State of emergency in French overseas territory of New Caledonia to end on Tuesday

By Yasin Gungor

ISTANBUL (AA) - The state of emergency in the French overseas territory of New Caledonia will end on Tuesday at 5 a.m. local time (1800GMT), French High Commission in New Caledonia said on Monday.

The decision was taken to allow meetings of the various components of the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS) and the travel of elected officials or leaders to normalize the situation, the statement said.

Noting that the past 24 hours saw a gradual return to normalcy, it said security forces remain actively engaged, with an additional 480 mobile gendarmes set to reinforce the current contingent.

Despite the emergency's end, curfew measures from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. will persist to ensure public safety.

The prohibition on carrying weapons, and holding gatherings also remains in place.

A constitutional change passed by Paris to give French residents of New Caledonia who have been there for more than 10 years the right to vote in provincial elections sparked protests, raising concerns about the indigenous Kanak population's political representation being reduced.

During the protests, at least seven people were killed and more than 460 were arrested.

China evacuated its citizens from the ex-French colony on Monday.