Pro-independence leaders in New Caledonia say they intend to relax protest action against the sale of the Vale nickel plant in the south of the country.
The gendarmes had been guiding people around the various blockades and worked to reduce the tensions between rival groups Photo: AFP
The decision came after the French Overseas Minister, Sebastien Lecornu, declared France's commitment to help steer talks between pro and anti-independence parties in the sale transaction.
Earlier this week, Brazilian-owned Vale announced it had signed a sale agreement with Prony Resources, a consortium comprising New Caledonian and international investors including Swiss-based commodity company, Trafigura.
However, for weeks, pro-independence Kanak groups had opposed the involvement of Trafigura, advocating instead for a bid that was turned upside-down on Monday when the key South Korean investor, Korea Zinc, withdrew its interest.
The sale agreement triggered violent protests and road blockades in New Caledonia's Southern province.
Speaking to a local television station, Lecornu rejected suggestions made by opponents to the sale that the Korea Zinc bid had fallen through after France had put pressure on the South Korean company.
The minister said he was willing to host talks regarding the New Caledonian shareholding in the Prony Resources transaction as well as the development of an ore processing strategy that will best serve New Caledonian interests.
The spokesperson for the pro-independence group FLNKS, Victor Tutugoro, welcomed Lecornu's declaration saying pro-independence parties had been calling for the French government to take the lead in discussions on the Vale sale.
On Thursday night, pro-independence leaders boycotted a meeting organised by Lecornu to discuss the country's institutional future.
But for now a fragile calm had returned.
People stranded in south despite easing tensions
As tension eased, the government of New Caledonia reinstated flights in and out of the international airport this weekend.
On Thursday, amidst the unrest, all international flights were suspended as a safety measure for passengers travelling to and from the airport.
However while the tension had eased in most parts of the Southern province, citizens in the southern-most part of the province were still stranded.
Roads had been blocked by demonstrators, some equipped with bats and rocks Photo: AFP
Part of Mont Dore, a satellite town south of the capital Noumea, has been cut off from the rest of the main island since the beginning of the week after protesters dumped debris including burning tyres, mounds of earth, tree trunks and car wrecks along three kilometres of the main road at Saint Louis.
The portion of road in question is known as a danger spot that is often targeted by easily-incited and out-of-control protesters.
For the 14,000 people affected by the road closure, the majority of whom work in the capital, the only link to their workplaces and vital services in Noumea is by boat.
The Mont Dore town council has organised a water taxi service, however, with priority on boats given to people requiring medical care including dialysis patients, there is limited space on board.
Anti-independence supporters had announced a march in Noumea today in protest of the disruption caused by the recurring blockades and strikes.
Meanwhile, six people involved in violent protests in Noumea on Monday that resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage have received prison sentences of up to two years.
