that live there can vote in local elections. Sure sounds like a plan to move in more and more rich Europeans to slowly but surely erase its original peoples.

Do they get any say in any self determination? Any representation in the French government?

Also, while saying so many be in poor taste, these riots do seem rather... In keeping with French tradition.

[-] Ddinistrioll@lemmy.world 14 points 5 months ago

I understand why Caledonians don't like the bill, but to answer your questions: yes, they can vote for the French Government, as they are by law French Citizen (as well as Caledonian Citizen, in opposition to someone living in Marseille which only gets the French citizenship and no Provençal citizenship, for instance) They also have a higher autonomy than other French region or department (imo it's a good thing as they definitely have quite a different situation than metropolitan France regions)

I understand that this situation can look colonial-ish to outsiders, but according to the last referendum, a big majority of Caledonian people wishes to stay French. And they are full French citizens. This is a protest like those in Paris, against our (shitty?) gouvernement, not a protest for independence, afaik

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this post was submitted on 16 May 2024
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