Noumea
The French high commission in the Pacific territory of New Caledonia said the country's main international airport would reopen from today after being closed last month following a spate of deadly riots, adding that a night-time curfew would also be relaxed.
“We have decided to reopen the airport during daylight hours and postpone the start of the night-time curfew to 8 p.m. on Monday,” the commission said in a statement on Sunday.
The measures were introduced after violence erupted on May 13 over controversial voting reforms that would have allowed long-term residents to take part in local elections.
The islands' indigenous Kanak people fear the move will dilute their voting power and put their hopes of eventually winning independence completely out of reach.
Barricades, clashes with police and looting left nine people dead, hundreds injured and caused hundreds of millions of euros of damage.
The commission said the full resumption of flights at Tontouta airport was made possible by the reopening of the highway connecting the capital Noumea with the airport, which had been blocked by protesters.
Previously, the airport only handled a small number of flights that were granted special exceptions.
Meanwhile, the night-time curfew, which lasts until 6 a.m., has been shortened “taking into account the improving situation and to facilitate a gradual return to normal life,” the committee added.
On June 12, French President Emmanuel Macron announced he was “suspending” the voting reforms that sparked the unrest, citing an early parliamentary vote.
