New Caledonia is a French overseas territory and the events there is an internal matter of France and New Caledonia, European Union's spokesperson on foreign affairs and security issues, Peter Stano, said in response to APA's inquiry regarding the sending of one of the organizers of the protest actions in the French overseas colony of New Caledonia, the head of the Coordination Group of Actions on the Ground, Christian Thein, together with 6 protesters, to France for trial.
Peter Stano stated that France is a democratic country where everyone has the right to peaceful protest: "In fact, peaceful demonstrations are a fundamental right in all democratic countries. At the same time, there is no place for coercion in the exercise of these fundamental rights, and national authorities in (referring to the EU) member states are competent in matters of law enforcement. If anyone has complaints about rights violations or lack of respect, the EU and its member states have an independent court system that ensures accountability and necessary processes for respecting people's rights, and maintaining law and order."
From what the EU spokesperson said, it is clear that the events in New Caledonia, including repression and harassment by France to suppress the struggle of the indigenous Kanak people seeking independence from colonial rule, are considered to be the internal affairs of that country.
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