The bad old days of colonialism

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/elsewhere/journalist/story/0,7792,1002634,00.html

Twenty-five years after declaring independence from Britain, the stricken Solomon Islands will soon again be under administration - this time from Australia, writes David Fickling

Monday July 21, 2003

Less than 30 years after Australia quit its colony of Papua New Guinea, Canberra's administrators are going back to Melanesia this week.

The first batch of more than 200 were on board the HMAS Manoora when it slipped moorings in the Queensland port of Townsville this afternoon. It was heading for the Solomon Islands, a troubled archipelago dripping off the end of Papua and torn by corruption and five years of ethnic conflict.

Eventually, around 2,000 people from Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific will form a peacekeeping force in the Solomons. You can expect dramatic reports of Anzacs disarming unruly militias, and maybe even battling rebel warlords in the dense jungles of Guadalcanal and Malaita.

Behind the scenes, a more significant change will take place: around 100 outside administrators will quietly take up crucial positions in the civil service and central bank, putting them in effective control of the country. They are likely to remain for the best part of a decade.

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