Anti-France protesters in New Caledonia wave portraits of Azerbaijani leader PHOTO

A protest against French colonial policies took place on March 20-21 at Place Cocotier in the capital of New Caledonia, Nouméa.

According to Report, the demonstrators were protesting against attempts to destabilise the situation in New Caledonia and gross violations of the rights of the indigenous population by official Paris.

The demonstrators said it was unacceptable for the French government to change the constitution without considering the local population's position, stressing that this contradicted the Nouméa Agreement signed between France and New Caledonia in 1998.

The demonstrators chanted slogans such as "No to Macron's constitutional reforms" and "No to the destabilising manoeuvres of the French state".

The protest was attended by Marie-Lyn Udare Sakilia, vice president of the New Caledonian Parliament's Commission on the Family and Women's Rights, Brenda Hantipe Wanabe, president of the EDIPOP association, and Nicholas Bolo, a representative of the Davie Kanaks.

Participants in the two-day rally also carried placards with a picture of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, an image of the "Iron Fist", and flags of Azerbaijan and New Caledonia. Some participants' T-shirts also featured the flag of Azerbaijan.

Mari-Lyn Udare Sakilia thanked Azerbaijan for supporting the Kanaks in their struggle for independence and sovereignty. She also thanked the Baku Initiative Group for organising events that helped to draw international attention to the problems of the indigenous population of New Caledonia.

It should be noted that at all recent protests in New Caledonia, demonstrators have been flying the flag of Azerbaijan alongside their flag as a sign of gratitude.