Meditation for peace in New Caledonia
New Caledonia was conquered by France in 1853. Since then, development has lagged far behind most other French states, and ethnic Kanak community leaders say they face discrimination and chronic underinvestment. A series of independence referendums were organized in 2020 and 2021. However, they failed to make New Caledonia to break away from France. Then the situation in New Caledonia has deteriorated since last week. A protest has started last week after French MPs voted through constitutional changes that would allow all residents of the archipelago to vote in local elections. Many of the island’s indigenous Kanak people fear the move will marginalize their voices and undermine efforts to gain independence from France. The proposal has awakened tensions between the largely pro-independence Kanak population and the European population. https://www.politico.eu/article/france-new-caledonia-riot-darmanin-crackdown-independence/ https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/french-forces-laun...