Publisher's Synopsis
This volume charts the key developments in a little-known conflict, documenting events from the emergence of ethnic tensions on the island of Guadalcanal in 1998 to the Townsville Peace Process.;Guadalcanal, home of Honiara, the national capital, has been a favourite destination for the country's internal migrants, particularly from the densely populated island of Malaita. Ethnic tensions between locals and Malaitan settlers have built up over many years and there has also been deliberate manipulation of perceived ethnic differences by political interests threatened by the election of the reformist Ulufa'alu government in 1997.;These tensions escalated dramatically in 1998. Militant Guadalcanal groups (now called the Istabu Freedom Movement, IFM) embarked on a violent campaign of intimidation against settlers from Malaita. In response the Malaita Eagle Force (MEF) was formed, and its militants forced the closure of major national investment projects on Guadalcanal. On 5 June 2000, MEF militants, together with disaffected police officers, seized control of key installations in Honiara, including the national armoury. Prime Minister Ulufa'alu was forced to resign and was replaced by Manasseh Sogavare, who was believed to be more sympathetic to the MEF. The legitimacy of the new government thus remains contentious.;The ethnic tensions have by no means been resolved, and could easily re-erupt if the quality of governance and the economy deteriorate further.
