an eighth person has died since the start of the crisis, the curfew extended until June 17

One of the two men shot and wounded by gendarmes on Monday in New Caledonia died from his injuries on Friday, the Nouméa public prosecutor announced on Saturday June 8. The death toll now stands at eight deaths, including two gendarmes, since the start of the crisis in the archipelago in mid-May. The events took place on Monday in the Col de la Pirogue sector in Païta, a nerve center on the road leading from Nouméa to the international airport, which has long been blocked by the separatists.

According to the gendarmes’ version, relayed by the prosecutor, they were traveling in a rental vehicle when, “after passing a dam”their vehicle “was deliberately hit from behind by a pick-up type vehicle”. “Several armed men opened fire towards the vehicle, which led two gendarmes to use their service weapon in a response action”the prosecutor explained at the beginning of the week.

For its part, the High Commission announces the maintenance of the curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. throughout New Caledonia until June 17. “Measures prohibiting gatherings, the sale and transport of weapons and the sale of alcohol” are also extended until this date, according to the press release from the State representative in the archipelago. According to the High Commission, 1,044 people have been arrested since mid-May.