Traditional Houses Bulldozed In New Caledonia Car Park
Structures meant to be dismantled weeks ago

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Nov. 14, 2012) – The authorities of New Caledonia’s capital have used bulldozers to remove traditional Kanak houses from a Noumea parking lot after they had not been dismantled as agreed.

Security forces were deployed for the dawn action which followed weeks of unsuccessful talks to get the area cleared.

A committee called 150 Years After erected the traditional structures in late September for events aimed at marking the festival of citizenship, but at the event’s conclusion a Kanak group maintained the facility.

The customary Kanak Senate also encouraged the so-called city tribe to dismantle the structures in line with the undertaking given before the festival.

The incident comes amid a continued search for common symbols of New Caledonia’s identity as the territory nears a possible referendum on independence.

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