SYDNEY (AP) – The Australian and New Zealand governments said Tuesday they would send planes to evacuate their citizens. New Caledonia burnt by violence.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australia was flying two flights to evacuate citizens and other tourists from New Caledonia amid violent unrest gripping the French Pacific Islands, where indigenous peoples have long sought independence from France. He confirmed that he had obtained permission from French authorities.
“We continue to work towards making further flights a reality,” Wong wrote on social media platform X on Tuesday.
The Foreign Office said there were 300 Australians in New Caledonia.
New Zealand also said on Tuesday it would send planes to evacuate 50 of its citizens from the Pacific island's capital Nouméa, the first in a series of flights to bring people home.
“New Zealand nationals in New Caledonia face a difficult few days and getting them home is an urgent priority for the Government,” Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said.
“We are working with France and Australia to operate follow-on flights in the coming days.”
At least six people were killed and hundreds injured in New Caledonia, where riots erupted last week in response to controversial electoral reforms passed in Paris.
About 270 rioters had been arrested as of Tuesday and a curfew was imposed from 6pm to 6am.
France has sent more than 1,000 security personnel to try to quell the riots and restore control, with hundreds more expected to arrive on Tuesday.
Tensions have existed for decades between the indigenous Kanak people, who want independence, and the descendants of the colonizers, who want to remain part of France.
The unrest broke out on May 13, while the French parliament in Paris was debating amendments to the French constitution that would make changes to New Caledonia's voter list. The Paris National Assembly has approved a bill that would allow residents who have lived in New Caledonia for 10 years to vote in local elections, among other changes.
Opponents fear the measure will benefit New Caledonia's pro-French politicians and further marginalize the Kanak people, who have previously suffered from harsh segregation and widespread discrimination.
