New Caledonia imposes curfew after violent protests against constitutional changes

In New Caledonia, a French Pacific territory, there was a lot of trouble recently. The indigenous Kanak people want independence, but the descendants of the colonizers want to stay part of France. This caused a lot of tension. The French government had to send more police to the island because things got violent. Many people were arrested, and some police officers got hurt. The airport had to close, and many flights were canceled. The situation was so bad that the government had to impose a curfew for two days and ban gatherings. The trouble started when French lawmakers were discussing changes to voting rules in New Caledonia. These changes would allow more people to vote in the upcoming elections. Some people were not happy about this, especially the indigenous Kanak people. They were worried that their voices would be even less heard. This led to protests that turned violent. Buildings were set on fire, shops were looted, and many cars were burned. The French Prime Minister and local leaders called for calm and asked everyone to talk things out. They wanted to find a peaceful solution to the disagreements. The situation was so bad that schools had to close, and many businesses shut down. The high commissioner of New Caledonia condemned the violence and said that security forces were working to restore order. The unrest in New Caledonia has been going on for a while. The territory is important to France, and there have been disagreements about its future. The indigenous Kanak people feel like their rights are not being respected. The recent violence has caused a lot of damage and fear among the residents. The government is trying to handle the situation and restore peace in the region.