picture copyrightAFP
Could 16, 2024
The French authorities mentioned it was sending troops to New Caledonia, a French abroad territory within the Pacific Ocean the place rioting broke out on Monday. The nation’s inside minister accused Azerbaijan of supporting supporters of its independence. Some sources within the French intelligence companies additionally discuss Russian involvement.
The navy will make sure the safety of New Caledonia’s ports and the territory’s most important airport, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal mentioned.
French President Emmanuel Macron declared a state of emergency within the territory and mentioned that the authorities would reply harshly to any manifestations of violence. Authorities have imposed a curfew in New Caledonia and banned the Chinese language social community TikTok.
Unrest in New Caledonia started after the French Parliament handed a legislation altering the process for elections to the native legislative meeting. Underneath the amendments, which have been finalized on Wednesday, French residents who’ve lived in New Caledonia for 10 years shall be given the suitable to vote.
This has angered many Kanaks, the indigenous folks of New Caledonia, who concern that their political affect will now be lowered.
Not less than 4 folks have been killed within the clashes, which started on Monday following a call by the French parliament, together with three Kanaks and a police officer who died from gunshot wounds.
Native residents smashed outlets and set hearth to authorities buildings within the territorial capital of Noumea. Lots of of individuals have been injured, together with about 100 cops, French Inside Minister Gerald Darmanin mentioned.
It’s reported that teams of native residents exchanged hearth with legislation enforcement officers.
Unrest continued on Wednesday regardless of a curfew and a ban on public gatherings introduced on Tuesday. There may be additionally proof of prisoners trying to interrupt out of the native jail.
What does Azerbaijan must do with it?
As reported by AFP, Darmanen mentioned on Thursday that the Azerbaijani authorities are interfering within the occasions in New Caledonia.
picture copyrightAFP
“This isn’t fantasy. Sadly, some separatists have reached an settlement with Azerbaijan,” the inside minister mentioned in an interview with France 2. He added that “even when there have been makes an attempt to intervene, France nonetheless retains sovereignty over its personal territory.”
Darmanen didn’t specify what sort of interference he was speaking about, however in response to this accusation, the press service of the Azerbaijani Overseas Ministry revealed particular assertionthe place he “utterly rejects the unfounded opinions of the French minister.”
“Fairly than blaming Azerbaijan for supporting pro-independence protests in New Caledonia, the French inside minister ought to give attention to his nation’s failed abroad insurance policies that led to such protests,” Baku mentioned in an official assertion. “We as soon as once more name on France to cease making unfounded claims in opposition to our nation.”
On the identical time, on the finish of April, the Azerbaijani state company “Azertaj” reportedthat one of many members of the New Caledonian parliament, representing the indigenous inhabitants, thanked Baku “for the help supplied to us, for the truth that Azerbaijan was with us in our battle in opposition to colonialism, for independence.”
She acknowledged this in Baku, the place a scientific convention entitled “New Caledonia: historical past, trendy challenges and anticipated future” was held.
In the course of the go to, MP Neisselin Omaira, who heads the New Caledonian Congress Committee on Infrastructure, signed a memorandum of cooperation with Azerbaijan.
“This consists of political help. On the identical time, we will develop our cooperation in such areas as economics, tradition, and ecology. A brand new web page is opening for us, as we speak we’re laying the muse of a brand new historical past between two peoples,” Omaira Azertaj quotes.
Azerbaijani APA company Additionally reviews that the Baku Initiative Group of 14 actions that combat for independence within the French colonies has revealed a press release in reference to the occasions in New Caledonia.
“The assertion condemns the pressured implementation of unlawful adjustments by the French authorities in favor of increasing the electoral mass in Kanaki-New Caledonia, and in addition expresses full help for the Kanak folks of their simply battle for independence,” the company reviews.
As well as, as reported by Reuters, a number of leaders of nations within the Pacific area, that are threatened by rising sea ranges, this week visited Azerbaijan, which is getting ready to host the COP29 local weather convention.
Relations between France and Azerbaijan have worsened because the 2020 Karabakh battle. France, residence to the most important Armenian diaspora in Europe, has historically leaned in direction of Armenia, which Azerbaijan doesn’t like.
Final month, France recalled its ambassador from Azerbaijan, and Azerbaijan responded by accusing France of “harmful actions.”
Russian hint?
Some representatives of the French authorities imagine that Azerbaijan’s anti-colonial rhetoric was largely initiated by Moscow.
POLITICO quotes a French intelligence officer who requested anonymity, who, particularly, mentioned that “Russian and Azerbaijani actions in New Caledonia” to advertise an anti-colonial narrative have been happening “for a number of weeks, even a number of months.”
One other French authorities supply, who additionally requested to not be named, instructed AFP that on Wednesday pro-Azerbaijani social media platforms posted a retouched picture purporting to point out two white cops with rifles pointed at useless Kanaks.
“This can be a pretty large-scale marketing campaign: about 4,000 such posts have been created by these accounts,” he assured.
In November, France accused Azerbaijani mercenaries of waging a disinformation marketing campaign aimed toward undermining Paris’s repute as an Olympic capital.
Baku additionally resolutely rejected these accusations.
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What’s New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a French abroad territory situated between Australia and Fiji; Paris declared it a colony in 1853. Initially, the French authorities used it as a detention heart: from 1864 to 1897, about 22 thousand criminals have been despatched there. Within the nineteenth century, there have been repeated rebellions of the native inhabitants – the Kanaks (one of many indigenous peoples of Melanesia).
Now the inhabitants of New Caledonia is about 300 thousand folks, of which about 40%, or 112 thousand, are Kanaks.
Underneath agreements signed in 1998, France agreed to increase the territory’s political autonomy and provides voting rights in native elections solely to these residing in New Caledonia at the moment. However since 1998, about 40 thousand French residents have moved to New Caledonia.
The agreements additionally stipulated that three referendums could be held in New Caledonia to find out its future.
The final such plebiscite passed off on the finish of 2021 – and in all three instances, native residents opposed independence from France.
On the identical time, on the first and second referendum, in 2018 and 2020, supporters of sustaining ties with Paris acquired a slight majority, and for the third time, events supporting independence determined to boycott the vote as a result of the authorities didn’t need to postpone it amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“Right now France is an much more stunning nation as a result of New Caledonia has chosen to stay a part of it,” Macron mentioned after the 2021 vote.
New Caledonia has important autonomy from France, however is closely depending on it for issues resembling protection and training. It additionally receives giant subsidies from Paris.
