May 21st 2024.
The recent rioting in New Caledonia, a French territory, has caused chaos and destruction, leading to the tragic deaths of six people. As a result, the federal government has been granted permission to launch two evacuation flights to bring back any Australians who wish to leave the troubled island.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong had previously expressed the readiness of the Australian Defence Force to assist in the evacuation process. Today, she announced that the government has officially received the green light for the repatriation flights. In her statement, she also mentioned that priority will be given to those in most need, and they are working on arranging additional flights.
Senator Wong also took to Twitter to inform the public of the latest development, urging any Australians in New Caledonia to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) if they wish to leave. So far, around 300 people have already registered as of yesterday, indicating the urgency of the situation.
The root cause of the riots can be traced back to recent reforms passed in Paris, which grant the right to vote in local elections to recent arrivals in the territory. This decision has caused unrest among the indigenous Kanak people, who make up 40% of the total population of 270,000. Many fear that this move will weaken their voice and push for independence from France.
Since 2018, three referendums have been held on the topic of independence, with the pro-independence vote falling short each time. However, in the most recent poll in 2021, the pro-independence group boycotted the vote. In response to the ongoing violence, a state of emergency was declared on Wednesday, and France has sent an additional 1000 security personnel to restore order.
Although the situation seems to have calmed down, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal cautioned that there is still a long way to go before normalcy can be restored on the island. The government is working towards a peaceful resolution and is closely monitoring the situation. In the meantime, they are doing everything in their power to ensure the safe return of any Australians who wish to leave New Caledonia.
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