These decisions were taken “with regard to the improvement of the situation” on site. On Monday, primary, middle and high school students will also gradually return to school.
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Nouméa international airport, closed since May 14 due to high tensions in New Caledonia, will reopen Monday June 17, the High Commission of the Republic announced on Sunday. The decision to reopen the airport was taken due to “daytime traffic (…) made possible on RT1”a double expressway linking the center of Nouméa to La Tontouta international airport, and long inaccessible due to the numerous roadblocks installed by independence demonstrators.
Police officers have been regularly clearing the road for a week, ensuring that the roadblocks are not rebuilt after their passage. Only a few rare flights, by exemption, had been able to take place recently, with passengers placed on waiting lists.
The High Commission of the Republic, representative of the French State on the territory, also modified the hours of the curfew which would run from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. “in view of the improvement in the situation and in order to facilitate the gradual return to normal life”. The curfew will now begin at 8 p.m. “The ban on the sale of alcohol [avec une exception pour les cavistes], sale and transport of weapons” is extended.
On Monday, primary, middle and high school students will gradually return to school, depending on the areas and establishments. In total, some 3,500 security forces are deployed in New Caledonia, where around 270,000 people live. According to the latest report on Sunday, the riots left 9 dead, including 2 gendarmes, and “no new deaths have been reported”underlined the high commission, which reported 248 police officers and gendarmes injured and 1,187 people arrested.
