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Description Solomon Islands by rbd.me
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The UK established a protectorate over the Solomon Islands in the 1890s. Some of the most bitter fighting of World War II occurred on this archipelago. Self-government was achieved in 1976 and independence two years later. Ethnic violence, government malfeasance, and endemic crime have undermined stability and civil society. In June 2003, then Prime Minister Sir Allan KEMAKEZA sought the assistance of Australia in reestablishing law and order; the following month, an Australian-led multinational force arrived to restore peace and disarm ethnic militias. The Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) has generally been effective in restoring law and order and rebuilding government institutions.
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Location
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Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Papua New Guinea
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Area - comparative
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slightly smaller than Maryland
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Natural resources Solomon Islands
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tropical monsoon; few extremes of temperature and weather
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Population Solomon Islands
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deforestation; soil erosion; many of the surrounding coral reefs are dead or dying
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Religions Solomon Islands
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NA
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Languages
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Melanesian 94.5%, Polynesian 3%, Micronesian 1.2%, other 1.1%, unspecified 0.2% (1999 census)
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Education Solomon Islands expenditures
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Church of Melanesia 32.8%, Roman Catholic 19%, South Seas Evangelical 17%, Seventh-Day Adventist 11.2%, United Church 10.3%, Christian Fellowship Church 2.4%, other Christian 4.4%, other 2.4%, unspecified 0.3%, none 0.2% (1999 census)
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Government Solomon Islands type
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Melanesian pidgin in much of the country is lingua franca; English (official but spoken by only 1%-2% of the population); 120 indigenous languages
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Independence
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3.3% of GDP (1999)
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Solomon Islands Economy - overview
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Isatabu Freedom Movement (IFM); Malaita Eagle Force (MEF); note - these rival armed ethnic factions crippled the Solomon Islands in a wave of violence from 1999 to 2003
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Investment Solomon Islands
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$2,600 (2009 est.)
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Industries Solomon Islands
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cocoa beans, coconuts, palm kernels, rice, potatoes, vegetables, fruit; timber; cattle, pigs; fish
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Airports Solomon Islands
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3 (2009)
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