{{Short description|1980 rebellion in Vanuatu}} {{distinguish|text=The Coconut Revolution, the 2001 documentary about the Bougainville Civil War}} {{EngvarB|date=November 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}} {{Infobox military conflict | conflict = Coconut War | image = Vanuatu - Espiritu Santo.PNG | image_size = 200px | caption = Map of Espiritu Santo inside Vanuatu | date = August 1980 | place = Espiritu Santo,Vanuatu | territory = | result = Vanuatuan, Papua New Guinean and Solomon Islander victory | combatant1 = {{flag|Vanuatu}}<br>{{flag|Papua New Guinea}}<br>{{flag|Solomon Islands}}<br>{{flag|United Kingdom}}<br>{{flag|France}} | combatant2 = {{flagicon image|Flag of Vemerana.svg}} Nagriamel rebels <br/>'''Support:'''<br/>French residents<br/>Phoenix Foundation | commander1 = {{flagicon|Vanuatu}}{{Flagicon image|Flag of the President of Vanuatu.svg}} Ati George Sokomanu{{br}}{{flagicon|Vanuatu}} Walter Lini{{br}}{{flagicon|Papua New Guinea}}{{Flagicon image|Flag of the Governor-General of Papua New Guinea.svg}} Sir Tore Lokoloko{{br}}{{flagicon|Papua New Guinea}} Sir Julius Chan{{br}}{{flagicon|Solomon Islands}}{{Flagicon image|Flag of the Governor-General of the Solomon Islands.svg}} Baddeley Devesi{{br}}{{flagicon|Solomon Islands}} Sir Peter Kenilorea{{br}}{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Andrew Stuart{{br}}{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Charles Guthrie{{br}}{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Colin Halgill{{br}}{{flagicon|France}}20px François Mitterrand{{br}}{{flagicon|France}} Raymond Barre{{br}}{{flagicon|France}} Jacques Robert | commander2 = {{flagicon image|Flag of Vemerana.svg}} '''Jimmy Stevens'''{{POW}}{{br}} | strength1 = | strength2 = | casualties1 = | casualties2 = | notes = }}

The '''Coconut War''' was a brief clash between Papua New Guinean soldiers and rebels in Espiritu Santo shortly before and after the independence of the Republic of Vanuatu was declared on 30 July 1980.

== Background ==

Prior to Vanuatu's independence, the islands were known as the New Hebrides. The New Hebrides were governed by a condominium of France and the United Kingdom. In 1980, France and the United Kingdom agreed that Vanuatu would be granted independence on 30 July 1980.

Beginning in June 1980, Jimmy Stevens, head of the Nagriamel movement, led an uprising against the colonial officials and the plans for independence.<ref name=twsSEPxvzq01/><ref name=twsSEPxvzq02>{{cite news | title = South Pacific Rebel Seized | publisher = The New York Times via Reuters | date = 14 September 1982 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1982/09/14/world/south-pacific-rebel-seized.html | accessdate = 18 September 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524110519/https://www.nytimes.com/1982/09/14/world/south-pacific-rebel-seized.html |archive-date=May 24, 2022 }}</ref><ref name=twsSEPxvzq04>{{cite news | title = Pacific Islands in Election Battle | work = The New York Times | date = 1 November 1983 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1983/11/01/world/pacific-island-in-election-battle.html | accessdate = 18 September 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118174744/https://www.nytimes.com/1983/11/01/world/pacific-island-in-election-battle.html |archive-date= January 18, 2023 }}</ref><ref name=twsSEPxvzq05>{{cite news | author = William Borders | title = British Answering New Hebrides Call; Company of Marines Being Sent 'to Provide Stability' French Antiriot Police Arrive Threat to Independence One Killed on 2d Island 55 French Riot Police Land | work = The New York Times | date = 12 June 1980 | url = http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70A14F83B5C12728DDDAB0994DE405B8084F1D3 | accessdate = 18 September 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118180216/https://www.nytimes.com/1980/06/12/archives/british-answering-new-hebrides-call-company-of-marines-being-sent.html |archive-date=January 18, 2023 }}</ref> The uprising lasted about 12 weeks. The rebels blockaded Santo-Pekoa International Airport, destroyed two bridges, and declared the independence of Espiritu Santo island as the "State of Vemerana". Stevens was supported by French-speaking landowners and by the Phoenix Foundation, an American business foundation that supported the establishment of a libertarian tax haven in the New Hebrides.<ref name=twsSEPxvzq09>{{cite news | title = U.S. Land Developer Aids New Hebrides Dissidents | work = The New York Times | date = 7 June 1980 | url = http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00B10F8395F12728DDDAE0894DE405B8084F1D3 | accessdate = 18 September 2009 | first=Joseph B. | last=Treaster |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118180455/https://www.nytimes.com/1980/06/07/archives/us-land-developer-aids-new-hebrides-dissidents.html |archive-date=January 18, 2023 }}</ref>

