Posters of President Ilham Aliyev and ‘Iron Fist’ raised at rally in New Caledonia

On March 20–21, a protest action with various slogans was held in Cocotiers Square in Noumea, New Caledonia, Report informs.

The participants of the action protested the French government's policy of creating instability in New Caledonia and the gross violation of the rights of the local population.

The protesters, who consider inadmissible the French government’s decision to make constitutional changes without taking into account the position of the local population, said that this is against the Noumea Accord signed in 1998 between France and New Caledonia. They state that illegalities are committed in order to pave the way for new participants in the elections (French people purposefully resettled from France). Therefore, the participants of the action say no to "President Macron's constitutional reforms" and "destabilization maneuvers of the French state."

Marie-Line Sakilia, Deputy Chairperson of the Family and Women's Rights Commission of the Parliament of New Caledonia, who spoke at the rally, called on the international community to support the Kanaks: "We express our gratitude to Azerbaijan for supporting the struggle of the Kanak people for independence and sovereignty. We also thank the Baku Initiative Group for helping us draw the attention of the international community to our problem."

The President of EDIPOP Popular Editions, Brenda Hanthipe Wanabe, said that the French state continues to oppress the Kanaks so that they are not decolonized: "Our struggle continues. We thank Azerbaijan for its support in our struggle."

Kanak representative Davy Nicolas Bolo noted that the population is currently mobilizing against colonial repression: "The Kanaks, the first population of this territory, are being oppressed by the French state today. He noted that Azerbaijan is with the Kanak people in their struggle for independence and sovereignty. We are grateful to Azerbaijan for this support."

During the two-day protests with various slogans, posters of President Ilham Aliyev and "Iron Fist" were raised, flags of Azerbaijan and New Caledonia were waved, and some participants even had Azerbaijani and Kanak flags on their shirts.