Pacific

Law proposed to make Kanak emblem New Caledonia's new flag

13:40 pm on 8 April 2011

New Caledonia's pro-independence FLNKS movement has lodged a proposal in the Congress to make the Kanak flag the territory's official flag.

This comes amid a political dispute over the choice of flag which has resulted in four governments collapsing in less than two months.

The FLNKS now wants a law to elevate the traditional pro-independence flag to the new flag.

This comes as a group advocating the creation of a new New Caledonian flag has called a fresh rally tomorrow in support of its cause.

The Noumea Accord on greater autonomy calls for among other things, a new flag, hymn and bank notes to express the territory's identity as it is being decolonised.

However, France last year accepted a compromise by the accord signatories which wanted the joint use of the Kanak and the French flag.

Among those seeking a new flag are people who have been opposed to any recognition of the Kanak flag.