There are riots in New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France. The state deployed troops, introduced a curfew and banned the use of TikTok – “Soldiers from armed forces have been deployed in ports and airports,” said the Prime Minister of New Caledonia, Gabriel Attal, at a crisis meeting in Paris. The curfew and TikTok ban were ordered by the territory’s commissioner, Louis Le Franc. The application was blocked in order to avoid the spread of disinformation during the protests – he justified his decision.
Riots in New Caledonia. France banned TikTok
The riots have been going on for several days. This is the result of the protests of the Kanaks, the indigenous inhabitants of New Caledonia, who oppose the new regulations in Paris. France wants to enable New Caledonians with at least 10 years of experience to vote in provincial elections. Due to this, there were fears that the voice of the Kanaks would be weakened.
However, the protests quickly escalated into riots. Cars and companies were set on fire. Some of the island’s inhabitants set up barricades and clashed with the police. On Wednesday morning, it was reported that three people died as a result of the riots – all of them were Kanaks.
Some protesters are fighting not only against new regulations. Their goal is to gain independence. This goes against President Emmanuel Macron’s plan. New Caledonia has rich deposits of nickel, a component of batteries. However, the mining sector is generating losses. However, Paris plans to subsidize it and increase its influence in the Pacific.
Source: Gazeta
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