May 8, Noumea’s

day of violence

Violence burst in Noumea with a day-long riot on May 8 that left one dead, more than 70 injured, and the streets of the city fogged by tear gas, and echoing to the thump of stun grenades.

The riot was a bitter di sappointment to many businessmen and other an xious observers of the fragile scene who had begun to think, hopefully, that things might be getting better. The nightly curfew had been lifted on May 3, but now it was slammed back on, tougher than ever.

For the territory's tourist industry . groggy on the ropes as holidaymakers have stayed away in thousands, it was a particu larly bitter day - the cruise liner, Fairstar, enticed back after a three-months absence because of the troubles, sailed into Noumea harbor just as the violence broke out. Not a passenger was landed and the ship fled the scene after standing off the dock for about two hours.

The violence erupted in the centre of the city after the special commemorative service to mark the 40th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, but it had been brewing for months; all the ingredients were there for big trouble.

There were three ele ments to the angry affair: A strong group of militant anti independentists, attending the emotional memorial service for the dead of World War II ... squads of riot police and gendarmes on guard "just in case” ...a group of Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS) members conduc ting a demonstration which had not only been forbid den by the French govern ment's special envoy, and High Commissioner, Mr Edgard Pisani, but which had also been declared a provocation by the right wing anti-independence

party, RCPR, at its congress two weeks ago.

Tensions mounted when the two political groups faced each other, and then exploded into violence when one of the Kanaks hurled a rock at the opposi tion, seriously injuring one man.

The FLNKS then retre ated from the Place des Cocotiers, where they had held their demonstration, towards their headquarters, after being asked by the police to clear the streets.

The anti-independentists were not happy with the speed of the departure and some of the more upset of them began to chase the FLNKS Kanaks down to ”L Avenir” (”The Future”), as they call their party centre offices.

The enraged crowd of several hundred, after being held back by the riot police from making an all-out attack against the Kanaks, then attempted to storm the FLNKS headquarters in the northern end of Noumea.

They went armed with chains, metal bars, sticks and shields.

The riot police attempted to blockade the Kanak stronghold, and the crowd then turned its attention to the men in uniform, ignor ing the volleys of tear gas and stun grenades , con tinuing their charges at the blockade in an attempt to break through. The siege went on for more than five hours.

Late in the afternoon a group of Kanaks tried to escape to another suburb, Mont Ravel, and it was here that the shootings took place.

It is still not clear who opened fire, but the toll was considerable. One young Kanak was lolled and at least eight others were wounded by bullets. Ambu lances refused to go into Mont Ravel for some time, fearing attack, and it was

later revealed that the dead man had bled to death from his wounds.

Meantime, the police and military forces had managed to drive back the anti-inde pendence crowd which by then was starting to feel its own wounds, with more than 65 persons injured, overcome by tear gas, deafened by stun grenades, and hurt by police batons and the hail of stones hurled by the Kanaks.

Not until late in the even ing, almost 10 hours after it had erupted, were the last of the rioters persuaded to give

up the fight and clear the streets.

Mr Pisani wasted no time in blasting the RPCR for inciting the riot and in re installing the curfew, from 8 pm.

The RPCR has full re sponsibility for the riot. A communique issued by the party paid tribute to those Caledonians who took part in the street battle, saying “their courageous attitude has shown again their de termination to resist inde pendence. ”

While accepting re sponsibility the party

claimed the rioters were provoked into action by the presence of the group of FLNKS members conduc ting a demonstration which they had been warned would be seen as provoca tive.

The communique said that such a demonstration on the anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe was ”an intolerable abuse to the memory of those Caledonians of all ethnic backgrounds who sacrificed their lives for the defence of liberty and in tegrity in the territory.”

The party also demanded that Mr Pisani share some of the blame, along with ”the Socialist French govern ment/’ which, they said, continued to support ”a minority of agitators operat ing outside the law in New Caledonia. ”

The anger and frustration of the RPCR had been building for some months.

The announcement from Paris of the terms of the French government’s plan for the future of the territory (see main story), was seen as a final straw.

Sue Williams