France's Macron lands in riot-struck New Caledonia

Macron arrived in the capital Noumea to meet political and business leaders, seeking an end to more than a week of looting, arson and deadly clashes that have swept the popular holiday destination.
As he exited the plane at Tontouta International Airport, the French leadertold reporters he wanted to ensure that "as quickly as possible there will bea return to peace, calm, security."
The high commissioner representing France, Louis Le Franc, said the previousnight had been calm. "There has been no extra damage, but so many things have been destroyed," he told AFP.
There have long been tensions between the Paris government and pro-independence voices among the indigenous Kanak population in New Caledonia, colonised in the second half of the 19th century and part of French overseas territories spanning the globe, reports BSS.
But Le Franc said both sides were "fairly positive" about Macron's arrival.
- It's a bet' -
Macron's decision to fly to the southwest Pacific archipelago, around 17,000kilometres (10,500 miles) from mainland France, is a sign of the gravity of the crisis.
He is expected to spend about 12 hours on the ground and set up a task forceto deal with the crisis after upending his programme for the rest of theweek, just ahead of June's European elections.
Macron last visited New Caledonia in July 2023, on a trip that was boycottedby Kanak representatives.
The pro-independence FLNKS party said ahead of Macron's arrival thatroadblocks would be reinforced and "welcome committees" set up to greet thepresident, backed by the CCAT activist group that has organised protestsagainst voting reform.
"It's double or quits. It's a bet," said a presidential adviser, asking notto be named, while a member of parliament described the trip as a "pokermove".
Such was the last-minute nature of the voyage that a schedule for Macron wasbeing drawn up during the 24-hour flight, without knowing who would bewilling to meet him.
"This is absolute improvisation," a source close to Macron said.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said the task force would remain in place "foras long as necessary... with a view to reaching an overall politicalagreement".
- Barricades rebuilt -
The territory's deadliest unrest in four decades was sparked by French plansto give voting rights to thousands of non-indigenous residents, somethingKanaks say would dilute the influence of their own votes.
French authorities sent more than 1,000 troops, police and other securityreinforcements in a bid to quell the violence. But unrest has continued,though not on the scale of the early days.
New Caledonia is now dotted with burned-out vehicles, businesses and schools.
Kanak separatists, some masked and wielding homemade catapults, mannedmakeshift roadblocks including on the main route to the internationalairport, AFP correspondents said.
Security forces "clear barricades, but they're rebuilt one after the other,"Mayor Sonia Lagarde said.
Police are holding 269 people in custody over the unrest gripping theterritory of 270,000 people, Noumea prosecutor Yves Dupas said, while localgovernment minister Dominique Faure said 86 police officers had been injured.
The CCAT said it would block major routes leading to the north of the islandthroughout the day on Thursday.
"I don't know why our fate is being discussed by people who don't even livehere," said Mike, a 52-year-old Kanak at a roadblock north of the capital,ahead of Macron's arrival.
Armed locals, of French and other origins, have set up their ownneighbourhood barricades.
Jean, a 57-year-old manning one of those barriers who also gave only hisfirst name, said it was "good news" Macron was coming.
"The situation is totally stuck, we have to hope that this will allow peopleto calm down," he said on the eve of the president's arrival.
New Caledonia's government also said telecom services had managed to stop an"unprecedented" mass email cyberattack on an internet provider for theterritory.
- Tourists trapped -
Trapped tourists have begun to flee the turmoil.
Australia has repatriated 187 Australians and members of their families sinceTuesday, senator Penny Wong posted on X, and New Zealand has evacuatedcitizens via the small Magenta airport.
Further flights will be organised until the main La Tontouta InternationalAirport reopens to commercial flights, which the operator expects to happenon Saturday.
Many Kanaks, who make up about 40 percent of the population, oppose the planto extend voting rights to those who have lived in the territory for at least10 years, which is widely backed by anti-independence representatives.
One option open to Macron would be to delay the voting rights bill, which hasbeen approved by the lower house but still needs to be ratified by a congressof both French houses of parliament.