The five individuals were wanted by the gendarmerie for, among other things, “attempted murder of a person holding public authority”, “robbery with weapons” and “destruction of property by fire”.
Five young people wanted for abuses in the tribe of Saint-Louis, a pro-independence stronghold in New Caledonia, have surrendered to the police, the public prosecutor of Nouméa announced on Monday.
“Five people domiciled in the Saint-Louis tribe who had received a summons through customary authorities presented themselves to the gendarmerie as part of ongoing investigations“, indicated prosecutor Yves Dupas in a press release.
The five people were wanted for, among other things, “attempted murder of a person holding public authority”, “robbery with weapons” and “destruction of property by fire” in connection with religion, in this case the church of Saint-Louis, destroyed in August.
“Investigations continue (…) with objectivity and impartiality“, added the prosecutor in a press release. And “underline the role of customary authorities who called on those sought to cease the logic of confrontation with the police and to come and explain themselves to the investigators“.
Since mid-September, Kanak customary leaders have undertaken mediation with several young people wanted by the police for abuses committed since May 13, the date of the start of the unrest in the Caledonian archipelago.
On Sunday, the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS) called on the police to give time before intervening in the tribe, where several young people are still wanted. Two were killed on September 19 during a law enforcement operation and a third earlier in August.
Since the riots which hit New Caledonia in May, Saint-Louis, 1,200 inhabitants, remains the last stronghold of the independence struggle in the Nouméa metropolitan area.