Violence erupted again in New Caledonia following the extradition to France of pro-independence leaders. Protesters in the French Pacific territory burned police vehicles and blocked roads overnight on Sunday after activist Christian Tein and six others were flown to France in pre-trial detention...
French loyalist politicians, including Sonia Backes and Nicolas Metzdorf, said in a statement on Monday that a third of local businesses had been destroyed. They added that they had sent a letter to President Emmanuel Macron requesting the New Caledonia government be placed under state administration, as it was no longer fit to lead.
The unrest in the semi-autonomous French Pacific territory erupted in May after France voted to approve reforms to allow thousands more French residents who have lived in the territory for 10 years to vote. Paris says the measure is needed to improve democracy. However, Indigenous Kanak people fear that France's decision will dilute their vote and make it harder for any future referendum on independence to pass.
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