2 People Shot Dead By Police In New Caledonia

JAKARTA - Two people were shot dead in police operations in the New Caledonia region, where riots began in May between natives of Kanak and French loyalists.

As reported by Reuters on Thursday, September 19, this number has increased the number of people who died to 13 since the start of the crisis sparked by controversial voting reforms suspended in June.

The people of Kanak are worried that this reform will weaken their voices and complicate the process of referendum to independence in the future.

Paris said the move was necessary to boost democracy by allowing more French citizens to vote.

In June, President Emmanuel Macron suspended the controversial reform plan but violence continued sporadically.