DIRECT. Violence in New Caledonia: a “return to calm”, but neighborhoods in the hands of rioters

Despite another evening marked by a few riots outside the city. New Caledonia, Thursday night at Friday wasé "calmer and more peacefulée" for the first time in four days. The High Commissioner of the Republic indicates, however, that control of certain neighborhoods is no longer assured.

The essentials

• Violence is still observed in New Caledonia, but Thursday night Friday wasé "calmer and soothed" thanks to à state of emergency for the first time in four days indicated Louis Le Franc, High Commissioner of the Republic, at a press conference.
• In Nouméa, the situation remains tense in several neighborhoods which are no longer under the control of the police and where "hundreds of rioters await contact with the police".
• Five people have died since Monday and the start of the riots. The victims are three Kanak civilians and two gendarmes, one of the members of the police was killed. victim of an "accidental shooting" from one of his colleagues. The perpetrator of one of these homicides turned himself in, said the High Commissioner without providing any further information.
• A new ministerial crisis unit chaired by Gabriel Attal is planned for this Friday. 8 a.m. and discussions between Emmanuel Macron and Caledonian elected officials are also expected according to the Elysée.
• Rationing measures were implemented. implemented in businesses in New Caledonia, but supplies are planned and the High Commissioner has assured that there was no risk of shortage.

Live

10:31 – No new arrests during the night of Thursday à Friday

No new injuries is à deplore after the new night of riots, between Thursday and Friday. This night did not, either, give us a chance. place à new arrests according to information from BFMTV. The media tells us that the rioters are now maintaining defensive positions.

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10:07 – All international flights canceled until May 21

This Friday, La 1& Early New Caledonia tells us that “all international flights canceled until’ Tuesday May 21, à 9 a.m. The Aircalin company justifies this information due to the closure of Tontouta international airport. During the period from May 14 to 21, cancellations will have affected the schedule. 53 flights and nearly 7,000 passengers.

The Minister of Justice Eric Dupond-Moretti is expected for a press conference this Friday, May 17 at 10 a.m. Paris time. He will speak on the criminal response that the executive must provide in the face of violence and violence. the crisis experienced by New Caledonia, particularly in Nouméa these last few days. 

09:47 – For Olivier Faure (PS), Gabriel Attal should &quot ;alreadyà" to be in New Caledonia

For Olivier Faure, first secretary of the Socialist Party, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal should & quot;already" Being in New Caledonia. “We don't manage New Caledonia by videoconference. À the time when we are talking, the Prime Minister should already be talking to each other. there êbe" he declared. in the 4 Truths of Télématin on France 2.

09:45 – De Villepin offers mediation through & experienced former prime ministers

Former Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin said this morning at Sud Radio that it was necessary to initiate mediation through "à those with the most experience. The latter notably cited; the names of former prime ministers who "have beené involved in difficult times" from the overseas territory, like "Jean-Marc Ayrault, Edouard Philippe or Manuel Valls".

09:39 – A telephone meeting between Bruno Le Maire and elected officials and Caledonian economic actors this Friday

This Friday, May 17, the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire and the Minister of Overseas Territories Marie Guévenoux spoke by telephone with elected officials and representatives of the economic world of New Caledonia report BFMTV. A meeting which made it possible to assess the economic damage and to set up an economic crisis unit in New Caledonia. Bruno Le Maire will bring together insurers next week to enable rapid compensation for local economic players.

09:26 – "There is no food shortage" in New Caledonia

After four days of violence and looting in businesses, the inhabitants of New Caledonia are having difficulty getting to their homes. obtain food in the face of empty shelves in stores. Rationing measures were implemented. implemented and raise fears of a risk of shortage. But the government of New Caledonia has ensured that that there "is no food shortage" on the island that a "sufficient stock of two months" was é identified. "All the difficultyé resides in the replenishment of shops and service stations in the different districts of Nouméa and the urban area », pr» However, the authorities specify while the resupply operations are just beginning.

08:59 – Clearing and resupply operations have begun

“Dam clearing” operations have started in the afternoon of this Friday (i.e. during the night and in the morning at Paris time) to allow refueling and refueling supply of businesses, but also access to medical structures or the circulation of medical units locally. whereù it's necessary. "In conjunction with the government of New Caledonia, the State is mobilizing to provide support " the population and organize the delivery of basic necessities, ensured the High Commissioner, Louis Le Franc.

08:33 – Meeting between Attal and parliamentarians this Friday

After a new crisis meeting with ministers which has been held this morning since 8:30 a.m., the Prime Minister has also planned to meet with ministers MPs and senators on the situation in New Caledonia, this Friday at 6:30 p.m. Gabriel Attal will receive the presidents of the Senate and the National Assembly, G&rard Larcher and Yaël Braun-Pivet, as well as a transpartisan group of senators and deputies.

08:15 – The Minister of Justice demands a "firm, rapid and systematic" response; against crimes

The Minister of Justice, Eric Dupond-Moretti, repeated wanting "the re-establishment of republican order" in New Caledonia as well as a "criminal response marked with the greatest firmness" in the face of the crimes committed in recent days. A response he wants "firm, rapid and systematic" he further specifies in a circular distributed this Friday morning. The Minister of Justice also calls for closer coordination with the High Commissioner of the Republic. and an "adaptation of the organization of the jurisdictions."

08:09 – A suspicious mané of murder surrendered

A man considered as "the author" of one of the homicides that occurred in New Caledonia has surrendered, announced the High Commissioner of the Republic without specifying the profile of the individual, nor what homicide it is.

