Seventy-five Fijians including children will be evacuated from New Caledonia where an almost week-long civil unrest has resulted in the death of six people dead and the arrest of hundreds.
The unrest – sparked by the French Government’s insistence for French nationals to be allowed to vote in the country’s provincial elections – has left many Fijians on holiday and those working in Noumea stuck.
According to reports, violence erupted in various parts of the French territory last week when the indigenous Kanak community retaliated, arguing the decision would hinder efforts to gain independence from France.
The French government then deployed military personnel on May 16 and declared a state of emergency amid the ongoing tension.
In Parliament yesterday, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said Government was working closely with the Australian Government to remove any Fiji national at the heart of the unrest.
He said the Fijians would be airlifted to safety with Australian and New Zealand nationals.
“They are evacuating Australians and New Zealanders and we have asked them to consider our people be evacuated in the same flight,” said Mr Rabuka.
“We have 75 Fijians and most of them are with the Melanesian Spearhead Group organisation.
“They are mostly in the capital area.”
When asked how serious the situation was on the ground for Fijians, Mr Rabuka said it would depend on the response to evacuate each Fijian national.
He confirmed some groups were located outside of the capital.
“There are the 53 staff at Melanesia Spearhead Group and some are on holiday on other islands.
“We have seven adults and two children that are on holiday as well and one adult and their daughter on another island.”
In Parliament yesterday, the PM said the evacuation efforts was part of their strengthening ties with Australia under the Vuvale Partnership.
