'Large weapons' used during unrest on French Pacific island

French gendarmerie officers patrol Nouméa amid protests against a constitutional bill aimed at expanding the electorate in upcoming elections. Photo: THEO RUBY/AFP

Sylvie, whose family has lived in New Caledonia for generations, said: “The police station was on fire opposite my house, as was a car. There were non-stop screams and explosions, I felt like I was in a war. We are alone. Who will protect us?

On Monday evening, groups of young masked and hooded protesters took over several roundabouts and clashed with police, who responded with non-lethal gunfire. Several vehicles were set on fire during the violent clashes.

Authorities confirmed that a total of 36 people were arrested and 30 police officers were injured. A night curfew, a ban on public gatherings and a ban on the sale of alcohol are now in effect until 6am Wednesday.

Schools, colleges and the international airport are closed until further notice.

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The High Commission, the representative of the French state in New Caledonia, said: “Last night [Monday] there were very intense disturbances of public order in Noumea and neighboring municipalities, which continue to this day.”

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Government New Caledonia called for «reason and calm» and called on «all Caledonians to demonstrate a sense of responsibility», while the commission said it would «massively mobilize internal security and civil security forces.»

During the protests, cars were set on fire outside a Renault dealership in the Magenta district of Noumea. Photo: AFP

The riots occurred amid discussions on constitutional reform at the National Assembly in Paris. Its goal is to expand the electorate in the territory's provincial elections.

In the 1998 Noumea Agreement, France promised to gradually grant more political power to the Pacific island territory of nearly 300,000 people.

Under the agreement, New Caledonia held three referendums on its ties to France, all of which rejected independence . .

Indigenous pro-independence Kanaks rejected the results of the last referendum held in December 2021, which they boycotted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Smoke from the riots in Nouméa can be seen in the distance. Photo: AFP

The Nouméa Agreement also means that New Caledonia's electoral rolls have not been updated since 1998 — meaning island residents who arrived from mainland France or elsewhere at any time in the last 25 years are not eligible to take part in provincial elections.

The French government has called the exclusion of one in five people from voting «absurd» and separatists fear that the expansion of voter lists will benefit pro-French politicians and «further minimize the number of indigenous Kanak people» .

During a visit to the territory last year, French President Emmanuel Macron said he wanted a review of Kanak's constitutional status. New Caledonia will be created by early 2024.

Mr Macron is keen to reaffirm his country's importance in the Pacific region, where China and the US vie for influence but France has territories such as New Caledonia and French Polynesia .