The Build Up to the Solomon Islands Coup (2000)

A People Divided (5 June 2000) We investigate rising tensions in the Solomon Island in a report filmed just before the 2000 Coup. Disputes between guerrillas and police foreshadow more violence to come.
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Ethnic disputes in the South Pacific continue in the neighbouring islands of Guadacanal and Malaita. Now Ulufa'alu is being held hostage by the 'Eagle Force', a secret militia supported by the Malaitan police, which is unhappy about the government's refusal to support their land claims. Can these volatile South Pacific islands reach ethnic acceptance?
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ABC Australia. Ref. 0753

[@j.b.708]

"... with modern weapons."

[@mdd1963]

6:04 menacingly racks action of completely empty pump shotgun, clearly loading *absolutely nothing* into the chamber...! Impressive!

[@seeriktus]

The body language of these guys is all pretending to act tough. Swinging their weapons around like theyre kids with toy guns in the playground. "This is the frontline of guadalcanal militancy" "Hi I'm here for the meeting" *Sergeant looks to mate for support* "I ur... I'll tell the boys that... I mean you can proceed. Or ...ehh... you'll have to come back here."

[@zoluhwa3508]

most of the comments here are making fun of the old weapons.....it doesn't matter if the guns are old, the important thing is.....is that it can still kill a man.

[@ash_1419]

Most of them making fun are over weight Americans..

[@endel4385]

True

[@OperatorMax1993]

indeed, like how i always use old weapons, if it can kill it can kill

[@marlonpkeni2528]

Those old weapomd killed alot of people

[@Sshooter444]

"Modern Weapons" = 1881 Martini Henry ?

[@emelen123jamesula2]

Obviously you haven't heard of winchester94. Now why do think its called "94"? Still used today just in case you aren't smart snuff to know.

[@archiemercer5499]

like as in comparison to the weapons the tribes would traditionally use

[@outko24]

@@emelen123jamesula2 Yeah I have a Winchester 1892 and it's obsolete just like the lee Enfield rifles some of these guys have. Many modern hunting rifles are based off the mauser 1898 but that doesn't mean it isn't obsolete for combat. Just because a certain design is still used today doesn't mean it isn't obsolete, just in case you aren't smart nuff to know.

[@unfortunately_fortunate2000]

something close, looks like a cap-lock rifle to me though.

[@unfortunately_fortunate2000]

@@emelen123jamesula2 says the person isn't smart, spell "enough" as "enuff" or rather worse and far stupider yet, "snuff....." gg guy. that isn't the Winchester 94, that looks more like a cap-lock due to that little hammer at the very back of the receiver.

[@dannycrockett9878]

On August 8th 1942, my dad as part of the 1st U.S Marine Division lost his left eye and about half of his ear on the same side. They're somewhere on the Western side of Guadalcanal .... He'd love to have 'em back if anybody comes across them.

[@chrisgriffin9164]

We found it, and returned it. we fed it to a fish, which was eaten by another fish, then another, you were served them from the fish & chip shop last time you purchased. did you not notice. the extra flavour and crunch. your welcome.

[@dyls4707]

@@chrisgriffin9164 lol

[@zoltancsikos5604]

@@chrisgriffin9164 Cringe-worthy and boring comment.

[@Aiden_Muslim]

@@zoltancsikos5604 10 people clearly disagree with you.

[@prdude1234]

lmao that Pro Skater 2 music killed me every time.

[@zcara213]

This was 20 years ago. Im sure that Solomon Island was thriving til this B.S happen. I remember as 9 year old watching bullets flying at night, my family was stuck in the middle of all this. It was a scary experience my parents were almost up everynight checking if everything was alright. I do vaguely remember a time when we when for a drive to pick food supplies. And basically got robbed of all our food, one militant pointed a gun on my fathers head and im sure he was going to pull the trigger. But heard us screaming at the back seat. Anyways, Solomon islands is still a beautiful country but full of baggages (corruption). Theres my 2 cent for the day.

