22,000 march in Noumea

Press, 12 November 1981, Page 6

22,000 march in Noumea

NZPA-Reuter Noumea About 22,000 people marched through Noumea yesterday calling for peace in New Caledonia, a French South Pacific territory wracked by recent racial unrest. The march, organised by a specially established Association for Caledonian Fraternity, was the biggest of its kind held in the territory. It was called to demand the maintenance bf order after a series of violent incidents and increased tension between indigenous Melanesians and Europeans and other races who outnumber them. The majority of the marchers were Europeans but there was also a significant number of Melanesians and large groups of Polynesians, Indonesians, and other races. The police estimated that there were 22,000 marchers, about one-sixth of the island’s population. The 60,000 Melanesians are outnumbered by a combination of 50,000 Europeans and 30,000 Polynesians and other races who favour continued links with Paris. A counter-demonstration by one of the main proindependence parties, which said the big march was organised by the extreme Right wing, attracted only a few hundred supporters. The police watched discreetly from patrolling cars and vans and two gendarme helicopters clattered overhead, but there were no clashes between the two groups of demonstrators or onlookers. The event was first organised in response to increased tension after the assassination two months ago of Pierre Declercq, leader of the biggest pro-independence movement, the Union Caledonienne. A white motor mechanic has been charged with the crime. But the march gained added support after serious rioting in Noumea by Melanesian youths last Saturday in which 20 people were hurt and many shops and cars damaged. Noumea’s Mayor (Mr Roger Laroque) led the march, which also coincided with the Armistice Day commemoration of the dead of two world wars. The marchers, twice as many as organisers expected, carried French tricolours and banners with the slogans “Three colours, a single people,” and “We want peace."