ABSTRACT
Pacific Oceania experienced occasional international armed conflict beginning in the late 1970s, including effects of insurgency among Indonesian Papuans upon Papua New Guinea, the Vemarana secession within the New Hebrides and the Kanak rebellion within New Caledonia. The border between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea remained poorly marked and subject to dispute after independence. Indonesian efforts to pacify West Irian encountered serious resistance from the 1960s, especially among ethnic Papuans. Two civilians were killed during Papuan operations but neither the United Kingdom, France nor Papua suffered military fatalities. In 1984 Melanesians associated with the Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front began a terrorist campaign to support demands for independence from France. On May 5 small units of French soldiers accompanied police during a helicopter assault that freed hostages held on Ouvea. Two French soldiers and two policemen died May 5 as did fifteen Kanak dissidents.
