At least 23,000 people demonstrated on Saturday in Noumea, in the French archipelago of New Caledonia, to say “stop blockages” and demand “freedom of movement”, after a week of violence generated by the controversial sale of l Nickel plant of the Vale group, AFP noted.
This “peaceful” march took place in the city center, passing in front of the gates of the High Commission of the Republic, singing the French anthem and displaying tricolor flags.
23,000 people were present, according to the police, 30,000, according to the organizers, a demonstration carried by the movement Les Loyalistes which brings together the main groups opposed to the independence of New Caledonia.
“It is a very good mobilization of the silent majority, the one who wants a Caledonia of peace, which does not want violence or blockage. There may be political debates […], but we must never give in to this violence that has taken Caledonians hostage this week, ”Virginie Ruffenach, president of the Avenir en Confidence group (AEC), told Congress.
Violence has been increasing in this archipelago in the Pacific Ocean since the announcement Wednesday by the Brazilian group Vale of the sale of its nickel plant to a Caledonian and international consortium, including the commodity trader Trafigura.
The sale arouses the anger of the FLNKS separatists and the Kanak chiefdoms. It is, according to them, an operation “of predation of multinationals”.
“The Loyalists”, as well as the State, which provides financial aid, are in favor of this takeover project which allows “to save 3000 jobs”.
After being stormed Thursday by rioters in trucks, which were repulsed by the police, the industrial unit, classified Seveso 2, was evacuated urgently and then shut down.
Given the escalation of violence, Sébastien Lecornu, French overseas minister, on Friday appealed for dialogue at the FLNKS, which was accepted for the start of next week.
This crisis comes as the archipelago is more divided than ever on the question of its independence from France.
On October 4, a second referendum on independence was won by a short lead by non-separatists (53.3%). A third is due to take place by 2022 as part of the Noumea agreement signed in 1998.