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In this historic part of Noumea, six houses have been burned down since the unrest began. Some residents prefer to leave. Others stay to avoid losing everything. Between fear and reluctance, they agree to testify in court.
Paul Robert Street, just north of the Second Valley of the Valley, presented a desolate scene. Along the road, we spotted the charred facades of houses and businesses one by one, from Toto’s Grocery Store (an institution of the “Valley”) to the last house overlooking the old cosmopolitan district of Noumea. “On our street alone, six houses were burned down. Since the riots began” Anger listed Elena*, one resident whose house was reduced to ashes and another whose home was partially burned.
On the night of June 3-4, three weeks after the first fire, a new home was destroyed by fire. “I called the police”, Helen said. Fortunately, the house was unoccupied at the time. The old lady who lived in the back was terrified. Someone broke into her house and stole gas tanks the day before.
Hélène, who has lived nearby for thirty years, describes the procedure, which is almost always the same: “When the houses were empty, they were looted and then burned down.”
My husband and I took turns at night, but it was mentally exhausting.
Hélène*, resident of Vallée-du-Tir
Helen called the police two or three times a day. “We’ve been breathing smoke for three weeks and it’s been a constant threat, but it took seventeen days for the police to intervene in the high ground nearby.”said the resident, who was wavering between fear and incomprehension. “We live two kilometres from the High Commission, how is this possible?”
Helen said she lived alone with her husband “Body anxiety attack”. “We took turns with my husband at night, but mentally we were exhausted.” However, the resident refused to leave.”If I left the house, I’m not sure I’d find it. It would definitely be lit up the next day.”
Rumors began to circulate that our house was going to burn down. It was hard to believe, but the police confirmed that we were in danger.
Claire*, resident of Vallée-du-Tir
Some residents of the Tyre Valley prefer to leave everything behind. Clare, who is in his thirties, left soon after the first abuse. His house is in a particularly isolated area nearby.
“As soon as the fire broke out at the Lefroy factory, we found ourselves surrounded by smoke. There were rumours that our house was going to burn down. We found it hard to believe, but the police confirmed that we were in danger.”
The police will not be able to reach this remote area. “The streets were filled with cars on fire and it was very anxiety-provoking.” Claire remembers that the departing residents formed their own caravan to flee the community. “We managed to get through but it was very tense. Some of the people on the street were very aggressive.”
In the early days of the riots, this place became a sacrifice zone and almost a war zone.
Claire*, second Tyre Valley resident
In this hasty departure, each resident took only the bare minimum. “We loaded the car with everything we could, telling ourselves this might be the last time we saw our house.”” Claire confided as she took temporary refuge on the boat. Today she said she felt guilty “Abandoned those who stayed behind.” “We were very scared.”
A few days have passed since this traumatic experience, and the thirty-year-old still feels like he’s been through something. “illusory”. “We feel really good in this community. We never imagined it would get to this size. On the first day of the riots, it became a sacrifice zone, almost a war zone.”
The GIGN evacuated us from the vicinity in two armored vehicles. We were stoned along the way.
Evelyne, a resident who escaped from the Tyre Valley
Evelyn, who is in her 60s, was at home with her partner on the evening of May 13 when the young thugs attacked her home. “We were insulted, stoned, and the Living Stone Society’s house next door was burning, and we were very worried that they would set fire to our house as well.”
The caretaker, who has lived in the Tyre Valley for 15 years, first tried to reason with them.I believe I can have a conversation with young people, as I always do. But that night, it was impossible to have a conversation.”
In the middle of the night, as the situation worsened, his daughter-in-law, Southern Governor Sonya Bax, managed to send in the police. “GIGN evacuated us from the neighborhood in two armored vehicles. We were stoned along the way. The police told us they would not return to the neighborhood immediately.”
Shortly after they left, Evelyn and Alberto’s house was also set on fire. However, Evelyn did not believe it was a targeted or political attack. “Unfortunately, we later found out that this was clearly not a young person from the neighborhood.”
His immediate neighbor, a former independent elected official, also had his house burned down. He considers himself a victim, just like Evelyn.‘Blind fire’ and not “politics”. At least as far as they are concerned.
Three weeks after the incident, Evelyn and a friend who stayed nearby returned to the site. The solid walls of the Art Deco home, named “Maison Mary” after the architect who designed it in 1942, had failed. But little of the interior remained. The wooden staircase had been consumed by flames and completely gone. And now, a man squatted among the ruins.
What saddens me most is the loss of my children’s memories.
Evelyn was one resident whose house burned down.
“It felt good to be back there. It allowed me to mourn my home. I didn’t even cry.”, said the 60-year-old, who is currently staying with relatives in Lemon Bay. What saddens me most is the loss of my children’s memories. I kept everything, photos, drawings, school notebooks, Super 8 videos of my parents.”
That afternoon, Evelyn was persuaded by her friends to tell her story at a discussion held every day at 3pm at the Vallée-du-Tir neighbourhood centre. “I tried to find the most positive words. The words came from the heart, like a custom. People around me applauded. I hope these words can be heard. ”
Soon after the house burned down, Evelyn returned to her job as Paita’s caretaker. Despite the obstacles. Despite the shock. “Living together, I’ve been through this all the time and I’m ready to go back into the community and do something if it helps rebuild connections.”
Some names have been changed.
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