a day of mourning for some, a patriotic holiday for others, a September 24 under very high surveillance in the archipelago

On this September 24th on the Rock, some denounce the anniversary of the taking possession of the territory by France in the 19th century, while others celebrate it. Police and gendarmes are massively present on the ground to avoid a new outbreak of violence on the occasion of this very symbolic date.

September 24 in New Caledonia, a day dreaded by the authorities who decided to put the archipelago under lockdown with thousands of police officers and gendarmes mobilized. This day corresponds to the anniversary of the takeover of the archipelago by France in 1853, a “day of mourning” for the Kanaks. In the background of this day, the fear of a new conflagration like last May when the independence demonstrations turned into riots and looting.

For the moment, the situation is still under control, assures the High Commission of the Republic. There are sometimes tense face-offs in certain neighborhoods on the outskirts of Noumea, but they are quickly stifled by the police who rely on a massive force. Nearly 6,000 gendarmes and police officers are deployed on the ground, with tensions that are nothing like those of May 13, when everything changed in New Caledonia.

On September 24, Kanak flags were out everywhere, hanging from balconies, cars or proudly brandished at roundabouts by activists. The loyalists, more discreet, also responded, with the Marseillaise broadcast on a local radio station at noon. A call circulated on social networks to come, at the same time, to display their patriotism. In the city center of Noumea, a few dozen people came to wave the tricolor flag while honking their horns and shouting “Long live France!”. “We are claiming our right to be French”one of them says.

“We are French and proud of it, we will remain French. We were born here, our children were born here so we will remain here.”

A loyalist from New Caledonia

to franceinfo

Meanwhile, on the ground, the police are hard at work, as in Dumbea, a town in the Noumea metropolitan area, one of the hardest hit by the riots. Here, dozens of businesses have been set on fire, as can be seen with the gendarmes. This time, for Chief Warrant Officer Thin and his team, the patrol is going smoothly, with only a few fires of trash cans and furniture on the road, but traces of past riots.

The Decathlon store and the McDonald’s restaurant were also set on fire. Here, “It’s Walking Dead”, summarizes the policeman: “We arrive in the neighborhood, it’s empty, there’s nothing.” For law enforcement, the activity boils down to “cat and mouse game”, says Chief Warrant Officer Thin. “You see a small burning barricade across the road, there are young people not far away and their sport is to attack the police.” Things are indeed very different than in May, thanks in particular to the strong presence of law enforcement.

“There are 6,000 police officers and gendarmes, so as soon as there is a small overflow or a semblance of overflow, it is taken into account to prevent it from spreading.”

Chief Warrant Officer Thin

to franceinfo

But vigilance remains at its highest, because the Kanak youth are angry and still demanding the withdrawal of the bill on the thawing of the electoral body. This is the spark that lit the powder keg four months ago and plunged New Caledonia into a climate of insecurity, which it had not known for almost four decades.