Human rights defender hails Azerbaijan's support in Kanaks' just struggle

The French government prevents Kanaks from participating in democratic elections because we can gain independence through elections.

Rock Haocas, external affairs coordinator of the exploited and Kanak workers' union, told Report, according to Caliber.Az.

A human rights activist says France is fuelling unrest in New Caledonia.

"The French authorities have arrested political activists. We do not know how their future fate will turn out. The intentions of New Caledonia, particularly the Kanaks, the main ethnic group, to achieve independence are under pressure," Haocas said.

He stressed that France will hold early parliamentary elections on 30 June and political tensions in the country have reached a record high.

“Airports are closed, political activists are arrested, children, women and the elderly are abused and killed by the police. We will fight with all our might to put an end to French oppression in New Caledonia. Over the past period, the government of Azerbaijan has supported us in our just struggle. My country is in crisis, and we again ask for help from Azerbaijan. We hope that the Baku Initiative Group will convey our legitimate struggle to the UN member countries and that these actions of France will be stopped by the rule of international law,” noted Haocas.

The protests of pro-independence supporters opposing the reforms began on May 13. Opponents of the reform, which provides for the expansion of the electorate in provincial elections in New Caledonia, believe that it will weaken the electoral opportunities of indigenous people - Kanak, and thus increase the influence of Paris. Nine people, including two gendarmes, are killed in the events. The archipelago suffered enormous damage, estimated at more than 1 billion euros.