The armed conflict in New Caledonia, France's overseas possessions in the South Pacific.
Recently, it has become the focus of international news, and a sudden war has made waves in this otherwise peaceful place.
First, we need to understand that the conflict in New Caledonia did not happen overnight. The history here is intricate. There are legacies of French colonial rule, as well as cultural clashes between indigenous people and immigrants. The recent outbreak of armed conflict is a direct manifestation of the intensification of these contradictions.
The clashes have reportedly resulted in multiple casualties, hundreds injured, streets in shambles, shops looted and food shortages. Such a scene is reminiscent of those turbulent countries and regions. But it's sad that New Caledonia, once known as a "paradise on earth" island, is now in such a predicament.
In this conflict, the French government reacted quickly. President Macron decisively declared a "state of emergency" in New Caledonia and sent a large number of police and gendarmes to maintain law and order. This move undoubtedly demonstrates the determination of the French Government to maintain the stability of the country and the security of its people.
However, it has also raised questions about the French government's excessive use of force. After all, peace and dialogue are paramount in the process of conflict resolution.
Since it was a civil war, in addition to the actions of the French government, the opposite side could not be ignored - the local independence movement organization "Field Action Coordination Group". The group claimed to fight for the "full sovereignty" of New Caledonia on behalf of the indigenous Kanak people and organized protests on several occasions.
In this conflict, they have been accused of being the organizers of violence. This begs the question: are they really fighting for the interests of the indigenous people? Or is it just a matter of playing for one's own political ends?
Of course, we cannot simply blame either side for this conflict. After all, a conflict is the result of the combined efforts of two or more parties. But in the midst of this conflict, we have to ponder the question: why did New Caledonia come to this point?
One of the immediate triggers was the recently passed constitutional amendments. This amendment seeks to extend the right to vote to those who were born or have lived in New Caledonia for more than 10 years. This initiative is undoubtedly a positive attempt to increase the participation and sense of belonging of local residents. However, the move also sparked opposition from supporters of the independence movement.
They feared that the expansion of suffrage would weaken the political influence of the indigenous "Kanaks". This concern is not unfounded, as in many countries and regions, indigenous peoples are often historically disadvantaged.
However, we cannot ignore another problem: even with the expansion of suffrage, the fundamental problem of New Caledonia — the legacy of French colonial rule — remains unresolved.
This issue involves land, resources, culture and other aspects, and requires the two sides to sit down for in-depth dialogue and consultation. It is only through dialogue and consultation that a fundamental way to solve the problem can be found.