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For weeks, emergency vehicles have been the target of stones, insults and even gunfire. The increase in violence is something that firefighters, civil protection personnel, ambulance crews and even paramedics are not used to. This is a sad comment by General Frédéric Marchi-Lessia, the Director of Civil Security of New Caledonia. He was a guest of NC 1ère News on Tuesday, June 25.
Bullet holes in fire trucks, insults, booby traps: New Caledonia’s emergency services have been the victims of numerous abuses in recent days. ‘This is not normal’Frédéric Marchi-Leccia, Director of Civil Security, NC la 1 TV News Guesttimethis Tuesday, June 25th.
Lorelei Aubry: Recently, a fire truck was riddled with bullet holes. What did that teach you?
Frederic Marchi-Leccia: Fear, sadness… Our mission can be summed up in two words: help! We do not talk about politics, religion, social aspects. When we fulfill this mission, we cannot be assigned to tasks. I represent paramedics, ambulance drivers, whatever the nature of the person who provides help. It is not normal that we are victims of insults, stones and recently shootings. It is not normal that violence against rescuers increases!
LA: Has the violence been a constant since the riots began?
F.ML: It was not at the beginning that we got through easily, even if we were insulted. But there we are witnessing the rise of power and throwing stones. This is real opposition. Certain machines no longer pass in certain places. As evidence, I have a vehicle that was going to the north for reinforcements, which was stopped in Tomo and could not pass.
LA: What do you think is the reason for the increase in violence?
F.ML: I have the impression that all discernment disappears in the presence of anything that might represent authority. We have uniforms, we have vehicles with blue flashing lights, we have codes that perhaps now incite hatred, just as the police also incite hatred.
I think everybody’s mission is mixed, obviously the police are not born to be stoned or insulted, obviously, but the mission is different. I added that by shooting at the emergency services, we are shooting at the children of this country. The firefighters at Caledonia are first and foremost the children of this country.
This is a new step in the degradation of common life
Frédéric Marchi-Leccia, Director General of Civil Security
LA: Do you think the use of firearms against emergency vehicles in Doumbea was an isolated act? How did the agents feel about it?
F.ML: I hope this was an isolated act. I know the officers who were the victims of these shootings, and they are strong men. I can tell you, thank God, they are suffering in spirit and not in body.
But we are not used to facing this situation, we are not born to be attacked, the aggressive dimension is not in our DNA, even if our work is difficult. We are not ready for this. Unfortunately, in mainland France this situation is commonplace, but not in New Caledonia. This is a new step in the degradation of common life.
LA: Are agencies, in fact, more reluctant to enter this space?
F.ML: We feel reluctant and frustrated. When we expect to be attacked, we are less enthusiastic about going there, but we go there anyway. But the most frustrating thing is not being able to help, being blocked, not being able to put out the fires…
I am prepared to say sorry to all those who were not helped in these events, we did not do our job, we did not provide the care that they expected, and it is extremely painful.
LA: There were other incidents in the commune, break-ins, traps…
F.ML: During the intervention we found that the device that exploded when asked for help worked more or less well. No injuries were caused, but the desire to kill or even harm was shown, and it was very serious.
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