The state has sent more than 1,400 gendarmes, GIGN troops and armored gear, to prevent potential incidents in the vote.
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They are everywhere, difficult to escape. Important human and material resources have been deployed by the government to “secure” the third referendum on the independence of New Caledonia. A deployment of forces that slice with the tranquility of an election campaign to which the independentists decided not to take part.
On October 22, the High Commissioner of the Republic in New Caledonia, Patrice Faure, surrounded by senior grades of the Armed Forces of New Caledonia (Fanc), the Gendarmerie and the National Police, presented the objectives of This “maneuver in reinforcements”. In addition to the voting security mission, it was, he indicated, to “fight more effectively against the delinquency of everyday life and the feeling of insecurity”, while transporting materials intended to renew those of the inner forces. He announced his intention to “Bluir New Caledonia”.
Thus, in recent weeks, 1,400 gendarmes arrived on the territory, including fifteen mobile gendarmerie squadrons (1,100 mobile gendarmes), short-term secondment military and a hundred members of the intervention group of the National Gendarmerie (GIGN), specialized in high-risk missions. This carries to 2,000 gendarmerie numbers present in the territory at the end of the year. At the same time, 130 vehicles were transported, as well as thirty armored vehicles. At their side, just over a hundred police officers have also arrived in the territory. While the Fancs have been strengthened by 250 military, for a usual number of the order of 1,500.
“People are heavily armed”
These exceptional reinforcements – they had not been so massive at the two previous consultations – are intended to prevent possible incidents in the polling stations such as it had occurred during the second referendum, particularly in The great Noumea, leading to a dispute, not followed by effect, before the Council of State. The government also wanted to draw the teachings of serious clashes, violence and degradation during the crisis of the South Factory. “This crisis has shown that violence is not the prerogative of each other. In the supporters of France, people are heavily armed,” notes the Ministry of Overseas. The High Commissioner has also taken an order prohibiting the port and transportation of arms and ammunition during the weekend, as well as the sale of alcohol from Friday Midi.
Independentists and Kanak community consider this demonstration of force as a form of pressure against them. “We ask ourselves the question of the true reason for this increased military presence in the territory and the message that the French State wanted. Are we at war? Stop the militarization of our country!”, Is the committee non-participation independence strategic, which brings together the main components of the independence movement. He renewed his call for calm so that the December 12th goes “properly and smooth”.