Pacific

Separatist party in New Caledonia to boycott new premises

18:25 pm on 30 October 2002

The separatist Caledonian Union has called on its members to boycott meetings in the new premises of the Territorial Government in Noumea.

The call is an escalation of a dispute which began earlier this month when the

Government moved its offices to an annex of the Government of the Southern Province.

The three pro-independence members including the Territorial vice President, have refused to move saying the Territorial administration has to remain in a neutral place.

The Caledonian Union has now issued a statement and says its members should stay away from any meeting at any level planned in the new annexe.

It says the move by the anti-independence majority coalition goes against the spirit of the Noumea Accord to run a collegial government