Gendarmes Lower The Flag

From a Noumea correspondent French gendarmes in New Caledonia are being kept on their toes watching the Union of Caledonian Youth movement (UJC).

One of the latest happenings occurred at a west coast public meeting where gendarmes intervened twice to remove two red and green flags, symbolising the creation of an independent “Caledonian nation”.

The gendarmes acted with greater restraint at this meeting, organised at Pouembout, after the more provocative appearance of about 60 members of the riot squad early in February at Voh (PIM, March, p 9).

Reporting that the gendarmes intervened at Voh with “helmets, arms, shields and truncheons” , the Roman Catholic newspaper Le Semeur (The Sower) described the raid as a violation of the rights of free expression and freedom of meeting. It called for peaceful reconciliation during this year prescribed by Pope Paul as Holy Year.

The Pouembout meeting was held in the local town hall where the mayor had apparently authorised the organisers to place banners bearing the words “Nation Caledonienne” and “Autonomie”.

On their way to the meeting, Caledonians noted an increased number of gendarmes patrolling the west coast highway, with road blocks set up to monitor travellers between Noumea and Pouembout.

Moreover, those attending the meeting enjoyed the questionable honour of having their presence recorded in numerous photos taken by the gendarmes.