A 48-year-old man was killed this Friday in New Caledonia by a policeman who was “physically attacked” by protesters, the Nouméa prosecutor said.
It is the seventh death since the start of the crisis in the French overseas territory of Oceania, coming a day after head of state Emmanuel Macron visited Noumea.
During a trip to Doumbéa, north of the capital, two police officers “were physically attacked by a group of about fifteen people” and one of them fired his weapon, according to prosecutor Yves Dupas.
The police officer who showed signs of aggression was arrested.
Noumea International Airport will be closed to commercial flights until 09:00 Tuesday (22:00 Monday in Lisbon), the director of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the French overseas territory said.
La Tontouta airport has been closed to commercial flights since May 14 due to roadblocks.
The crisis was caused by a legislative reform approved by the National Assembly in Paris, which was supposed to expand the electorate in provincial elections to all natives and residents of New Caledonia for a minimum of 10 years.
Independence supporters believe the expansion could “further marginalize the Kanak people”, who make up 41% of the population.
The agreement, championed by Emmanuel Macron, should also include a plan to reduce the economy’s dependence on nickel (local production) and a “vote issue on self-determination.”
New Caledonia is an archipelago located in Melanesia, approximately 1,200 km east of Australia and 17,000 km from Paris, with a population of just over 270,000 people.
The population voted in independence referendums in 2018 and 2019, with 56% and 53% voting for France respectively.
The third referendum in 2020 was boycotted by pro-independence forces who believe the vote should have been delayed due to the pandemic.