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France imposes a state of emergency in New Caledonia as unrest continues
https://www.npr.org/2024/05/15/1250414032/new-caledonia-france-state-of-emergencyFrance imposes a state of emergency in New Caledonia as unrest continues
MAY 15, 2024 5:53 PM ET
Eleanor Beardsley
PARIS — Deadly violence continued for a third night in the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia over a proposed change to France's Constitution that would give voting rights to an increasing number of non-Indigenous residents of the archipelago.
French TV reports showed stores and cars in New Caledonia that were looted and burned, and citizens, some of them armed with rifles and machetes, clashing with riot police. Plumes of smoke from numerous fires rose over New Caledonia's capital of Nouméa.
At least four people have been killed in the violence, including a police officer who was shot in the forehead at point blank range, according to French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin. Citizens have set up road blocks and formed militias to try to protect their neighborhoods. Many residents of Nouméa have barricaded themselves behind closed doors and cower at home.
France declared a state of emergency on Wednesday for at least 12 days and dispatched hundreds of riot police to the archipelago, as French President Emmanuel Macron called for calm.
[...]
MAY 15, 2024 5:53 PM ET
Eleanor Beardsley
PARIS — Deadly violence continued for a third night in the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia over a proposed change to France's Constitution that would give voting rights to an increasing number of non-Indigenous residents of the archipelago.
French TV reports showed stores and cars in New Caledonia that were looted and burned, and citizens, some of them armed with rifles and machetes, clashing with riot police. Plumes of smoke from numerous fires rose over New Caledonia's capital of Nouméa.
At least four people have been killed in the violence, including a police officer who was shot in the forehead at point blank range, according to French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin. Citizens have set up road blocks and formed militias to try to protect their neighborhoods. Many residents of Nouméa have barricaded themselves behind closed doors and cower at home.
France declared a state of emergency on Wednesday for at least 12 days and dispatched hundreds of riot police to the archipelago, as French President Emmanuel Macron called for calm.
[...]