New Caledonia in Trouble as The Public Safety Is Being Threatened by Riots

New Caledonia's capital Nouméa is "under siege" amid deadly riots over election law changes, with 6 dead, hundreds arrested, and France deploying 1,000 additional police.

The French Pacific territory of New Caledonia is experiencing severe unrest that has now been declared by the mayor of Nouméa as a siege onto the capital. The riots that broke up in the past few days have resulted in the death of at least six individuals.

The situation was worsened when the French parliament approved a bill that was meant to help more inhabitants on the island have a voice in the local elections. The Kanak tribal leaders emphasize the point that it will hurt their political influence.

In the reports, the three Kanaks of indigenous origin aged 17-36 and two French officers were found dead. At this point, more than 200 people have been arrested.

France has sent in reinforcements, with the number of additional police and gendarmes amounting to 1000 officers in addition to the 1,700 already at New Caledonia. The insurgents have mounted attacks to take over strategic roads and facilities.

Yet, the embattled mayor says it remains "quite far from calmness at all. " Numerous public buildings, schools, and libraries have been burnt. People say they hear gunshots, blasts of some powerful explosive devices, and helicopters flying above, especially at night.

A state of emergency has been declared with a curfew in place, bans on public gatherings, and alcohol sales and weapons carry prohibition.

The turmoil has kept travelers who have said that they are rationing their food as they watch for evacuation. It has also caused many diplomatic quarrels between France and Azerbaijan due to the controversies of disinformation.

Also Read: Rioting and Civic Uprising in Ukraine: A Political Event that Sparked Off an Era of Protests

New Caledonia, the archipelago that lies in the East of Australia, has had three referendums since 2018 and pro-French groups emerged as a winner in the first two of these and the last referendum had a boycott.