In a tragic turn of events on August 15th, tensions in Thio, New Caledonia reached a breaking point as clashes between mobile gendarmes and pro-independence militants from the CCAT group led to the death of a 43-year-old man. The confrontation occurred as gendarmes intervened to prevent the reblocking of a road by the militants, resulting in fatal injuries and destruction of facilities at the Plateau mine owned by Société Le Nickel (SLN).
Archipelago hot spots
Thio has emerged as a hot spot of unrest, along with other areas like Saint-Louis and Poya, amidst ongoing protests against the electoral body. The town’s precarious security situation has worsened to the point where essential services like the medical dispensary and dialysis unit have shut down, leaving residents in a vulnerable position.
Loyalist stronghold, then independence stronghold
Thio’s history as a loyalist bastion turned pro-independence stronghold reflects the complex dynamics of the region. The radicalism in Thio, diverging from the national CCAT, stems from its tumultuous past marked by violence and political upheavals.