| Accession Number | P04580.036 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Film original negative 120 safety base |
| Maker |
Bohane, Ben |
| Place made | Pacific Islands: Solomon Islands, Guadalcanal |
| Date made | May 2000 |
| Conflict |
Period 2000-2009 Solomon Islands (RAMSI), 2003-2013 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: AWM Licensed copyright |
| Copying Provisions | Copyright restrictions apply. Only personal, non-commercial, research and study use permitted. Permission of copyright holder required for any commercial use and/or reproduction. |
A Malaita Eagle Force (MEF) guerrilla on patrol on the outskirts of Honiara, two weeks before the ...
Description
A Malaita Eagle Force (MEF) guerrilla on patrol on the outskirts of Honiara, two weeks before the coup of 5 June 2000. He is wearing a flak jacket with the slogan, 'IF, GOD BEFORE US WHO CAN BE AGAINST US', a reference to a Bible verse (Romans 8:31). Similar flak jackets with the same phrase were included amongst weaponry surrendered to Australian peacekeepers under the Regional Assistance Mission (RAMSI) to the Solomon Islands in 2003. Ethnic tension escalated in Solomon Islands in the late 1990s. The Isatabu Freedom Movement (IFM) claimed indigenous rights to land on Guadalcanal. They resented what they perceived as increasing Malaitan dominance of the Solomon Islands government and of the island of Guadalcanal. On 5 June 2000 the Malaita Eagle Force (MEF) seized control of key installations in Honiara and took Prime Minister Bartholomew Ulufa'alu hostage, demanding his resignation. During the political unrest in Solomon Islands, a Commonwealth delegation led by Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and New Zealand Foreign Minister Phil Goff, visited Honiara on 10-11 June 2000, to assist with peace negotiations between the Solomon Islands government and militant groups.