[@jlastre]

0:35. I do believe "Stein" is a very tribal name.

[@lan_daddyttv4710]

Can you say military surplus hand me downs?

[@harrylarry4672]

Says modern weapons then says most are armed with homemade 50cal muzzle loaded bang sticks...

[@issstari954]

@Graf von Losinj Lol the dudes got a martini Henry made a breach loading gun that ammo barely exists for made well over a hundred years ago with ammo that uses black powder

[@neddeihabara7789]

@Graf von Losinj lol

[@milenamachado]

the thumbnail looks like a teenage mutant ninja turtle

[@fredrickdau9957]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@yrkswae6394]

They speak English better than Europeans

[@Rpgpumpkin]

Learnt from watching a lot of movies as they have nothing to do, jobless and little to no education. Ask them to write what they have just said and the response will be, "me no savvy."

[@justinpapabatu8932]

I believe these people speaking had formal educations

[@ChapoJr677]

@pumpkin many of them are educated individuals who were taking up arms to fight for their rights, don't assume if you don't know shit get outta here

[@yrkswae6394]

@@Rpgpumpkin what are you yapping about

[@nelsongraham108]

@@Rpgpumpkin Hm.. youre kinda ignorant, which is just a nice way of saying you're dumb.

[@signorpippistrello]

Lee Enfields and awkward single shot breach loaders aren’t quite modern in my book...

[@emelen123jamesula2]

True, but Enfield's do bring down moose. But they are better than cap and ball. Cap and ball killed how many in USA civil war? When fighting as they are, you use what is available.

[@signorpippistrello]

Emelen123 Jamesula Sure, and no doubt the Enfield is a formidable bolt action rifle, but saying they fight a war with modern weapons is a clear indication of low quality journalism and story telling.

[@emelen123jamesula2]

When I read these comments, I am reminded of how many fools there who have a lot to say, but wouldn't last five minutes in battle with them.

[@Matthew-hc9vx]

Which battles have you fought in?

[@slappy5204]

@@Matthew-hc9vx he fought in the great youtube comments battle of 2016, show him some respect!

[@tanberetO]

What do you know about war?

[@juniorbaka2027]

@@tanberetOstfu

[@SoloTravelerOffTheBeatenPath]

@@slappy5204 The Great Meme Wars of 2016 and 2020.

[@gooner72]

These armed blokes are a joke, they have absolutely no idea of what they're doing and point their weapons all over the place even whilst they're just standing there pretending to be Larry large pants. They're a serious danger to everyone, including themselves and their mates....... they wouldn't last 5 minutes in a proper firefight.

[@boli8551]

this isn't the marines mate what do you expect ?highly trained soliders? 😆

[@laionemeihetahikoulakanate9515]

​@@boli8551 hahaha 😂

[@fabianelliott96]

Oh sorry American, they don't have gun training like you but have more balls than you. Thousands of people died and it's a joke?

[@earthsouljah4116]

🙏Love my indigenous peoples of Solomon island..🌺🐗.. Respect from native Itaukei indigenous peoples of Fiji island🌺🐗.

[@jaxmahn17066]

One love🇵🇬🇸🇧🇫🇯

[@Sshooter444]

Thanks for buying my land, BTW I want it back now

[@Left4Red]

You mean take because none of the natives would agree to the ways British rule of the island

[@derelictdogma]

@@Left4Red the islanders admit to selling their land several times in the documentary, these people are too stupid to maintain it anyways so what does it matter.

[@gotterdammerung5527]

Don't want to get political but this is the real reason why they try so hard to enforce gun laws. It only takes some basic weapons, bravery and determination to defy the government.

[@DR.ExE7]

Only way to stop dudes with guns trying to kill you is you yourself with arms

[@hom3bon333]

good to se the good old english martini Henry still being used in modern times

[@2msvalkyrie529]

Maybe left over from Rorke's Drift.? Front Rank!......Fire....!!

