Noumea International Airport, closed since May 14 due to a wave of violence in New Caledonia, will reopen on Monday, authorities in the French archipelago in the South Pacific announced this Sunday.
The High Commission, which represents the French state, also decided to move the start of the curfew from Monday to 20:00, compared to the current 18:00.
The opening of the airport comes as traffic is restored on the main artery connecting the center of the capital Noumea with La Tontouta International Airport, which had long been inaccessible due to numerous blockades set up by independence protesters.
Police have been regularly monitoring the road for a week now, clearing away the rubble and making sure they are not rebuilt.
Since the airport closed on May 14, there have been only a handful of flights, most of which are intended to repatriate tourists and foreign nationals, namely to Australia and New Zealand.
Despite the shortening of the curfew period, also introduced on 14 May, the High Commissioner recalled that the ban on the sale of alcohol and the sale or transport of firearms will remain in force.
Primary and secondary school students will gradually return to classes from Monday, depending on areas and institutions.
On Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the suspension of a constitutional bill that would expand New Caledonia’s electorate to “give full force to local dialogue and a return to order.”
The text in question had to be adopted by both houses of the French parliament in Congress before June 30, which became impossible after Macron announced early legislative elections.
The bill aims to expand New Caledonia’s electorate, frozen since 2007, to include all natives and residents of the French South Pacific archipelago for at least 10 years to participate in provincial elections scheduled for the end of the year.
Its passage sparked violent unrest across the island, the worst since the political crisis of the 1980s, which left nine people dead, hundreds injured and widespread damage, according to the latest figures released by authorities.
Independence supporters believe expansion could benefit pro-French politicians and “further marginalize the indigenous Kanak people”, who make up 41% of New Caledonia’s population and who have long sought to leave French rule.
Even before Macron’s announcement, the pro-independence camp had already announced the end of controversial electoral reform.
“Now it is time to restore peace and social cohesion,” the Kanak Liberation Party said on Wednesday.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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