The Hague - Paris: Europe and the Arabs
France deployed more than 600 heavily armed police to control the road in New Caledonia linking the capital, Noumea, to the international airport. European media reports were interested in the developments, according to what was published by the Dutch media in The Hague on Sunday, which added that New Caledonia is a French territory with a special status and is located east of Australia. Indigenous people are protesting new changes in election rules. They fear losing their political influence due to plans to grant voting rights to all people who have lived on the islands for at least ten years.
The same sources added that the situation was turbulent for six days in the archipelago located east of Australia. Since the riots began, six people have been killed and hundreds injured. Groups of people set fires and looted a gas station, according to the French representative's office.
People supporting New Caledonia's independence blocked access to the airport. Flights to and from New Caledonia have been cancelled.
The tourists are stranded and neighboring countries Australia and New Zealand in particular are prepared to evacuate them as soon as they get the green light from France.
Mediation efforts have failed so far, and French President Emmanuel Macron is trying to contact supporters and opponents of independence to bring the parties to the negotiating table.