Over 100 individuals are relocated from New Caledonia by Australia.
Australia recently evacuated another 100 people from the French territory of New Caledonia, where there's been ongoing turmoil. Aires deeming this the third evacuation since the unrest commenced. On Wednesday, a plane carrying 103 individuals, including family members, landed in Brisbane (Australia's eastern region). Foreign Minister Penny Wong used internet messaging service X to relay this news, while expressing gratitude to those who assisted in the mission. It's uncertain whether this was a French government plane or one operated by the Australian military.
The previous evacuation occurred on Tuesday, with 115 individuals evacuated from Nouméa (New Caledonia's capital) who were Genrally 84 Australian citizens; the remaining citizens haven't been identified by Pacific Minister Pat Conroy. Meanwhile, 48 individuals landed safely in Auckland, New Zealand, courtesy of a military flight.
A grim reminder of the chaos in New Caledonia – 6 lives were lost, and hundreds more injured. It's been a tumultuous few days, with acts of violence such as armed confrontations, looting, and arson prevalent. This turmoil started on May 13, when the French Parliament was set to discuss electoral list modifications believed to exacerbate marginalization of indigenous groups in this overseas territory. Indigenous New Caledonians have advocated for self-determination from France for years now.
In related news, the French President Emmanuel Macron was scheduled to arrive in New Caledonia on Thursday, presumably to address the situation there.
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Despite the evacuations, protests and riots continue to escalate in New Caledonia, with indigenous people demanding self-determination from France. The unrest, sparked by proposed electoral list modifications, has led to several casualties and extensive property damage. As tensions rise, France's President Emmanuel Macron is expected to address the situation upon his arrival in New Caledonia.
Source: www.ntv.de
