2000 People March Over the New Caledonian Flag Issue

2000 people marched in Noumea, New Caledonia over the issue of the New Caledonia Flag.

The issue of the flag has seen four governments dissolved over the past two months in New Caledonia. This week the French Overseas Minister, Marie-Luce Penchard was in Noumea attempting to resolve matters.

The march was a week later than originally planned, the French High Commissioner had banned the previous march on security grounds. This march passed off peacefully but reflected the emotions people feel about their national flag and therefore their national identity.

The whole issue boils around whether New Caledonia should have a 2-flag system and observe both the French Flag and the "Kanak" as the official flags of New Caledonia.

This whole issue proves again that national flags are a really big issue and mean a lot to people all around the world.

The Flag of New Caledonia

The French Flag

New Caledonia Flag Protest Marches Banned

The tiny oceanic territory of New Caledonia may be small in population (just 245,000) - but is causing a stir politically.

Recent months have seen much tension over the issue of the national flag. New Caledonia is a French Overseas Territory and the French High Commission have banned protest marches for tomorrow (2nd April 2011). The Commission have also banned meetings of more than 10 people, which are organised to discuss the flag issue.

The issue of the national flag has caused the collapse of three governments in the past two months. A group which has been advocating the abolition of the current flag, has planned tomorrows marches many weeks ago. The labour party in New Caledonia were planning a rival pro-flag march. Rival party the Caledonia Together Party are pro-abolition and were to be involved in the anti-flag marches.

Attempts to form a new government are now entering a third month. It seems amazing to think that the national flag is a root cause of these tensions.

The New Caledonia Flag, the cause of much controversy.