First is that Prime Minister Joe Natuman is the
latest Prime Minister, second is that the weather is simply fantastic with a
slight breezy touch and third is the feeling that the huge crowd is beginning
to feel the revival of the spirit of nationalism, as individuals hold the
Vanuatu Flag aloof to ride the wind throughout the two and half hour ceremony,
marking the 34th Independence Anniversary Official Ceremony at Independence
Park yesterday.
Not only that but the culmination of the powerful
address by the first Prime Minister from Tanna is a rare custom dance from West
Tanna called Kapielkapiel. It arrives like a silent whirlwind to capture the
definition of peace and unity. It then develops to create little groups then
remerges to consume all differences to enjoy peace and unity once more.
Performed by men and women and boys and girls, it
tells of a solid life complete with stability which then disintegrates as a
result of instability. But the small groups then remerge to consume all
differences as the men close in on each other and clap and swing their hands
and sing and hum in unison, while the women leap up with agility into the air
then land on their toes to build a human fence round the men, who stump their
feet with such power as to make the ground shake.
Kapielkapiel demonstrates the true political life
of the country since July 30 of 1980, 34 years this year.
What a powerful message from the Natuman Government to the nation to honour 34 years of freedom.
As to how many people are at the ceremony, some put it at approximately 4, 000 strong while others argue it could be the biggest crowd in the late 34 years, pointing out the thick crowd spill at the back of the stage towards the telecommunications centre and all around towards the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and as far across as the Paton Memorial Church at the other side of the road.
What a powerful message from the Natuman Government to the nation to honour 34 years of freedom.
As to how many people are at the ceremony, some put it at approximately 4, 000 strong while others argue it could be the biggest crowd in the late 34 years, pointing out the thick crowd spill at the back of the stage towards the telecommunications centre and all around towards the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and as far across as the Paton Memorial Church at the other side of the road.
A large number of
pro-independence visitors from New- Caledonia displaying a Free Kanaky Banner
below PMC, South Sea Islanders from Australia and a large group from the
Solomons are celebrating with Vanuatu this week.
The only complaint to Daily Post is that since
Digicel was able to set up wide screens for the public to enjoy the Soccer
World Cup, the Government should have asked them to also set up similar screens
at Independence Park to allow everyone to view the ceremony.
En français : Un
grand nombre de visiteurs indépendantistes de Nouvelle-Calédonie qui arbore ci-dessus leur banderole « Free Kanaky » ("Kanaky libre"), mais aussi des iliens du sud de l'Australie et une grande délégation des îles
Salomon sont venus célébrer avec le Vanuatu l’événement de la semaine.
