Historical independence

Espiritu Santo separatist episode

Per the catalogue's instruction to research historical setting and outcome, this bundle documents the bounded June-August 1980 "Coconut War": amid preparations for Vanuatu's 30 July 1980 independence, Jimmy Stevens' Nagriamel movement declared Espiritu Santo independent as the "State of Vemerana," an uprising defeated by Papua New Guinean military intervention requested by Vanuatu's government, ending with Stevens' surrender and imprisonment.

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What is this case about?

In June 1980, amid preparations for Vanuatu's 30 July 1980 independence, Jimmy Stevens, leader of the Nagriamel movement and backed by Francophone landowners, the Phoenix Foundation, and covertly the French government, declared Espiritu Santo independent as the "State of Vemerana."[1] The roughly twelve-week uprising, during which rebels blockaded Santo-Pekoa International Airport and destroyed two bridges, ended after Papua New Guinean troops, requested by Vanuatu's government, fatally shot Stevens' son at a roadblock in late August 1980, prompting Stevens' surrender; he was sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment, serving until 1991, and Vanuatu's independence proceeded as planned.[2]

At a glance

  • Jimmy Stevens declared Espiritu Santo independent as "Vemerana" in June 1980.[1]
  • The uprising was backed by Francophone landowners and covertly by France.[1]
  • Papua New Guinean intervention ended the rebellion in August 1980; Stevens was imprisoned.[2]

Current position

Status verified as of

Espiritu Santo remains an island of the Republic of Vanuatu. The 1980 Vemerana secession attempt was fully resolved by Jimmy Stevens' surrender and imprisonment, with no subsequent Espiritu Santo separatist activity documented in the sources reviewed.[2]

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History

History of the Espiritu Santo separatist episode

The June-August 1980 Coconut War.

24 words · 1 min read

Key dates

Full timeline

· Declaration

Declaration of the "State of Vemerana," 1980

Jimmy Stevens declared Espiritu Santo independent shortly before Vanuatu's own independence.

Significance here: The sole declared secessionist episode surrounding Vanuatu's independence.

Sources for this page

Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.

  1. 1.

    Claim: In June 1980, amid preparations for the 30 July 1980 independence of the New Hebrides (an Anglo-French condominium) as the Republic of Vanuatu, Jimmy Stevens, leader of the conservative Nagriamel movement, declared Espiritu Santo island independent as the "State of Vemerana" and styled himself its prime minister; the Nagriamel movement was backed by Francophone landowners, the Phoenix Foundation, and, covertly, the French government.

  2. 2.

    Claim: The roughly twelve-week uprising, during which rebels blockaded Santo-Pekoa International Airport and destroyed two bridges, was ended after Vanuatu's government requested Papua New Guinean military intervention; Papua New Guinean troops fatally shot Jimmy Stevens' son at a roadblock in late August 1980, prompting Stevens' surrender. Stevens was sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment, serving until 1991, and Vanuatu's independence proceeded as planned on 30 July 1980.

    • Coconut War (Wikipedia) link, Military intervention and outcome section. Source record

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