Country: Vanuatu
Year: 18.01.1983
Dur: 26.50
The New Hebrides became independent in 1980, and changed their name to Vanuatu. Independence wasn’t achieved without pain. French speaking Roman Catholics in Tanna and the Northern Islands were less than happy with the prospect of domination by the majority English speaking Protestant Vanuaka Party, and hoped that they might establish a federation which could leave them some independence. Their threat to central government was put down by Papua New Guinea troops brought in by Anglican priest-Prime Minister, Father Walter Lini. And so opposition was crushed, but at the cost of too much bitterness.