New Caledonia unrest turns violent, shots fired at security forces

New Caledonia's high commissioner said on Tuesday (May 14) that shots had been fired at security forces during riots in the French Pacific territory.

Many shops were looted and vehicles were also torched during the riots.

"No deaths have been reported so far," the High Commissioner of the Republic Louis Le Franc said, adding that, "shots were fired at the gendarmes using high calibre weapons and hunting rifles".

Protests in New Caledonia over voting reforms turned violent on Monday (May 13), prompting authorities to impose a curfew and ban public gatherings.

During the unrest, car dealerships and a factory were set on fire in the capital Noumea. Several supermarkets were also looted in Noumea and the neighbouring towns of Dumbea and Mont-Dore.

"A nearby police station was on fire and a car was also torched in front of my house. There was non-stop shouting and explosions, I felt like I was in a war," said Sylvie, an eyewitness.

Around 36 people were arrested and 30 police officers were injured, according to authorities.

"Very intense public order turbulence took place last night in Noumea and in neighbouring municipalities, and are still ongoing at this time," the high commission, the representative of the French state in New Caledonia, said in a statement Tuesday.

The authorities have closed schools and colleges until further notice and the international airport is also shut.

New Zealand said on Tuesday that Foreign Minister Winston Peters had cancelled his visit to New Caledonia due to the unrest.

The New Caledonia government has appealed for reason and calm.

Frozen voter lists

On Monday (May 13), tensions flared in New Caledonia as protests erupted against a proposed voting reform under debate in Paris.

The reform aims to increase the number of eligible voters in the territory's provincial elections.

France vowed in the Noumea Accord of 1998 to gradually give more political power to the Pacific island territory of nearly 300,000 people.

Under the agreement, New Caledonia has held three referendums over its ties with France, all rejecting independence.

The pro-independence Indigenous Kanaks rejected the result of the last referendum held in December 2021.

Due to the Noumea Accord, New Caledonia's voter rolls haven't been updated since 1998. This excludes residents who've moved to the island from mainland France or anywhere else in the past 25 years from participating in provincial elections.

(With inputs from agencies)