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A resident casts his vote at a ballot box in Noumea.
photo: supply
New Caledonian voters will head to the polls this weekend amid tight security, nearly eight weeks after devastating violent riots broke out on the French Pacific archipelago.
They will vote for two representatives in the 577-seat French National Assembly, which has been dissolved by President Emmanuel Macron. Just before he unexpectedly called the election early This month.
The last French election was held two years ago.
The first round of voting will take place on Sunday, June 30, and the second round will take place on Sunday, July 7.
Since the beginning of May, the unrest has left nine people directly dead, hundreds of businesses and homes closed, looted and vandalized. The government has deployed more than 3,500 security forces, and the damage is estimated at €1.5 billion (NZ$2.64 billion).
Earlier this month, 86.5% of New Caledonian voters abstained from voting in the European Parliament elections.
It is expected that the participation rate in this election may be high.
Both incumbent presidents belong to the pro-French (loyalist) side.
On the pro-independence side, due to internal divisions, only the hard-line party (part of the Kanak Front, a coalition that also includes other moderate parties) managed to field a candidate.
French High Commissioner Louis Le Franck
photo: Screenshot/Facebook
Ban on public gatherings
French High Commissioner Louis Lefranc told the media he did not want to take any chances, even though no political party or municipality had publicly called for a boycott or any action against the vote.
He said all public gatherings would be banned, a curfew would be imposed and the sale and transport of guns, ammunition and alcohol would be prohibited.
“The number of registered voters for the legislative elections is 222,900; voting habits in New Caledonia are mostly in the morning. Therefore, the peak period is between 9 am and noon,” said Lefranc.
He said queues could form outside polling stations during these peak times, especially in the greater Noumea area, which includes the neighbouring cities of Paita, Dubea and Mont-Dore.
“We have put in place rules to ensure that voters going to the polls are not interfered with by groups or individuals who want to disrupt the exercise of this democratic right.”
Lennon calls for “giving peace a chance” in class
More public buildings, including schools and fire stations, were burned this week, and several schools were closed following the violence.
However, in Dumbea, Abogoti High School and 13 other schools partially reopened on Friday, with teachers focusing on workshops.
“We met with all the teachers and decided to mix several subjects,” music teacher Nicolas Le Yannou told public broadcaster. CNC No. 1.
“We chose a song by John Lennon that calls for peace (‘Give Peace a Chance’) and then we translated the lyrics into Spanish, French and the local Derehu language.
“That way everyone can express themselves without having to dwell on the difficult situations we’ve been through. For us, music is our way of escaping,” Le Ianno said.
Psychological assistance and counselling are also provided to students and teachers if required.
Paita Emergency Intervention Center burns down before official opening
photo: Caledonian Firefighters Union
A new fire station under construction near Noumea-Tontouta Airport, which was due to open later this year, burned down on Thursday.
Separatist leader’s home destroyed
On Wednesday morning, the home of moderate independence leader Victor Tutugoro, chairman of the Melanesian Progressive Alliance (PALIKA), was burned down by thugs.
The move drew condemnation from Le France newspaper, the New Caledonian government and the Governor of New Caledonia’s North Province, Paul Neotina.
Neotina, who belongs to the Kanak Liberation Party, said several other moderate FLNKS politicians had also been targeted and threatened in recent weeks.
Victor Tutugoro attends the 22nd Melanesian Spearhead Group Leaders Summit in Port Vila.
photo: RNZ Pacific/Kelvin Anthony
The Palika Political Bureau also condemned the attack and vandalism on Tutugoro’s residence.
Charles Washetine, a spokesman for Palika, called for calm and to lift all remaining roadblocks.
“The right to vote is the product of a painful shared history that requires us to fight for our independence through the vote and the faith in wisdom that we all inherit,” the party said.
The election comes on the 36th anniversary of the signing of the Matignon-Oudinot Agreement between Jean-Marie Djibaou, leader of the pro-independence Kanak Front, and Jacques Lafleur, leader of the pro-French Republican Conservative Party.
No official memorial ceremony was held this year.
After intensive talks with then French Socialist Prime Minister Michel Rocard, they shook hands on June 26, 1988, marking the end of New Caledonia’s five-year quasi-civil war.
A year later, Djibaou and one of his closest allies, Yéwéné Yéwéné, were shot dead by pro-independence activists.
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