Former football player Christian Karembeu, a 1998 World Cup winner with France, has said two of his relatives have been killed during the unrest in the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia. Speaking during an interview with Europe 1 radio on Monday, May 27, the former Real Madrid midfielder said his two relatives were shot in the head by snipers.
"I've lost family members, that's why I've kept quiet," Karembeu said. "Because I'm in mourning." Asked if these were assassinations, Karembeu replied: "I didn't want to, because the word is strong, but (...) it's true that, yes, it's an assassination and we hope that there will be inquiries and investigations into these murders."
French President Emmanuel Macron decided on Monday to lift the state of emergency that was imposed this month. Seven people have died as a result of the violence that erupted in New Caledonia. Protests kicked off against the French government's attempts to amend the French Constitution and change voting lists in New Caledonia. Opponents fear the measure will benefit pro-France politicians in New Caledonia, where pro-independence Indigenous Kanak have long pushed to be free of France, amid sharp economic disparities.
Karembeu, who is Kanak, grew up on the island of Lifou in New Caledonia. After moving to France as a teenager, he went on to win two Champions League titles with Madrid as a midfielder. He started for France in the 1998 World Cup final and was also part of the team that won the 2000 European Championship.
New Caledonia became French in 1853 under Emperor Napoleon III, Napoleon's nephew and heir. Karembeu's great-grandparents were shipped to Paris in 1931 from the islands and exhibited as "cannibals." France granted citizenship to all Kanak in 1957.
The seven people killed in shootings included at least three from the Indigenous Kanak community and two gendarmes. One of the gendarmes was killed by friendly fire when a weapon discharged accidentally, the French Interior Ministry said.