Three Pacific Islands leaders on a fact-finding visit to New Caledonia heard divided views on the cause of deadly riots that erupted in May, as the region’s diplomatic group seeks to support efforts to de-escalate tensions in the French Pacific territory.
The Pacific Islands Forum yesterday wrote on Facebook that the delegation, including the prime ministers of Tonga, Cook Islands and Fiji, had met religious leaders, mayors, women’s representatives and educators on the last day of the visit, which ended on Tuesday.
Over three days, the leaders visited properties and districts badly damaged by unrest between indigenous Kanaks and French loyalists.
Photo: Reuters
The riots were sparked by a voting reform that French Prime Minister Michel Barnier this month said would no longer be ratified.
The Pacific leaders had earlier met political leaders, France’s High Commission and the New Caledonia Congress.
“The exchange of perspectives highlighted the importance of collaboration in addressing local needs and shaping a brighter future for New Caledonia,” a statement on the Pacific Islands Forum Facebook account said.
Thirteen people were killed, almost 3,000 were arrested and France deployed 6,000 police to quell unrest that disrupted the capital, Noumea, for months.
Protest leader Christian Tein was arrested and transferred to France, where a court last week overturned his pretrial detention.
French loyalist politicians said in a statement on Facebook that they had told the Pacific leaders that CCAT, the protest wing of Caledonian Union, led by Tein, played a “central and deadly role” in the riots.
Daniel Goa, who is president of Caledonian Union, the biggest pro-independence political party, said in a statement on Facebook on Tuesday that the French state was responsible for the May riots, which had been a “youth revolt,” adding that Tein was an “iconic leader.”
New Caledonian Congress President Veylma Falaeo said in a statement on Facebook the Pacific leaders had told her New Caledonia holds an important place in the Pacific and they encouraged dialogue.
Falaeo said an essential condition for dialogue is massive financial assistance to avoid New Caledonia’s total collapse after the damage caused by the riots, the statement added.
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