In a dramatic turn of events, Christian Tein, the prominent leader of the Field Action Coordination Cell (CCAT) and a key figure in the pro-independence movement in New Caledonia, has been arrested by authorities.
The arrest took place at the headquarters of the Caledonian Union, the largest pro-independence political party in the country, as Tein was preparing to address the media.
Tein’s arrest is part of a broader police operation that has resulted in the detention of eight individuals, including several prominent pro-independence activists.
The prosecutor’s office in Noumea has confirmed the arrests, which are linked to an ongoing investigation into the recent deadly riots that rocked the French overseas territory.
The unrest in New Caledonia began last month after the French government approved controversial voting reforms that would grant thousands of French citizens living in the territory the right to vote in local elections.
The move has been met with fierce resistance from the indigenous Kanak population, who fear that the reforms will dilute their voting power and undermine their quest for independence from France.
Tein has been a vocal leader in the pro-independence movement, mobilizing protests and rallies against the voting reforms.
He was among the pro-independence leaders who met with French President Emmanuel Macron during his visit to New Caledonia last month, in an attempt to negotiate a resolution to the crisis.
In response to Tein’s arrest, the president of the Caledonian Union, Daniel Goa, has urged calm among CCAT protesters and called on young people not to respond to what he described as a “provocation”.
Pro-independence groups are demanding the complete withdrawal of the voting reforms before they agree to restart dialogue over the political future of the island.
The situation in New Caledonia remains tense, with a curfew still in place and several thousand French police reinforcements deployed in the territory.
The international airport has reopened, but businesses and shops in the capital city remain closed.
The arrest of Christian Tein marks a significant escalation in the ongoing unrest in New Caledonia.
As the situation continues to unfold, it is clear that the pro-independence movement in New Caledonia will not be silenced, and the fight for independence and self-determination will continue.
We will provide updates on this developing story as more information becomes available.
