New Caledonia independence party says Macron needs to do more to defuse tension

New Caledonia’s pro-independence political party has told French President Emmanuel Macron it can’t persuade protesters to remove roadblocks across the French Pacific territory because activists aren’t convinced Macron will drop a contentious electoral reform.
At least seven people have died in protests against the constitutional amendment that would expand New Caledonia’s electorate to include recent French arrivals. Some indigenous Kanaks believe the change will dilute their vote, and risk any future referendum on independence.
The letter from the Socialist Kanak National Liberation Front, which met to discuss how to defuse tensions a week after Macron’s lightning visit, was sent as protester road blocks continue to impede travel and armoured vehicles arrived from France.
“Despite several meetings with activists mobilised at roadblocks and two statements from FLNKS calling for appeasement … this message is still hardly heard on the ground,” said the letter addressed to Macron’s three-person mission, tasked with re-establishing political dialogue.