Fresh unrest in New Caledonia after independence activists flown to France for detention | New Caledonia

Buildings, including a police station and town hall, were set on fire New Caledonia overnight, authorities said, as the French Pacific territory was hit by a new wave of unrest.

It comes after seven pro-independence activists linked to the group were accused of orchestrating it deadly riots last month in the French Pacific territory were sent to mainland France for preliminary detention, a local prosecutor said.

“This transfer was organized at night with a plane specially chartered for the mission,” prosecutor Yves Dupa said in a statement.

Seven were sent to the mainland Francehe added, “because of the sensitivity of the procedure and so that investigations can proceed in a calm manner, without any pressure.”

The decision to transfer some defendants to detention centers in France sparked outrage among pro-independence activists who called the transfer a “political deportation”.

The situation remains particularly tense in New Caledonia following the arrest of eleven pro-independence activists suspected of organizing and planning the violence that has affected the archipelago since May 13.

Riots, street barricades and looting broke out in New Caledonia last month for electoral reform that would allow long-term residents to participate in local elections.

The indigenous population of the Kanaki archipelago feared the move would dilute their voices, putting hopes of eventually winning independence out of reach. Nine people – including two policemen – died in the violence, which caused extensive damage to businesses, shops and homes.

The arrests on June 19, described by Dupas as “alleged instigators” of a significant number of serious crimes, led to renewed unrest on the ground.

Barricades were once again erected across the main island and clashes between law enforcement and protesters resumed with greater intensity as high school students are due to return to class on June 24.

In a statement released on Monday, the High Commissioner of the Republic of New Caledonia, Louis Le Franc, claimed that numerous crimes were committed on Sunday night, including fires at the town hall of Coumac, the premises of the municipal police in Doumbea, an attack on the gendarmerie in Marais and various alleged acts of destruction and vandalism in various neighborhoods of Noumea.

The High Commission said “several fires have been extinguished”, particularly in Ducos and Magenta, adding that “municipal police premises and vehicles and private vehicles” were set on fire.

“Abuses, vandalism and attempted fires were also committed in several places in Paita” in the suburbs of Noumea, the High Commission said, which said police in Mare were also attacked.

Daniel Goa, president of the Calédonienne Union, the main pro-independence party, said the transfer of the arrested activists to France was a “political deportation”.

“The independence of the judiciary is a farce in New Caledonia,” Goa said.

Goa also condemned the “colonial, repressive and retrograde policy of France against the Kanak people”.

After France was plunged into a frenzied early parliamentary election campaign, President Emmanuel Macron stopped changes to voting rights in New Caledonia.

But the recent arrests threaten to expose further the divisions in the archipelago’s political landscape ahead of the first round of voting in the election on June 30. In New Caledonia, the election was unanimously considered inappropriate by political leaders from all countries.

Agence France-Presse and The Associated Press contributed to this report