SG says Shefa also mourns with France

“The people of Vanuatu have a historical connection with the Republic of France and for this reason, the senseless killings of 129 innocent people and some 300 injured in Paris last weekend should matter to us. May be one or two French citizens in Port Vila are related to some of those killed or wounded in the worse violence since World War Two in the night club or restaurants”.

Shefa Secretary General Michel Kalworai made the statement as he filled the book of condolence and signed it at the French Embassy in Central Port Vila yesterday.

He says the fact that there is only a single flower stuck through the metal gate of the embassy should not in any way reflect the level of sorrow for what happened because ni Vanuatu are culturally sensitive. He says France is an integral part of Vanuatu through the French language and its rich culture.

As the Chief Executive Officer of the gateway to the country, he says it is his hope that French Ambassador Alain du Boispéan would find time to notice his words of condolence on behalf of President Johnny Max and people of Shefa and Efate where Port Vila is situated, as well as on behalf of the presidents and people of all other Provinces.

According to the New York Times there were three teams of Islamic State attackers acting in unison carried out the terrorist assault in Paris on Friday night. The ibtimes reported that France has become a hotspot in recent months for attacks related to Islamic extremism, in part because of its open-border policy that has attracted a number of refugees from the Middle East and North Africa.

There are 1,573 French nationals or residents in France “listed as being implicated in terrorist networks,” government estimates say. Of these, 442 were believed to be fighting with ISIS in Syria, where 97 have died, according to a Daily Mail report from July.