Australia and New Zealand are sending planes to New Caledonia to evacuate their citizens from the French Pacific territory that has been plagued by deadly violence for a week.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong posted on social media platform X that Canberra has been cleared by France for “two government assisted flights” to evacuate Australians and other tourists from New Caledonia Tuesday. Wong added that passengers are being prioritized according to need, and that the government will “continue to work on further flights.”
New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said the government there is sending a plane to the island’s capital, Noumea, to evacuate 50 of its nationals. Peters acknowledged that New Zealanders in New Caledonia “have faced a challenging few days” and that bringing them home “has been an urgent priority” for Wellington.
At least six people have been killed and hundreds more wounded since violence broke out last Monday over a bill under debate in the French parliament that would allow French-born residents who have lived in New Caledonia for 10 years to vote in local elections.
Leaders of the island’s pro-independence movement say the measure would dilute the voting power of the indigenous Kanak people, who have suffered under decades of discrimination.
France’s National Assembly approved the measure last week by a vote of 351-153. The bill still must be approved in a special session of both houses of parliament next month.
Scores of homes and businesses have been looted and burned in Noumea, prompting authorities to impose a dusk-to-dawn curfew and a ban on public gatherings. The violence has also prompted the closure of schools and businesses, as well as the island’s airport. France has deployed more than 1,000 security personnel to help end the unrest, with hundreds more due to arrive Tuesday.
At least 270 people have been arrested.
France agreed in 1998 to grant New Caledonia more political power and autonomy and to hold three referendums over the island’s status. Voters have rejected independence in all three referendums.
Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse.
