NICE, France (AP) 鈥� A pro-independence leader in the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia was transferred to a jail in mainland France to await trial on charges relating to in May that left nine people dead, the public prosecutor in the territory said Sunday.
party known as The Field Action Coordination Unit, was flown to mainland France overnight Saturday, along with six other activists, prosecutor Yves Dupas said in a statement.
The seven Kanak activists were transferred to pretrial detention on 鈥渁 specially chartered plane鈥� because of 鈥渢he sensitivity of the procedure,鈥� Dupas said. Moving the detained activists into custody 17,000 kilometers (10,500 miles) away from their homeland would allow the investigation into their alleged wrongdoings to continue 鈥渋n a calm manner and without any pressure,鈥� he said.
The Kanak people have sought for decades to break free from France, which first took New Caledonia in 1853.
by French President Emmanuel Macron鈥檚 government to amend the French Constitution and change voting lists in New Caledonia. France declared a state of emergency two days later, rushing hundreds of troop reinforcements to help police quell the revolt that included shootings, clashes, looting and arson.
The prosecutor did not name the other six detained activists who were transferred to mainland France. Reports in French media suggested they include the pro-independence group's communications director, Brenda Wanabo, and Fr茅d茅rique Muliava, chief of staff to the president of New Caledonia's Congress.
The violence led to nine deaths and widespread destruction of shops, businesses and homes.
On Wednesday, 11 Kanak activists were arrested in a broad police raid targeting the Field Action Coordination Unit. The detentions were part of a launched on May 17, just days after protests
On Saturday, the activists appeared in front of the investigative judge. The charges they face include complicity in attempted murder, organized theft with a weapon, organized destruction of private property while endangering people, and participation in a criminal group with an intent to plan a crime.
In the past seven months, Tein鈥檚 Field Action Coordination Unit has organized major, peaceful marches in New Caledonia against the French authorities and the Paris-backed voting reform that Kanaks fear would further marginalize them.
With France now plunged into frenzied campaigning for , French President Emmanuel Macron in New Caledonia.
Tein and nine other pro-independence leaders were placed under house arrest when the violence started. French Interior and Overseas Territories Minister G茅rald Darmanin said last month that Tein's party was a 鈥渟mall group which calls itself pro-independence, but instead commits looting, murder and violence.鈥�
The National Council of Chiefs of the Indigenous Kanak people rejected allegations that the group was involved in the deadly violence. Grand Chief Hippolyte Sinewami-Htamumu expressed full support for the pro-independence group, which has mobilized more than 100,000 people 鈥渙f all ages and from all backgrounds鈥� in peaceful protests in recent months in the capital, Noum茅a, and throughout the island.
Tein was among pro-independence leaders who met with Macron during his whirlwind trip to New Caledonia last month to calm the unrest. After the meeting, the Kanak leader appealed to protesters to 鈥渞emain mobilized (and) maintain all (forms) of resistance鈥� to achieve their main objective, which he said was, 鈥漟ull independence."
New Caledonia became French in 1853 under Emperor Napoleon III, Napoleon鈥檚 nephew and heir. It became an overseas territory after World War II, with French citizenship granted to all Kanaks in 1957.
Barbara Surk, The Associated Press