[@karwamake6918]

1:07 LOL Martini-Henry rifle straight outta 1871 XD

[@Aleko704]

Still drops an elephant

[@RamseyTheProducer]

These people are so different than any other I've ever seen they are soft spoken an not crazy

[@DonnieKreyden]

Which is very uncommon amongst brown skinned folks huh?

[@GjinoNRG]

@@DonnieKreyden right

[@kevincastillomorales4858]

@@DonnieKreyden Bruh nigga

[@renagihitolo5059]

Reminds me of the tribal fighting in PNG. Tribe vs tribe with death tolls in the hundreds due to Military weapons' being used. Often the weapons are acquired via the drug trade.

[@strangeperson700]

Pirates from Far Cry 3. We now know where Far Cry 3 took place. :)

[@revansyah3478]

It actually located somewhere in Papua New guinea

[@miahutman4615]

Most of their guns are very old but if they are taken care of they can still function very well

[@flooringhi2483]

everyone gangsta till solomon islands raids

[@valmarsiglia]

04:18 - "Whether you acquired the land legally from me or not, the land is still mine." Wut

[@morpheusburress6379]

he means his historic and ethnic ties to the land, the british colonists fucked up there way of life and now they have to live accordingly to alien rule.

[@mikelantern148]

Same in America and Western world. The land isn't truly yours. You're pretty much leasing the land.

[@fabianelliott96]

The land was stolen by British, then they announced their law and said these are the ways land will be dealt with. What he is saying is we have our own methods and you forcing your ways on us is not acceptable.

[@kevinoduor9841]

3:20 he's holding a prop from who killed captain alex.

[@MegaJohny56]

whatwas the 'sgt' carrying at the checkpoint in the beginning, a moratr sight?

[@saplamaciabbaskara2167]

A homemade pistol most probably firing 12ga shotgun shell

[@phunkeehone]

The guy in the thumbnail look like a ninja turtle wearing helmet, body armor and an assault rifle

[@misterjibril6528]

Guy with bally looks like BTEC version of ninja turtle

[@tishstonehocker4189]

omg i thought this was a new teenage mutant turtle movie when i saw the darn picture in the ads.. lmao sorry but not sorry

[@mrivantchernegovski3869]

martini hendry rifle cool lol such a eclectic mix of guns and modified as

[@pitaberaciri8366]

Making your own guns to take 50mm rounds that’s awesome

[@andyburris2555]

50 cal is not 50mm! 50mm would likely be physically impossible to fire from the shoulder. Still awesome that they're making their own 50 caliber guns!

[@ArisenfromDogma]

50 cal but yeah. Loud af when you're all tactical and shit before six guys start engaging something.

[@nuffflavor]

Not really. The recoil probably makes those guns extremely hard to mark/hit a target.

[@sharkbite5744]

Pita Beraciri yeah I didn’t see one did you

[@paperexplain9342]

Yeah, they should turn it into a anti-tank round and AT rifle

[@Autumn-nr8od]

3:05 those people manning the checkpoint was so overacting......it is so obvious that these guys had lack of proper training

[@tristanprice401]

You understand these are locals not the SAS

[@najkraemer3117]

Ah yes, the martini Hentri rifle. Top of the market tech!

[@jackwalia5437]

to those people taking about our guns....come see and feel for yourselves rather than taking in your comfort zone

[@miller8097]

wow they are so undiciplined, i saw at least 10 people pointing guns at their own people within the first 2 minutes

[@trekkienzl2862]

If I were a there, I'd like to spend a night in the camps of both groups, to see and hear what they really think and how they behave off camera. I know that people behave a certain way or censor themselves in the presence of the media, so what you see on camera may not reflect what they really thing or how they behave off camera.

[@slip8293]

You can't just write off what people say because they are in front a a freakin camera. It's insane to think such a way. You have to give people the benefit of the doubt until they show you a pattern of disingenuousness and show you what they say are lies. That is such a broad statement too. People are individuals, not everyone thinks in black and white or are dishonest.

[@akillyoh2841]

Dude,I don't think that's a good idea!

