" The 52-year-old Indigenous Kanak - who gave his name as Mike - spoke from a roadblock just north of New Caledonia's capital last week, shortly before the visit of France's president, Emmanuel Macron, to the Pacific territory that has been paralysed by violent protests.
The demonstrations began on 13 May, sparked by voting reforms proposed by the French parliament. Looting, arson and clashes have left at least seven dead, hundreds injured and widespread damage. The unrest comes amid concerns over inequality and longstanding efforts in New Caledonia to secure independence.
During Macron's rushed visit, he sought meetings across the political divide and acknowledged that inequalities had widened, but his language was revealing. "The return of republican order," Macron said, "is the priority." He left New Caledonia after 18 hours, promising that reforms that would give voting rights to tens of thousands of non-Indigenous residents would not be pushed through, but would be reviewed in a month.
On the roadblocks, protesters say a delay is not enough, and that the reforms should be withdrawn. "The statements of president Macron are disappointing," said a 51-year-old Kanak last Friday, from a roadblock.
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