Local control on Santo and Tanna and preindependence political trouble in Vanuatu

Abstract

The 1980 troubles in Vanuatu that occurred both before and after independence were the result of local social movements opposing outside control of any kind. This will be made clear in a preliminary discussion of the histories of the Nagriamel movement on Espiritu Santo, where most of the trouble occurred, and of the John Frum movement on Tanna, where the first casualties of the fighting occurred. This preliminary discussion will also include a discussion of the 1975 general election and will lead into discussions of the 1979 general election and the subsequent events up to August 1980, when Jimmy Stevens surrendered on Santo. A concluding section brings events up to 1983. As will be seen, the outside American influences thought to have played a major role did, in fact, only play a subordinate one.