New Caledonia has imposed a curfew and banned public gatherings in the capital, Nouméa, after a day of protests against plans to expand the territory's voter roll to include more French citizens. The protests, which have been simmering for weeks, were organised by the pro-independence field action coordination committee (CCAT) in response to plans by France to expand voter eligibility in local elections to include French nationals who have lived on the island for more than 10 years. The move, which is due to come up for debate in the French parliament on Tuesday, is strongly opposed by leaders of the Indigenous Kanak population, who see it as an attempt to further minimise their influence
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