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French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a meeting with New Caledonian elected officials and local representatives at the residence of French High Commissioner Louis Lefranc in Noumea, the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia, May 23, 2024.
photo: Pool/Ludovic Marin/AFP
France is “verifying” the possibility of sending a high-level delegation to New Caledonia before or after the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Summit in Tonga at the end of this month.
The leaders of the Forum have written to French President Emmanuel Macron, requesting that the Forum’s Committee of Ministers be sent to Noumea to gather information from all parties involved in the current crisis.
France’s ambassador to the Pacific, Véronique Roger-Lacan, will travel to Suva on Friday to attend a meeting of forum foreign ministers to “continue the dialogue … and explain the facts”.
She told New Zealand’s Pacific Radio that sending a mission to New Caledonia was a request and whether it was “feasible” was up to the Pacific Islands Forum to decide.
“Paris is verifying whether it can take place before or after the summit. We still need information,” she said.
Asked if France would be willing to receive a visit from a Pacific leader, Roger Lacan said: “Paris is always open to dialogue.”
On Monday, the incoming Pacific Islands Forum chair, Tonga’s Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni, confirmed he was still waiting to “receive any communication from Paris”.
“It is very important that the Pacific Islands Forum visits New Caledonia before the leaders’ meeting,” he said.
But Roger Lacan said it depends on Paris’ decision.
“New Caledonia is French territory and the state has the right to decide who enters French territory, when and how.”
The violent unrest in Noumea came nearly three months after a French constitutional amendment changed voter qualifications for New Caledonia’s local elections, which pro-independence groups said would marginalize the indigenous Kanak people.
French security forces were still working to clear roadblocks, mainly in the capital, Noumea, and its suburbs.
The death toll was 10, including 8 civilians and 2 gendarmes. Senior separatist leaders accused of inciting civil unrest are currently being held in a prison in mainland France.
It is estimated that more than 800 buildings and businesses have been looted and burned by rioters.
There are reports that people Leave the territory forever After the turmoil.
This photo shows a Kanak flag flying next to a burning vehicle at an independence activist roadblock in Ratamoa, Paita, in the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia, on May 19, 2024.
photo: Delphine Mayer/AFP
“Listen to all viewpoints”
But Roger Lacan refuted this claim, saying those who left were “mostly expatriates” and that “immigration is fundamental to humanity.”
“A lot of industries were closed because of the burning and the riots, and maybe those people were unsure if any would reopen.
“When a place is no longer worth investing in, people move on. That’s normal life.”
She harshly criticised the Pacific media for its “unbalanced coverage of the situation in New Caledonia”.
“Clearly people in the Pacific have been briefed on one side, not all sides, and they need to hear all viewpoints.”
St. Louis still out of control
She said safety was now “almost restored”.
“The last unstable area is the Saint-Louis community, where 16,000 New Caledonians are still unable to move freely due to frequent unrest.
“But other than that, safety has been restored,” she added.
French security forces were still working to clear roadblocks, mainly in the capital, Noumea, and its suburbs.
photo: French High Commission
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