French President Macron to visit riot-hit New Caledonia as Australia, New Zealand begin evacuations

French President Emmanuel Macron will visit the riot-hit New Caledonia, said Paris on Tuesday (May 21) as Australia and New Zealand began evacuating nationals in the French territory which has experienced a week of deadly riots.

‘As soon as this evening’

Macron “will leave as soon as this evening,” said government spokeswoman Prisca Thevenot, in a bid to soothe tempers amid the riots which broke out against the planned electoral changes by the French government in Paris, which the Indigenous Kanaks have opposed.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

WATCH |French President to visit New Caledonia

The French government also announced that it would send hundreds more security personnel to join the 1,500 law enforcement personnelalready on the ground amid the worst unrest that New Caledonia has seen in over three decades.

The High Commission of New Caledonia, which represents the French state in the territory, said that around 600 personnel would be deployed in the coming hours to join those already sent from France.

The violence broke out earlier this month over the French government’s plans to amend voting laws which would allow more recent arrivals to vote in provincial elections. Local leaders fear the change will dilute the Kanak vote, as per Reuters.

At least six people have been killed since the unrest began in the capital, Noumea. Three of the six people killed were young Kanaks shot by armed civilians.

Also Read |New Caledonia unrest: Australia, New Zealand send evacuation flights, Macron holds security meet

There have been several confrontations between Kanak protesters and armed self-defence groups or civilian militias formed to protect themselves.

First evacuation flight arrives in Australia

A plane full of Australian tourists who had been stranded in New Caledonia amid a week of rioting and looting arrived in Brisbane late Tuesday, reported AFP.

The Royal Australian Air Force C130 Hercules was the first evacuation flight to leave French territory since the unrest began on May 13.

The high commission, on Tuesday, said that the airport remains closed for commercial flights, and it will deploy the military to protect public buildings.

Around 3,200 people are waiting to leave or enter New Caledonia as commercial flights were cancelled, reported Reuters citing the local government. This comes as the main international airport in the capital remains closed for commercial aircraft.

Also Read |Protestors block New Caledonia roads as French police pour in

“Passengers are being prioritised based on need. We continue to work on further flights,” Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a post on social media announcing the two flights.

According to officials in Australia, around 300 citizens have registered for possible evacuation, but it was not immediately clear how many were evacuated on Tuesday’s flights.

The New Zealand Defence Force plane was expected to carry about “50 passengers with the most pressing needs,” said Foreign Minister Winston Peters, adding that they are working with France and Australia on “subsequent flights in coming days.”

(With inputs from agencies)