It is a particularly emblematic place in New Caledonia.
Representing the eight customary areas of the archipelago, the "large box" of the customary Senate was the target of an arson attack on the night of Saturday to Sunday a little more than two years after another arson attack.
A 35-year-old man was taken into police custody, we learned on Sunday from a judicial source.
Arrested on the night of Saturday to Sunday for acts of theft in vehicles, he would have admitted his involvement in the fire, which did not cause any victims.
Borne deplores "a serious attack" on Kanak identity
“I want to express all my solidarity with the customary senators whose large hut in Nouméa was once again the victim of a fire.
It is a serious attack on the customary Senate, guardian and defender of Kanak identity, ”responded Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne on her Twitter account.
The first elements of the investigation "clearly favor the criminal track", specified the public prosecutor of Nouméa.
A building of wood and straw, the “large hut” represents the place of power in Kanak culture.
Located in the Nouville district of Nouméa, the consultative institution is home to sixteen Kanak senators, representing the eight customary areas of New Caledonia.
The "big box" of the Customary Senate is a must for all political figures visiting the territory.
All the Presidents of the Republic, Prime Ministers or members of the government have been there since the establishment of the institution in 1998.
"This is a serious and intolerable attack on an institution of New Caledonia, resulting from the Noumea Accord, which justifies a total determination on the part of the investigators and the prosecution to elucidate this case as soon as possible. deadlines, "said prosecutor Yves Dupas.
The building had just been rebuilt after a previous fire in August 2020, under similar circumstances.
This disaster had then caused a strong emotion in the archipelago.
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