[@francois9747]

Hahaha sure, go ahead and send a night with them. Seems like an amazing idea.

[@janetbutler2989]

Absolutely right people lie infront of cancers so media can believe what they say and fir the world to see them that they are right! The people of Guadalcanal Guadalcanal have every rights fir their lands to claim and fight against those who claim their lands. It is wrong for other oeopke on other Islanders of Solomons to do that. They just greedybdont have respects to others. They have their land and big Island of Mataita should developed it to get what they want $$$$. You just dont go to Guadalcanal landowners to do such to kill innocent people to get money or land. Like normads scattered all over Solomons and rely on other provinces and yet other provinces work hard on their provinces to better themselves. All it is is spooky by donors ir free funds from govt. Maybe itbisbtime they open their eyes or look outside their boxes and start making hands dirty working hard like other provinces to be able to get or achieve what they want. Never use a whitemans weapon guns to get what you want that is totally disgrace, cowardness, disgusting, proudness as they try to shield and hide their real identity and behaviours. Noone in Whoke Nation is going to put up with that sort of behaviours nor attitudes. Stabboness does not get you anywhere. People need Jesus in their lives to live in peace, loving others respecting and humbleness is a great thing to have in life to be able to get what you want or need.

[@OperatorMax1993]

Man I wish I knew what is that beat on 0:29 - 1:57 Edit : did they just remove the music ? Man what a shame

[@makichan2180]

What the hell is that? 3:01 A flare gun? some sort single-action pistol?

[@Palkomtowai]

Year hey flare gun

[@kylemanning1421]

Anyone else notice the upside-down patch on the "leader"'s uniform?

[@Graymenn]

chevrons

[@oro7114]

That’s the way the Australian army have them

[@loganchew1616]

First thing i thought of was Farcry 3

[@TheKeltoiwolf]

glad i wasn't the only one who thought of farcry....lol

[@victormarcus6951]

Yo, same here bro😂😂😂.

[@juniorbaka2027]

For those who said our weapons is crap...atleast we could built one...unlike factories

[@Jessestank]

They must be burning hot wearing full winter gear in africa like im worried

[@jessicadruner1178]

They aren’t in Africa

[@spadedaniel8539]

dumb comment from a so called civilised man hahaha

[@victormarcus6951]

In the Pacific bro BUT burning hot the same🌞.

[@geroisgarsav3703]

Front flat tire at 17:05

[@MO-fl8vm]

Those troops flagged the camera man so many times

[@Aaron-8989]

Ok so I just looked up East Timor and here I am 😂 but hey I wonder what happened to this conflict it’s 2020 as of now so was there a ceasefire to this?

[@mkvenner2]

Aaron Abuan well after the intervention by Australia and New Zealand in 2003 the fighting ended.

[@madkills10]

@@mkvenner2 apparently now the gov made a deal with china and Malaita islanders are not happy with it. The last opposing minister was voted out with no confidence yesterday and there was already protests about that

[@felixgore9724]

during this conflict i was 5 years old, and also victimizes of it.

[@MrHeadSet1]

17:05 yo that tire needs some airrrrrrr

[@unfortunately_fortunate2000]

"modern conflict with modern weapons" 0:43 the guy is holding and using an old cap-lock rifle.... so modern.

[@OperatorMax1993]

Martini Henry's not a cap lock rifle..

[@rorynesta7766]

was that guy driving with the front tyre fully flat? 17.10

[@maxasaurus3008]

Decent reporting, a bit more sensitivity would have been nice, very troubling times.

[@MsEgyptking]

Modern weapons. . Lmao

[@nuffflavor]

Sound like what the American Indians went through.....

[@tobim5574]

If you mean by selling the land to someone, regretting it and killing the buyers then yeah. Thats why the term indian giver exists.

[@TheWar4money]

Remember those terrible days well. Sadly Solomon Islands is still no where near to peace since the Ethnic tension.

