New Caledonia riots rage after Paris approves vote change
STORY: :: New Caledonia riots rage on after Paris approves a voting change
:: May 15, 2024
:: Djélyna Lebonwacalie
:: Noumea, New Caledonia
:: May 14, 2024
Drone footage shot on Tuesday (May 14) and Wednesday (May 15) over the New Caledonia capital of Noumea showed fires and billowing smoke around the city as rioters burned cars and dozens of businesses.
Footage obtained by Reuters showed point-of-view images as the eyewitness drove around in Noumea, capturing scenes of fires burning, streets littered with debris and damaged shop fronts with shattered windows. The New Caledonia government said in a statement schools would stay closed, after some were damaged.
Protesters clashed with police against plans to allow more people to take part in local elections in the French-ruled territory, which indigenous Kanak protesters reject.
Lawmakers in Paris voted 351 to 153 in favor of the bill to allow French residents who have lived in New Caledonia for 10 years to vote in provincial elections - a move some local leaders fear will dilute the indigenous Kanak vote.
