Tropica I ities

Vonlli to the

barricades

Militant members of the Union of Caledonian Youth have successfully campaigned for removal of an offending Melanesian spear-surrender plaque in Noumea’s central square.

But the young Caledonians’ latest “anti-colonialist” campaign swiftly brought upon their backs an attack from truncheon-bearing French police.

The plaque on the Governor Olry statue was regarded as offensive to Melanesians as it depicted island warriors surrendering their arms to their new French masters. Demands for removal of the bronze engraving began in the Territorial Assembly three years ago, but the protest cam paign really gained momentum early this year. (PIM April.) Some local groups grew impatient with administrative delays on the job, and in September red and green paint was sprayed over the plaque by Melanesian chief Nidoishe Naisse line and Jean-Jacques Bourdinat, whose late father, a barrister, was formerly head of the local Bar Asso ciation. Through September and Oc tober workmen were chiselling at the monument, under police supervision, and it was expected the controver sial plaque would not be long in reaching its resting place among local historic pieces.

While the Melanesians have been persuaded that spears are out, French police truncheons were in action at Noumea court house when a group of sympathisers at the trial of two young Melanesians refused a judge’s order to clear the court.

Those on trial were a young Melanesian graduate mathematics teacher, who was later sentenced to two weeks in prison and his colla borator to one week for attempting to demonstrate at the military parade of September 24, anniversary of the French taking of possession of New Caledonia. Their “independence” banners were promptly snatched by police as they protested over freedom of expression, after Governor Eriau

had banned a Caledonian Youth public meeting planned the week be fore.

Thirteen sympathisers who refused to leave the court room at the sub sequent trial made it known they would not resist arrest, but an un expected number of police were ordered to charge with truncheons to drive them out. Later 12 young people, including Caledonian Dr J-P Caillard, J-J Bourdinat and three Melanesian women, were sentenced to prison terms of up to six months.

The violence of the police interven tion to remove such a small unresist ing group has led to uneasiness over future repercussions.

Meanwhile Caledonians, under continuous pressure from govern ment-controlled media, are obviously weary of political agitation on both sides. Resigned to leaving Paris to face the problems of Autonomic, Budget deficit now approaching SA2O million, and charges of colonialism in the exploitation of Caledonian nickel, the locals seem anxious to divert their attention to their own A, B, C of Automobiles, Boats and Cuisine.

*Aina(eiirs’ in (lie

PIVG courts

Papua New Guinea in September announced its first major break from the British legal system by permitting assessors without legal qualifications to sit with Supreme Court judges on criminal trials.

What are defined as “experienced Papuans and New Guineans” will sit with the existing all-white judiciary to advise on local customs, tradi tional backgrounds and interpretation of evidence.

The immediate purpose of the scheme is to phase as much New Guinean content into the courts as possible while bridging the gap which will exist until the country produces its own judges.

Details of the scheme were an nounced by the Chief Minister, Mr Somare, following a long series of investigations into a situation which has been of increasing concern to his government.

But although the plan is essen tially a “bridging” operation, Mr

Somare said the assessors would be I retained if necessary even after the I country’s own nationals were ap-l pointed as judges. Their retention! would depend on the success of the I scheme, and the amount of real aid I which it was able to give to skilled judges.

Mr Somare said there was no sug-| gestion that the assessors would de- \ cide the guilt or innocence of a per son on trial. However, the assessors I would sit throughout each trial, and at the end they would give an overall opinion to the judge.

During a hearing the assessor I assigned to the case would be in a position to advise the judge on 1 “modes of thought and language”! and special knowledge of customs.

The assessor system operates in some other areas of the Pacific.

Changes with the

Islands' press

An afternoon daily, Fiji Sun, ap peared in Suva on October 8, and the weekly Sunday Sun on October; 13. They are published by a new company. Newspapers of Fiji Ltd, with NZ and Hong Kong capital. ; Suva already has one morning daily, the Fiji Times, which is 105] years old. The Fiji Times group re-] cently launched the Western Herald at Lautoka, a regional 16-page weekly with 10,000 copies distributed free throughout the western side of the main island. It’s the first free regional s paper in the South Pacific.

In Saipan, Micronesia, a third weekly newspaper has appeared, the Free Press. Publisher is Alfonso C. ; Rasa. . I A new weekly, the Lae Nius, in English despite its Pidgin name, has appeared in Lae, New Guinea, owned by the Papua New Guinea Printing Co Pty Ltd, whose managing direc tor, Ray Thurecht, was once produc tion chief for Port Moresby’s South Pacific Post Pty Ltd, publishers of PNG’s only daily, the Post-Courier.

Lae Nius is a small format 12-pagerJ produced offset.

The Post-Courier is owned by Melbourne-based Herald and Weekly Times Ltd, which announced inj October it had acquired from Wilke; & Co, all the shares in Pacific Publi

nations Pty Ltd, the company which owns the Fiji Times, PIM, and other Pacific publications.

In Vila, husband and wife editing :eam, Jean and Penny Barbier, until •ecently entire staff of the New Hebrides weekly newspaper Nakamal, ire now producing a travel-orientated nagazine called Kousurata, a local anguage word meaning ‘to roam’.

Nakamal, owned by local business nen, ceased publication some nonths ago and attempts to revive t have so far failed.

First Island

*asino

New Caledonians with a spare A 2,000 in their pockets are invited 0 join the list of shareholders in the land’s casino, planned to open at le end of the year in Noumea.

Work is now well under way for le construction of the Casino Royal, le first gaming casino in the South acific Islands. Mr Raymond Frere, of the controlling company OCABA, announced the issue of a irther 49 million CFP capital in sptember which was being taken up V Caledonian and overseas investors.

The casino will operate in the "iginal reception halls of the 330- >om Chateau Royal hotel, right on nse Vata beach. In preparation for e opening, the Caledonian press is itiating the locals in the rules of iccarat, Black Jack, roulette, etc.

The American-based Bally Cor )ration, which recently made head les during the Australian judicial quiry into Organised Crime in iubs, when allegations were made at Bally had Mafia connections, adered for the supply of slot achines to the casino.

The tender, which came through e Noumea representative of a well lown Australian export firm, was not cepted.

An Australian, well-known in mbling circles, Mr Abe Saffron, is introduced to the casino directors the Sydney representative of an ernational airline but his offer of rticipation in the casino was also dined.

Meanwhile, as a further move on ; Noumea tourist front, the first ge of work has begun on the Holi y Inn project at Brunnelet Point, posite the Cercle Nautique yacht b. The hilltop on the Point is being elled off into the waters of Baie ; Pecheurs to provide extensive rina development.

With its bays harbouring a growing ay of yachts and its casino taking pe on the beachfront, Noumea is rcasing its visitor interest.