The High Commissioner of the Republic in New Caledonia, Louis le Franc, reacts to the press release of the 4 special rapporteurs who act in their own name within the framework of the special procedures of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
The press release published on the 20th August by 4 special rapporteurs who act in their own name within the framework of the special procedures of the United Nations Human Rights Council contains serious allegations that are factually inaccurate and raise many serious questions as to their basis.
This press release reports erroneous figures and information. The allegations relating to arbitrary arrests or forced disappearances in particular are completely unfounded. The press release maintains a complete confusion between peaceful demonstrators and armed rioters.
On the use of law enforcement, the atrocities that began on the 13th May required, due to their scale, an increasingly large deployment in order to guarantee the safety of Caledonians throughout the territory. 616 gendarmes and police officers were injured and 2 were killed (one of them, aged 22, was shot in the head).
The armed forces mainly provided logistical support and aid to the population (transporting freight and passengers, carrying out medical evacuations and monitoring port and airport areas). They did not carry out any public order mission.
Finally, there have never been armed militias in New Caledonia. Vigilant neighbours organised themselves to defend their neighbourhood.
France recalls that the priority is the complete cessation of violence, dialogue between the different parties on the common future of New Caledonia within the framework of the Noumea Accord, and the reconstruction of public and private infrastructure in New Caledonia.
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