The situation is complicated, military transport planes begin to evacuate tourists.

On May 20, an Australian military transport plane landed in New Caledonia, a French overseas territory, to evacuate tourists stranded there.

An RNZAF Hercules C-130 aircraft takes off from Whenuapai Air Base near Auckland, New Zealand, bound for Noumea Magenta Airport in New Caledonia, May 21. (Source: AP)

AP news agency reported that earlier, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said that the country had received permission from the French government for two flights to evacuate citizens from the New Caledonia archipelago .

Hours later, a Royal Australian Air Force Hercules C-130 landed in Noumea. According to the Australian Department of Defense , the plane can carry 124 passengers.

This is the first tourist rescue flight to land in the territory since the unrest broke out.

Meanwhile, New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the country is working with France and Australia to conduct further flights in the coming days. According to him, the situation in New Caledonia is complicated.

New Caledonia, a Pacific territory of 270,000 people, has been in a state of insecurity since May 13, when violence erupted over Paris' plan to impose new electoral rules.

Under this regulation, French residents who have been resident in New Caledonia for 10 years have the right to vote in provincial elections there.

Some local leaders say this could affect the votes of the indigenous Kanak people - who make up about 41% of the territory's population.

The unrest left six people dead, including two police officers, and hundreds injured. Paris had to send an additional 1,000 security forces to the archipelago to restore order.

French authorities in New Caledonia said police had arrested nearly 270 rioters. French forces are now slowly restoring order across the territory, clearing burnt vehicles from roads and deploying troops to protect public buildings.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/bao-loan-o-vung-lanh-tho-hai-ngoai-new-caledonia-cua-phap-tinh-hinh-dien-bien-phuc-tap-may-bay-van-tai-quan-su-bat-dau-so-tan-du-khach-272082.html