Caledonia’s new independence leader charged after deadly riot

A pro-independence leader in the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia has been charged following deadly riots last month.

Christian Tein, head of the CCAT (“field action coordination room”) team, was arrested on Wednesday along with several others. CCAT is accused of organizing protests that led to violence.

Nine people including two police officers were killed and hundreds more injured after riots, looting and arson across the archipelago.

Unrest erupted in mid-May following controversial electoral reforms proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron.

The reforms would extend voting rights to people who have been in the islands for at least 10 years, angering some in the indigenous Kanak community.

Nouméa chief prosecutor Yves Dupas said Mr Tein was arrested for “organized crime”.

He was among 11 people arrested over the violence, including CCAT communications director Brenda Wanabo, although Mr Tein is the only person whose specific charges have been announced.

Thomas Gruet, Ms. Wanabo’s lawyer, told AFP news agency: “My client never imagined that she would be here. She is extremely shocked, in her eyes she is just an activist.”

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin described CCAT as a “mafia-like organization”, but CCAT maintained that it was not responsible for the riots.

France deployed about 3,500 security force personnel to respond to unrest that lasted throughout May, causing the international airport in Nouméa to temporarily close.

Currently, voting in the territory is only open to indigenous Kanak people and those who arrived from France before 1998.

The planned reform would make it possible for more French residents – including those who have been in New Caledonia for at least 10 years – to vote.

Many Kanaks worry that their political power may be diminished and fear that any future independence referendum will be more difficult to achieve.

On June 13, Mr. Macron suspended the bill containing the proposed reforms.

France invaded New Caledonia in 1853 and made it an overseas territory in 1946, giving power to the Kanaks.

Today, New Caledonia has a population of about 300,000 people, including 112,000 Kanak people.