Tourists Stranded in New Caledonia Begin Repatriation Process
PARIS — Amid the civil unrest in New Caledonia, tourists stuck in the French colony are finally being brought back home.
The first batch of French tourists took off from Noumea’s Magenta airfield on a military plane heading to Australia and New Zealand. They will then catch commercial flights to France from there. The capital’s international airport has been shut down for over a week due to the ongoing disturbances.
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Australia is sending two more planes to New Caledonia later on Saturday to help evacuate Australians still stranded there. The unrest, sparked by proposed electoral changes, has turned violent, leading to seven deaths since the riots began last week. The situation escalated even further after a police officer shot and killed a protester last Friday.
French President Emmanuel Macron made a visit to the territory in the midst of the crisis, pledging to postpone the controversial voting law changes in an effort to calm tensions.
Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced the additional flights to assist in bringing Australian nationals back home. “We are working to help Australians outside of Noumea get to the capital, and we are arranging more flights to Australia for tomorrow,” she said.
Annelise Young, Australia’s Consul-General in New Caledonia, reported that 48 Australians and their families have been moved to Noumea from other islands and remote areas of the territory. Earlier this week, hundreds of people, including Australian citizens, were evacuated to Australia on two Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) flights and a flight organized by the French government.
New Caledonia has been a French territory since the 1800s, but many Indigenous Kanaks continue to express resentment, seeking greater autonomy or complete independence from France. — Agencies
