After the recent somewhat calmer situation in the French overseas territory of New Caledonia, there were renewed clashes between insurgents and the police during the night. The night of Monday was marked by unrest on the main island and the nearby smaller Pine Island, according to the High Commission, the representative of the French central government.
Numerous emergency services were mobilized, there were attacks on the police and arson. Blockades were also set up, it was reported. In the capital Nouméa, several buildings and cars were set on fire, including police stations and emergency vehicles, according to the High Commission. The fires were quickly brought under control.
Vandalism, arson and clashes between police and independence supporters also occurred in other cities, the High Commission said. Many schools remained closed on Monday morning.
The violent protests in New Caledonia were triggered in mid-May by a planned electoral reform, which the native population of the island group in the South Pacific fears will be disadvantaged. Nine people were killed in the unrest, and the material damage so far has been estimated at around one and a half billion euros. After new elections were called in France, the reform was put on hold.
The situation had recently calmed down. The airport in Nouméa, which had been closed due to the unrest, resumed operations a week ago. Seven arrested independence supporters were brought to the European heartland for pre-trial detention.