New Caledonia demands the withdrawal of French troops

Supporters of the independence of French-colonized New Caledonia are demanding the withdrawal of French security forces from the island. The Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front has accused Paris of continuing to crack down on those who oppose constitutional reform aimed at denying New Caledonia's indigenous peoples the right to self-determination and independent governance of their lands.

The Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front called for the "immediate" withdrawal of French security forces from the island.

The organization accused Paris of continuing to crack down on opponents of constitutional reform aimed at denying New Caledonia's indigenous peoples the right to self-determination and independent governance of their lands.

At a press conference, front leaders demanded the withdrawal of additional police, gendarmerie and military personnel sent by the French government along with armored vehicles to quell the protests that began in May.

Since May 13, 10 people have died in New Caledonia due to public unrest. Several buildings and vehicles, including a police station, were set on fire.

Local families make up about 40 percent of the population of the French colony, where 300,000 people live .

Through the changes, Paris wants to give an additional group of more than 25,000 ethnic French residents of New Caledonia the opportunity to vote. This will seriously reduce the influence of the local population in the elections.

Referendums on independence were held on the islands three times - in 2018, 2020 and 2021. Supporters of secession from France, located 17,000 km away, failed to gather half of the necessary votes.