Since the start of the riots, five people have died: four have been killed. three Kanak civilians and a gendarme were shot dead, and a second gendarme was shot dead. victim of an accidental shooting and died &agrav; his wounds.

07:59 – "What I ask for is peace" : the press conference of the High Commissioner

The High Commissioner of the Republic in New Caledonia, Louis Le Franc, gave an update to the press this Friday, May 17. The state representative called for calm down and asked for the rioters to put an end to the violence their abuses so that "Caledonian life can resume its normal course" while food problems must be resolved with resupply operations as well as health problems.&nbsp ;"What I ask for is peace. The night that has just passed has been a nightmare. calm. What I ask is that the nights and days that await us [be also] calm,” he added. Returning to calm is the "best solution" for New Caledonia.

07:50 – "Control is no longer assuredé" in certain neighborhoods of Noumea

Despite the return to calm observed &agrav; several places in the archipelago, "control is no longer assured" in certain neighborhoods of Noumea according to the High Commissioner of the Republic. In these neighborhoods, hundreds of rioters are waiting for contact with the police. added the representative of the State who ensured that “reinforcements will arrive (…) to control the areas that have escaped us" in recent days.

New Caledonia experienced another evening marked by violence from Thursday May 16 to Friday May 17. But Nouméa s'woke up in "a calmer and more peaceful situation" for the first time in four days according to the High Commissioner of the Republic on the archipelago, Louis Le Franc: "The'é The state of emergency has made it possible, for the first time since Monday, to return to a calmer and more peaceful situation in greater Nouméa, despite the pandemic. the fires of a school and two businesses.

05/16/24 – 11:42 p.m. – Gabriel Attal soon on the move Nouméa ?

END OF LIVE – À the end of his long-winded interview given to La Voix du Nord on the situation in New Caledonia, the Prime Minister said he was ready to respond. get there. "&Obviously, I will respond " all the invitations that will be made to me,” declaredé Gabriel Attal, without there being &agrav; this current date or appointment day.

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The riots continue and the toll rises in New Caledonia. Four people have died since the violence erupted. on the archipelago announced l'Elysée, Wednesday May 15, & the outcome of the defense and security council summoned by Emmanuel Macron.

The violence and riots observed since Monday May 13 in the Pacific territory have left hundreds injured according to G&rald Darmanin, includingéamp; ;nbsp;"around a hundred gendarmes who wereé evacuated while the attack was underway. the ax of their gendarmerie and that they were fired upon live bullets" added the Minister of the Interior.

Macron establishes state of emergency in New Caledonia

Emmanuel Macron spoke with a handful of ministers for more than two hours this Wednesday morning during a defense and security council. summoned emergency. During the meeting, the head of state declared: that "all violence is intolerable and will be the subject of an implacable response to ensure the return of republican order& ;quot; depending on the presidency and the triggering of the state of emergency was probably at the heart of the conversations: ;"The President of the Republic askedé that the decree aimed at declare a state of emergency in New Caledonia is registered with the the agenda of the Council of Ministers which will meet at 4:30 p.m. announced l'Élysée in a press release.

Indeed, Emmanuel Macron has decided; to trigger a state of emergency in New Caledonia & the outcome of the defense and security council organized Wednesday morning. "Violence is never tolerable or justifiable under any circumstances. I want to salute all the security forces. engaged. Priority is to find order, calm and serenity. he added during his speech in the hémicycle.

The Head of State reiterates his call for calm throughout the world. the address of the inhabitants of New Caledonia, but also to that of local elected officials. The latter, whether independentists or loyalists, also called for independence. "quiet and à the reason" in a joint declaration. Both the government and local elected officials encourage the resumption of discussions on constitutional reform, the adoption of which will be set fire to the powder. "The President of the Republic recalled" the need for for a resumption of political dialogue and asked for to the Prime Minister and the Minister of the Interior and Overseas Territories to quickly invite the Caledonian delegations to attend the meeting. Paris", also announced the press releaseé of the Elysée.

The High Commissioner of the Republic evokes an “insurrectional” situation

The authorities fear the continuation and above all an amplification of the violence. "I let you imagine what will happen if militias start to attack “shooting people with guns,” he said. Louis Le Franc, the High Commissioner of the Republic, who describes the situation as insurrectional. Several exchanges of fire buckshot between the rioters and the civil defense groups at Nouméa and Paita" and an "attempted intrusion & the brigade of Saint Michel" have been censuses.

The tensions and violence affecting the archipelago have been exacerbated. revived by the vote of the National Assembly having adopted the constitutional reform which aims to Expand the local electoral body. A text highly contested by the Caledonian independentist elected officials. Some of them are calling for the text to be withdrawn, judging that calm cannot return as long as the reform in its current version is in the pipeline.

206 arrests à Noumea

At least 206 arrests took place à Noumea and elsewhere in New Caledonia between Monday and Thursday according to the High Commissioner of the Republic. 1,800 police officers and gendarmes are on site according to the Ministry of the Interior and 500 other members of the police will be deployed. eacute;s in the next few hours. 

School establishments "will remain closed until September new order" specifies the vice-rectorate of New Caledonia. Tontoura airport remains closed for the time being. to commercial flights. "The time is not serious, it is very serious. If the call for calm is not heard, there will be many deaths in the Noum'a area today. We have entered a dangerous spiral, a deadly spiral" regretted Louis Le Franc during a press conference.