History of Honiara

reement was made in October 2000, violence ensued in March 2002 when two diplomats from New Zealand and numerous others were murdered. Conditions became so bad in Honiara that in July 2003 Australian military and police units moved in the country to suppress the shenanigans and increase security and rebuild the damaged city and its shattered economic, political and legal institutions. The area around the Honiara was the battle ground of rival factions during the unrest that prevailed between 1988 and 2003, because of the dominance of more aggressive Malaitans who were outsiders and the local mild Guadalcanal islanders; in fact the island nation had become bankrupt and Australia intervened to save the situation with 16 Pacific Forum Countries support.

In 2006, riots broke out following the election of Snyder Rini as Prime Minister, destroying part of Chinatown and displacing more than 1000 Chinese residents; the large Pacific Casino Hotel was also totally gutted. The commercial heart of Honiara was virtually reduced to rubble and ashes, devastating the town. Three National Parliament members, Charles Dausabea, Nelson Ne'e, and Patrick Vahoe, were arrested during or as a result of the riots. The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI)( the16-country Pacific Islands Forum initiative set up in 2003 with assistance from Australia), intervened additional police and army, and brought the situation under control. A vote of no confidence was passed against the Prime minister and after his resignation a five-party Grand Coalition for Change Government was formed in