[@paulmckenzie5155]

I saw none of them with ammunition for their weapons

[@yettiefash7425]

Exactly what is happening now in Nigeria in 2022.

[@reddog5031]

$180,000,000 Solomon Islands Dollars equals about $22,000,000 USA dollars. Solomon GDP is about 1.3 billion USA dollars the government budget is $461,484,693 Maybe the government could pay $22 million to the Militan Eagles Paramilitary ?

[@erikkz]

Will the dude that stole Steins uniform please mail it back to the ADF?

[@rickmoffetos6202]

Yeah..they must

[@MegaAlexison]

Ask yourself when they bought those guns , because those people arrived into ur home they left u with nothing but sorrow into ur family

[@joeyoung9185]

Imagine filming an action sequence montage with a Warband of Pacific Islander tribal guerilla fighters. Some of them don't even look like they know how their guns work.

[@benmckay138]

I witnessed this Coupe in 1989

[@wyliecelt]

It was brewing before that, i deployed there with NZ Army in 88. A grenade attack had occurred on a Chinese owned club the week before we arrived.

[@OperatorMax1993]

​@@wyliecelt damn dude

[@herbsHA]

Thank you; your documentary was very informative. I am sorry for all the Solomon Islanders. I got to know them as loving and caring people. Get rid of the leaders on both sides. They don't have your interest in mind, only their pockets. I know; I have been there.

[@Bruh-hq1hx]

Ok but honestly their equipments is whack it goes from weapons the british used against the zulu to weapons from Vietnam

[@kenzmcvil8560]

The main cause of this civil war between Malaita and Guadalcanal was Australia. Before the civil war SI's economy was very strong, and Australia want to get rid of this to ramain the economic superpower in the Pacific. It is Australian government who influence the corrupt government of Solomon islands and use Guadalcanal politicians to influence their uneducated people to fight Malaitans. During the height of the civil war all the foreign investors went back to their countries and the SI's economy was collapsed and SI was declared a fail state cos thats what Australian government want. After that then Australia form the regional assistant mission to SI called RAMSI to bring the peace again. Very smart Australia isn't it?. But many people loss their lives and many became psychologically affected from this coup.

[@paperexplain9342]

Wow,

[@nilodala806]

As a solomon islander, I agree completely

[@emelen123jamesula2]

And what do you think the USA does? Look how USA is trying hard to prevent China from becoming the new powerhouse. UK and USA had their day. Now China is moving up.

[@TrichordoKostas]

You're rightx this Australian report making it seem like it's just some sort of cultural issues between Guale and Malaitan ppl is ridiculous. Cultural differences don't lead to economic collapse, the idea that it could is just Australians using racist ideas about "backwards islanders" to hide the problems they've caused.

[@SalvatoreMerci-pt5ip]

What can Australia do to the family of the late great leader Ulufa'alu for his sacrifices of his family and career for building up the country's economy ,l think Australia is a bit in human here ,?

[@livingwiththeonyeadis5668]

"Modern weapons"??! They are fucking Dane Guns. What will the rules be, allow 45 minutes for reloading??

[@johngeseni9588]

Puting on camouflage jst to shoot this video...

[@Palkomtowai]

Both sides equips with SR88A rifles plus Ultimax 100 Mk3,Australia SLR L1A1 & SLR L2A1 and FN MAG 58 only few equips with this modern weapon and majority are homemade guns.

[@videogokil1796]

woooowww 😰😰

[@kipurocky7229]

Hellow...Mighty Kips love living world♥♥♥♥

[@ybet1000]

A few kava meetings and appropriate mokas are the only thing that will sort this out...

[@davidanderson9664]

WHat's it like now I wonder? D.A> NYC

[@CycocelVocalist]

No checkpoints but still crime ridden.

[@applesandoranges49]

David Anderson it’s much more peaceful now. However, our govt is really corrupt and development is slow, thus not many opportunities. Theres still a high number of unemployed youth and over the years, there’s been riots due to various reasons, of whom the unemployed youth are usually the culprits. Other than that, we are in a much better state!