== Confrontation ==

On 8 June 1980, the New Hebrides government asked Britain and France to send troops to put down a rebellion on the island of Espiritu Santo.<ref name=twsSEPxvzq08>{{cite news| title = New Hebrides Asks for Aid in Revolt; Plea Might Go to U.N. | work = The New York Times| date = 8 June 1980| url = http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0D10F73A5A12728DDDA10894DE405B8084F1D3| accessdate = 18 September 2009|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118180511/https://www.nytimes.com/1980/06/08/archives/new-hebrides-asks-for-aid-in-revolt-plea-might-go-to-un.html|archive-date=January 18, 2023}}</ref> France and Britain sent troops but the French refused to allow them to take any effective action against the rebels. As independence day neared, the Prime Minister-elect, Walter Lini,<ref name=twsSEPxvzq03>{{cite news| author = Bernard D. Nossiter| title = Vanuatu, New Pacific Nation, Moving Toward Seat at U.N.| work = The New York Times| date = 9 July 1981| url = https://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/09/world/vanuatu-new-pacific-nation-moving-toward-seat-at-un.html| accessdate = 18 September 2009|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118175143/https://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/09/world/vanuatu-new-pacific-nation-moving-toward-seat-at-un.html|archive-date=January 18, 2023}}</ref> asked Papua New Guinea if it would send troops to intervene,<ref name=twsSEPxvzq01>{{cite news| author = Michael T. Kaufman| title = Walter Lini, 57, Clergyman Who Led Nation of Vanuatu| work = The New York Times| date = 23 February 1999| url = https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/23/world/walter-lini-57-clergyman-who-led-nation-of-vanuatu.html| accessdate = 18 September 2009|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118174828/https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/23/world/walter-lini-57-clergyman-who-led-nation-of-vanuatu.html|archive-date=January 18, 2023}}</ref> which was approved by Prime Minister Julius Chan. As Papua New Guinean soldiers began arriving in Espiritu Santo,<ref name=twsSEPzzx03>{{cite news| author = Graeme Dobell| title = Alexander Downer announces moves toward a new foreign policy – Transcript| publisher = PM| date = 26 June 2003| url = http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2003/s889152.htm| accessdate = 17 September 2009|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118174744/https://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2003/s889152.htm|archive-date=January 18, 2023}}</ref> the foreign press began referring to the ongoing events as the "Coconut War". The conflict became the first time that the Papua New Guinea Defence Force was deployed overseas.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sir Julius Chan, one of Papua New Guinea's founding fathers, dies aged 85 |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/540434/sir-julius-chan-one-of-papua-new-guinea-s-founding-fathers-dies-aged-85 |access-date=30 January 2025 |publisher=Radio New Zealand |date=30 January 2025}}</ref>

However, the "war" was brief and unconventional. The residents of Espiritu Santo generally welcomed the Papua New Guineans as fellow Melanesians. Stevens's followers were armed with only bows and arrows, rocks, and slings. There were few casualties, and the war came to a sudden end: when a vehicle carrying Stevens's son burst through a Papua New Guinean roadblock in late August 1980, the soldiers opened fire on the vehicle, killing Stevens's son. On 28 August, Jimmy Stevens surrendered,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dailypost.vu/independence/rebel-radio-on-santo/article_3db3bcb8-d7a8-11ea-a724-73a78ec427a6.html|title=Rebel Radio on Santo|work=Vanuatu Daily Post|date=7 August 2020|accessdate=23 October 2020|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118173719/https://www.dailypost.vu/independence/rebel-radio-on-santo/article_3db3bcb8-d7a8-11ea-a724-73a78ec427a6.html|archive-date=January 18, 2023}}</ref> stating that he had never intended that anyone be harmed.<ref name=twsSEPxvzq07>{{cite news| title = New Hebrides Rebel Urges Peace; Willing to Fight British and French One British Officer Injured | work = The New York Times| date = 9 June 1980| url = http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30F14FA3B5C12728DDDA00894DE405B8084F1D3| accessdate = 18 September 2009|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118180809/https://www.nytimes.com/1980/06/09/archives/new-hebrides-rebel-urges-peace-willing-to-fight-british-and-french.html|archive-date=January 18, 2023}}</ref>

