The funeral of two young men killed by the police on September 19 took place on Sunday in the tribe of Saint-Louis. The Front de libération nationale kanak et socialiste (FLNKS) called on the police to allow time before intervening in the tribe of Saint-Louis, an independence stronghold, to apprehend young people suspected of wrongdoing since the beginning of the crisis in New Caledonia. Customary leaders have been mediating with these young people, wanted by the police for alleged offenses since May 13, when troubles in the archipelago began related to a constitutional reform project that was suspended after the dissolution of the National Assembly.
The FLNKS, following a meeting with the high commissioner, Louis Le Franc, on Saturday, stated that an “ultimatum” had been set by the state for armed intervention on Monday, September 30, which could jeopardize efforts for de-escalation and lead to further bloodshed. The high commissioner’s office declined to comment, while General Nicolas Matthéos, head of the gendarmerie in New Caledonia, stated that operations would be suspended until Monday following the funeral of the two young men killed by the police on September 19 in Saint-Louis. He emphasized the difficulty of the situation and the need to reopen the road while seeking surrender to prevent further losses.
Since early August, the high commissioner’s office had imposed a double “lockdown” preventing vehicles from entering the road passing through the tribe due to carjackings and shootings targeting law enforcement. The Negrah Great Chieftaincy of Mont-Dore, where Saint-Louis tribe is located, criticized the disproportionate means used that led to the deaths of three young men in the tribe within two months and emphasized the importance of continuing dialogue with the youth. New Caledonia has been experiencing a severe crisis since May 13, with protests against an electoral reform escalating into riots that caused significant damage to the economy, resulting in 13 deaths, including two gendarmes, and at least two billion euros in damages.
The situation in New Caledonia remains tense as the FLNKS and customary leaders urge restraint from the authorities to prevent further violence. Efforts are being made to maintain dialogue with the youth in the tribe of Saint-Louis while seeking to avoid escalation. The high commissioner and the gendarmerie have suspended operations temporarily to allow for the funeral of the two young men killed by the police, highlighting the complex challenges faced in resolving the crisis in the archipelago. The call for a peaceful resolution and de-escalation by all parties involved is crucial to prevent further loss of life and damage to the community.
