“métros” and “zoreille” recount their worry on the explosion of violence in New Caledonia | EUROtoday

They have been born in New Caledonia or have lived there for greater than ten years. For those that name themselves, or hear themselves referred to as, the “metros” and the “zor” (zears), the explosion of violence by younger Kanaks on May 13 in Nouméa represents an enormous shock. Around them, many are already considering of leaving the ” country “plunged into chaos for the reason that reform of the electoral physique for native elections mobilized the separatists.

After per week of disaster which they attribute to the incompetence of political leaders of all sides, a number of of those folks testify. Reached by phone on Saturday May 18 and Sunday May 19, they requested to talk anonymously, for worry of reprisals.

Emma, ​​42, works on the hospital as a psychologist and has lived in Nouméa for greater than ten years. Doctors or caregivers in “essential” professions have needed to return to their service since Tuesday May 14 by sea shuttles (now stopped) or by helicopter, with one physician even having to cover in an ambulance to get via the roadblocks. Emma needed to keep at house, caught.

“Racism among Caledonians, hatred exists”

“We are in fear, in astonishment. We had the impression of a wave of violence from young Kanaks, even at the cost of their elders, since the dialysis centers were attacked and some can no longer eat in several neighborhoods. We weren't prepared for that.”she explains. “We work with the Melanesian population, patients in precarious situations, and we have many Kanak colleagues. We had the impression of living together, that it wasn't working so badly, while remaining lucid about the sometimes irreconcilable nature of the two cultures. »

Colleagues, in fact, had warned that “it was going to blow” on May 13. “We knew something was up. The day before, patients came with Kanak flags to the wards. After weeks of sit-ins and hyper-peaceful demonstrations, overnight we went from paradise to hell. »

Emma is not surprised, however. “The racism of Caledonians and the hatred exist. They explode there, on the dams. The basic Caldoche has his weapons out and is ready to fire. The Kanaks of the CCAT [cellule de coordination des actions de terrain] were nourished with hatred of the colonizer. And we say to ourselves: thirty years of peace for that! »

“I’m waiting for the nightmare to end”

Catherine, 50, instructor, has been Caledonian for greater than twenty years. “We took a bomb to the face and, after a week of violence, we are psychologically exhaustedtestifies this upset teacher. In my neighborhood, fire outbreaks, dispersal grenades, firefighter interventions continued endlessly. I have the impression that some people want to bring the country down. I no longer sense ideology, but only stupidity at its most horrible, and, like everyone else, I wait for the nightmare to end. » According to this Caledonian, the territory sees itself projected back forty years, and the voice of those, from all sides, who have made New Caledonia evolve positively is “suffocated”.

You have 58.4% of this text left to learn. The relaxation is reserved for subscribers.