At Stevens's trial, the support of the Phoenix Foundation to the Nagriamel movement was revealed. It was also revealed that the French government had secretly supported Stevens in his efforts. Stevens was sentenced<ref name=twsSEPxvzq02/> to 14 years' imprisonment; he remained in prison until 1991.

==Notes== {{reflist}}

==References== * {{Cite book |last=Shears |first=Richard |title=The Coconut War: The Crisis on Espiritu Santo |date=1980 |publisher=Cassell Australia |isbn=978-0-7269-7866-1 |location=North Ryde, N.S.W.}} * {{Cite book |last=Stuart |first=Andrew |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jeqMDwAAQBAJ |title=Of Cargoes, Colonies and Kings: Diplomatic and Administrative Service from Africa to the Pacific |date=2001 |publisher=Redcliffe Press |isbn=978-0-85771-525-8 |location=London |pages=214–224}} * {{Cite news |date=31 August 1991 |title=A Memory of the Coconut War: Rebel Leader Jimmy Stevens Freed |newspaper=The Economist}}

===Contemporary newspaper reports=== *"New Hebrides Calling for Help to Put Down Rebellion", ''The New York Times'', 31 May 1980, p.&nbsp;11 *"Separatists Threaten Hebrides Unity", ''The New York Times'', 8 June 1980, p. E2 *"New Hebrides Asks for Aid in Revolt; Plea Might Go to U.N.", ''The New York Times'', 8 June 1980, p.&nbsp;12 *"Unrest Spreads in New Hebrides", ''The New York Times'', 11 June 1980, p. A8 *"British Answering New Hebrides Call; Company of Marines Being Sent 'to Provide Stability'", ''The New York Times'', 12 June 1980, p. A5 *"British-French Control Ends in New Hebrides, Now Named Vanuatu", ''The New York Times'', 30 July 1980, p.&nbsp;11 *"Rebels Blow Up 2 Bridges on Island of Espiritu Santo", ''The New York Times'', 4 August 1980, p. A5 *"40 Are Seized on Espiritu Santu in a Drive Against Secessionists", ''The New York Times'', 4 August 1980, p. B8 *"55 French Are Evacuated From Espiritu Santo Island", ''The New York Times'', 18 August 1980, p. A5 *"Leader of Espiritu Santo Rebels Says That He'll Surrender Today", ''The New York Times'', 29 August 1980, p.&nbsp;3 *"Troops Reportedly Crush Rebellion on Espiritu Santo", ''The New York Times'', 1 September 1980, p. A5

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110418162231/http://vanuatu.travel/vanuatu/history/independence.html Vanuatu: History: Independence], Vanuatu Tourism Office, 2009 *[https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/ihuOrF-L9fY Franky Stevens's interview about Vanuatu independence history]

Category:1980 in Oceania Category:1980 in Papua New Guinea Category:1980 in Vanuatu Category:Conflicts in 1980 Category:France–Vanuatu relations Category:France–Papua New Guinea relations Category:France–Solomon Islands relations Category:Papua New Guinea–Vanuatu relations Category:Solomon Islands–Vanuatu relations Category:Wars involving the states and peoples of Oceania Category:Wars involving Papua New Guinea Category:Wars involving Vanuatu Category:Rebellions in Oceania Category:New Hebrides Category:Libertarianism in Oceania Category:Controversies within libertarianism Category:Wars involving the Solomon Islands Category:Military history of the Pacific Ocean Category:Papua New Guinea and the Commonwealth of Nations Category:Solomon Islands and the Commonwealth of Nations Category:Vanuatu and the Commonwealth of Nations