[@tzunammi]

Ok, I'm waiting for the mention of what resources are here.... Ahhhhhhhh! I just heard gold! Next...

[@katlegorapelang1048]

Oil I think

[@fabianelliott96]

Everyone saying those arent modern guns are entirely missing the point and exposing maturity. Why is that the main take away? The point the presenter was making is that these land issues have been happening for hundreds of years except now modern weapons are involved. It's not America where you can buy guns anywhere, you have to make do with what you get, which means improvise and repair. For those wondering the Australian Military stepped in and helped with peace talks and the fighting stopped in 2004.

[@tushyranx5860]

Where the hell is this place?

[@lloydzama4406]

Oceania...

[@saber8156]

Those fighters have really good English

[@chrisgriffin9164]

The original overstayers would be dead now, the new generation would of been born there. if born there, you belong there, if not, leave if not excepted.

[@Diabolik771]

Who knew this crazy shit was going on there.

[@NiskaMagnusson]

so they have camo... but also have super bright red bandanas?

[@Palkomtowai]

Those ones with Red bandanas are militants from Malaita province called the Malaita Eagle force fight against the Guadalcanal Liberation frontiers..

[@azkrouzreimertz9784]

they are using shotguns and old bolt action rifles and a fucking flare gun. but i did not see one 50.cal rifle in that beatiful mix of weaponry

[@generalbooger9146]

I'm With you fellers. You were there first.

[@temakillamusic8652]

They are doing good work

[@muhammadyazid4759]

This people for sure got some drip!

[@MarvelMania677]

They barely seem to have ammo

[@sdrawkcabUK]

intro: "a nation thrown together as an afterthought of colonialism".... ummm... the Solomons existed as a unified entity since the 1890s - that's 90 years before independence. The Solomons government had 20 years of independence to sort this out but just sat on it like governments do all over the world.

[@shekinahrhema1544]

I pray corona virus doesn't come here

[@juniormairanji9841]

Sorry about that video

[@wgdavidson9669]

Fallout 4 exists!

[@nishiyama.Akihiro]

These airsoft groups are hard.

[@zzeedstun7151]

Try mocking them in person tough guy

[@joke9289]

same year when fiji had their second 3rd coup lead by George Speight

[@Chicco528]

You stand a 100m away from your enemy and you call yourself a hero. Try fighting these men without your gun powder. It will be a different story!

[@adramalech3385]

TOYOTA. F*** YEA!

[@emelen123jamesula2]

Toyota is number one selling 4x4, proven better that the outdated jeep.

[@pitoyfabs852]

Only The Kingdom of true God is the solution all over the world. One Governments one God one King Jesus Christ and the 144.000.

[@lajqiilajqi1272]

Why the thumbnail guy looks like rafaelo from ninja turtles

[@newweaponsdc]

Maybe the British leaving was a bad idea. Colonialism is better than this situation any day.

[@spadedaniel8539]

It is because of British, putting a different people with different cultures into one country.

[@kingping3933]

"NINJA TURTLES"😳🤔

[@yemum2364]

Hey nice Daewoo and M16A2

[@frankiethegimp6192]

I believe the gun in the thumbnail is a Singaporean SR88 rifle variant.

[@Palkomtowai]

SR88A rifle Semi and full auto

[@Xelidojamz]

watching it in 2021, growing up there and now seeing story about it on aus tv. This is such fake news. so much bad acting.

[@clutch5011]

Those are old ass guns

[@emelen123jamesula2]

Old guns kill too.

[@tamanimaiesia5344]

Dayum! I thought Fiji was soo fu***d up, but Solomons is on another level

[@tekajikuyalkrul5111]

If you think that's messed up y'all should check out PNG 🥲

[@gotterdammerung5527]

This struggle is 100% honorable. They don't want to eat the rich, they're not trying to take everything for themselves, they're not trying to pedal an ideology. They just want compensation for what was theirs.

[@tekittontv1]

They look enargytic and intelligent