Mission Impossible - Solomon Islands

April 2005
In 2003 Australian troops were deployed to the Solomon Islands to prevent the country collapsing into civil war. For Australians the mission has become more deadly than Iraq.
In the aftermath of WWII, the Americans brought in thousands of Malaitans to build their bases. These Malaitans stayed on until locals rose up against them, sparking a civil war. Now Australian security forces have virtually taken over the islands. But tensions remain. "We want our land back," demands one Malaitan. "That's why we're fighting."

[@skybluetrades]

I was in the SI in 1986 as part of a US Marine detachment. We we there to provide radio communications in the wake of cyclone Namu. I lived in Guadalcanal and Malatia, and I had no idea at the time of the divisions between the people of those islands. One of my closest friends on Malatia was Simon Mani, who was a founder of the MEF. He is now in prison, and I'm left to wonder if my presence there had any influence in the forming of the militant MEF. I was there to help, but I wonder if I did.

[@abanarahamkwalagauabana4385]

Simon Mani was release from prison.

[@willliamz84]

If you want to reconnect with him, he has a Facebook account : Simon Mannie.

[@skybluetrades]

@@willliamz84 Thank you Will for letting me know...Greg

[@freedom_guard]

Thanks. Very interesting.

[@davexstuntman]

I was there in 2008, the sollies are beautiful people but corrupt government the wedge between both sides. I wish you all peace and prosperity, I’d love to come back as a tourist some day, it’s one of the most amazing places in the South Pacific. Stay Gold people of the Solomons 😇👍

[@doukiks]

Thanks for the posting,,,what a great story !!!!!!!!!

[@glennaldosf]

was just in the Solomans last summer.. interesting to see this....

[@roropau]

The ordinary guys speak with confidence and conviction whilst the politicians are hesitant in words

[@reubennelson1798]

Big fishes are still walking freely

[@coralplanet9025]

The wound that never heal to this day

[@JOZKEWL]

Interesting

[@killabizilltonga4618]

Malaita ofa Atu!!

[@rtaraha9587]

if malaitans claimed to be hard working why not go back and develop malaita province ???

[@bryanpelo6622]

Rodney Taraha good idea

[@ModestyisbeautifuL643]

good story!

[@mattzjefter3282]

really?

[@ravinreal3604]

Either directly or indirectly, in almost every conflict in any part of the world America is involved

[@Siriaan]

those would be kiwi troops paying tribute

[@simexteatu1458]

Which place in Honiara was the Australian police killed?

[@nelsongraham108]

Who cares? they should have stayed home.

[@susisulo5996]

Republic Democratice Federation of West Papua di dirikan tokoh politik dunia Chiendrick Jones Yang Yong,diakui Pemerinta Republik Indonesia dibawah kekuasaan mantan Presiden Republik Indonesia Jendral TNI-AD Presiden Dr. Susilo Bambang Yudho Yono,pada saat momen Konggres Papua III(tiga) 2011-2011,kami Bangsa Papua memproklamirkan sebuah Negara The Republic Federation of West Papua,dengan kabinet pemerintahan yang lengkap dengan undang-undang KUHP,KUHP Perdata,KUH Agraria,kami berjuang dengan berbagai cara dan metode termasuk salah satunya musice-musice sampai Pemerinta Indonesia mengakuinya!

[@Happey67]

Rare? I don't think so. Check your history how many countries have had to ask for help of a more developed, military advanced weapons.

[@EliteBusJr]

wtf they doin the haka

[@danubuska]

Australian takeover? For real nothing can happen without the go ahead of the Governor General and this the United Kingdom and this the Queen 👑

[@ricardoogando5396]

😭😭😭😭

[@rtaraha9587]

in response to Phanspy's statement,,i dont think that's the reason why malaitans were chased out of Guadalcanal, there were lots of illegal malaitan settlements in in gualdalcanal thus Guadalcanal people just reclaiming their rights to their land........for your information even to date there are still lots of malaitans settled illegally in and around Honiara.....You'll hardly see major settlements belong to other provinces.........

[@cameroninomae9820]

Now its worse.......Please LO stop selling your lands.......

[@pfanasia]

I was there during the tension the gualdalcanal people got angry becos malaitans are the ones that benefiting in business in Honiara, it is known there that Guadalcanal people are so lazy, and they got angry while malaitans work hard everyday and benefiting from their hard works

[@oosns-io4246]

Yes and no, yes generally everywhere you go in the hapi isles (makira,gizo, malatia etc) close to everyone relys in handouts etc from their local Hon. Or local people that run big business etc. the Malatians were also chased out due to a lot of illegal settlements. There still is to this day illegal malatian settlements. The guale people were trying to claim back what was originally and indigenously theirs.

[@nilodala806]

Wrong analysis. Guadalcanal people supplied most of the solomon islands GDP. They supplied Honiara with food daily. They're not lazy people. Malaitans are just overpopulated that is why they migrate to other islands in the solomons. Learn some history.

[@pfanasia]

@@nilodala806 Do you have any evidence?

[@zzeedstun7151]

@@pfanasia evidence of what?

[@STROONZONY]

@@zzeedstun7151 evidence boofta

[@inferno0020]

OK, i cannot recognize the difference between haka and abo...I am neither an Aussie nor a Kiwi.

[@sampuatisamuel9785]

Haka is a war dance.

[@AussieAussieOZoioioi]

lol and now they have problems with the chinese in the solomons...

[@xXGeneralButtNakedXx]

Tokelau

[@doukiks]

bcos bossplayer123456 = Doko

[@inferno0020]

I am very surprised that Australians also performed Haka as a part of their military funerals

[@davexstuntman]

It was our kiwi brothers that performed the Haka 👍

[@DRdukedexster]

cia

[@thecrypto5340]

These people got like Afro-Hair. That is very interesting. They just look like africans or african american.

[@umarscamartistjohnson1784]

Rob Gorman dumbass they are descendent of Africans

[@jessicadruner1178]

@@umarscamartistjohnson1784 they aren’t

[@reubennelson1798]

Big fishes are still walking freely