PDA

View Full Version : Vanuatu


Sten
09-19-2005, 07:35
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/nh.html
http://www.vanuatu.net.vu/VanuatuOnlineDirectory.html

History:
Vanuatu is a "Y"-shaped chain of 83 islands lying 2500km northeast of Sydney (Australia), 2000km north of Auckland (New Zealand), and 800km west of Nadi (Fiji). The total land mass is around 13,000 sq. km. The islands range in topography from towering volcanic cones to others covered in dense rainforest to yet others which are raised coral islands with wide beaches and deep natural harbors. The people of Vanuatu, a name which means 'Land Eternal', are predominantly Melanesian.
The Ni Vanuatu have populated these islands for centuries and with more than 115 distinctly different cultures and languages still thriving here, Vanuatu is recognized as one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world. There are small communities of French, British, Australian, New Zealand, Vietnamese, Chinese and other Pacific Islands people living in harmony with the Ni Vanuatu. Until 1980 Vanuatu, then known as the New Hebrides, was jointly administered by France and Great Britain as a 'Condominium'.

Malaria and Dengue fever:
If you are staying at a resort in Port Vila or just moving around the town, or if you plan on visiting the islands, you should be on a malarial prophylaxis. . Full netting for sleep and a high efficacy chemical repellant should be considered required. As a further precaution you should also make sure all your current immunizations are up to date, esp for all the Hepatitis strains.

Nationality:
noun: Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural)
adjective: Ni-Vanuatu

Ethnic groups:
Ni-Vanuatu 98.5%, other 1.5% (1999 Census)

Religions:
Presbyterian 31.4%, Anglican 13.4%, Roman Catholic 13.1%, Seventh-Day Adventist 10.8%, other Christian 13.8%, indigenous beliefs 5.6% (including Jon Frum cargo cult), other 9.6%, none 1%, unspecified 1.3% (1999 Census)

Languages:
local languages (more than 100) 72.6%, pidgin (known as Bislama or Bichelama) 23.1%, English 1.9%, French 1.4%, other 0.3%, unspecified 0.7% (1999 Census)

Military branches:

no regular military forces; security forces comprise the Vanuatu Police Force (VPF) and paramilitary Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF), which includes Vanuatu's naval force, known as the Police Maritime Wing (PMW); border security in Vanuatu is the joint responsibility of the Customs and Inland Revenue Service, VPF, VMF, and PMW (2003)

While I was in country the VMF had no ammunition, it had to request ammunition from the VPF for any operations. The Government was on guard for a possible coup attempt from the VMF. Road blocks are not as tense when you know the FN-FALs are unloaded.

Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Vanuatu; the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu.

Other country diplomatic representation:
France is the only officially listed embassy.
I know that the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) had an embassy building that I walked past every day I was in the capitol. This information is 6 years old and can not be conceded accurate (I have included it as I walked past that building 20 times and shuddered every time.).

Village level poltics:
The tribal leaders (Chiefs) still have tremendous power especially at the village level. The Villages depending on size will have one or two chiefs (it is based on land ownership concerning food gardens and village buildings). The next step down is “Big Men” and Church elders and pastors. In the case of a decision that impacts the village or to handle a dispute the Chiefs, Big men and church leaders will meet to come to some consensus but the decision is ultimately the Chiefs. If you can win the Chief over you are going to have no troubles. Tobacco and Kava (http://kavaroot.com/) are the best bets for gifts to all non-church men in Vanuatu.

Christianity is the national religion and is infused into 100% of all interactions. This provides an excellent buffer to the terrorist element. In fact, overly strict gun laws, hyper-enforcement of Drug and pornography laws keep the bad elements far away.

504PIR
09-20-2005, 00:19
Please correct me if I'm wrong. Didn't Vanuatu's army kidnap the president after they were not paid for 6 months in the late 90's. I'm pretty sure this was after a MTT from 19th SFG was there too.

A buddy of mine who was on that MTT told me that over beers sometime ago. I guess a coup validated their training.

Sten
09-20-2005, 05:45
Please correct me if I'm wrong. Didn't Vanuatu's army kidnap the president after they were not paid for 6 months in the late 90's. I'm pretty sure this was after a MTT from 19th SFG was there too.

A buddy of mine who was on that MTT told me that over beers sometime ago. I guess a coup validated their training.

I forgot about that, that was why the VMF got their bullets taken away in the first place.

http://www.paclii.org/vu/cases/VUCA/1997/9.html