NOUMEA, May 23, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - President Emmanuel Macron landed in
France's Pacific territory of New Caledonia on Thursday, vowing to restore
calm "as quickly as possible" after separatist unrest that has left six
people dead and hundreds injured.

Macron arrived in the capital Noumea to meet political and business leaders,
seeking an end to more than a week of looting, arson and deadly clashes that
have swept the popular holiday destination.

As he exited the plane at Tontouta International Airport, the French leader
told reporters he wanted to ensure that "as quickly as possible there will be
a return to peace, calm, security."

The high commissioner representing France, Louis Le Franc, said the previous
night had been calm. "There has been no extra damage, but so many things have
been destroyed," he told AFP.

There have long been tensions between the Paris government and pro-
independence voices among the indigenous Kanak population in New Caledonia,
colonised in the second half of the 19th century and part of French overseas
territories spanning the globe.

But Le Franc said both sides were "fairly positive" about Macron's arrival.

- It's a bet' -

Macron's decision to fly to the southwest Pacific archipelago, around 17,000
kilometres (10,500 miles) from mainland France, is a sign of the gravity of
the crisis.

He is expected to spend about 12 hours on the ground and set up a task force
to deal with the crisis after upending his programme for the rest of the
week, just ahead of June's European elections.

Macron last visited New Caledonia in July 2023, on a trip that was boycotted
by Kanak representatives.

The pro-independence FLNKS party said ahead of Macron's arrival that
roadblocks would be reinforced and "welcome committees" set up to greet the
president, backed by the CCAT activist group that has organised protests
against voting reform.

"It's double or quits. It's a bet," said a presidential adviser, asking not
to be named, while a member of parliament described the trip as a "poker
move".

Such was the last-minute nature of the voyage that a schedule for Macron was
being drawn up during the 24-hour flight, without knowing who would be
willing to meet him.

"This is absolute improvisation," a source close to Macron said.

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said the task force would remain in place "for
as long as necessary... with a view to reaching an overall political
agreement".

- Barricades rebuilt -

The territory's deadliest unrest in four decades was sparked by French plans
to give voting rights to thousands of non-indigenous residents, something
Kanaks say would dilute the influence of their own votes.

French authorities sent more than 1,000 troops, police and other security
reinforcements in a bid to quell the violence. But unrest has continued,
though not on the scale of the early days.

New Caledonia is now dotted with burned-out vehicles, businesses and schools.

Kanak separatists, some masked and wielding homemade catapults, manned
makeshift roadblocks including on the main route to the international
airport, AFP correspondents said.

Security forces "clear barricades, but they're rebuilt one after the other,"
Mayor Sonia Lagarde said.

Police are holding 269 people in custody over the unrest gripping the
territory of 270,000 people, Noumea prosecutor Yves Dupas said, while local
government minister Dominique Faure said 86 police officers had been injured.

The CCAT said it would block major routes leading to the north of the island
throughout the day on Thursday.

"I don't know why our fate is being discussed by people who don't even live
here," said Mike, a 52-year-old Kanak at a roadblock north of the capital,
ahead of Macron's arrival.

Armed locals, of French and other origins, have set up their own
neighbourhood barricades.

Jean, a 57-year-old manning one of those barriers who also gave only his
first name, said it was "good news" Macron was coming.

"The situation is totally stuck, we have to hope that this will allow people
to calm down," he said on the eve of the president's arrival.

New Caledonia's government also said telecom services had managed to stop an
"unprecedented" mass email cyberattack on an internet provider for the
territory.

- Tourists trapped -

Trapped tourists have begun to flee the turmoil.

Australia has repatriated 187 Australians and members of their families since
Tuesday, senator Penny Wong posted on X, and New Zealand has evacuated
citizens via the small Magenta airport.

Further flights will be organised until the main La Tontouta International
Airport reopens to commercial flights, which the operator expects to happen
on Saturday.

Many Kanaks, who make up about 40 percent of the population, oppose the plan
to extend voting rights to those who have lived in the territory for at least
10 years, which is widely backed by anti-independence representatives.

One option open to Macron would be to delay the voting rights bill, which has
been approved by the lower house but still needs to be ratified by a congress
of both French houses of parliament.