Transcript
Solomon Islands has always prided itself in its cultural diversity with more than 60 spoken languages for a population of just over 600,000 people.
But at the turn of the century these differences became the centre of a bloody ethnic conflict that saw more than 200 people killed and tens of thousands displaced.
Almost two decades on, the memories of the conflict remain raw.
"They are still within us yeah. Because we feel it, like the government forces uses their own weapons to shoot us yeah with the nation's weapons."
Moses Karuku is now a church pastor, but in a former life he was a militant commander. He said people had not forgotten the grievances of the conflict.
"These forces usually comes around the village shooting, commanding the people to lay down, shoot with the gun while putting it against their ears, commanding the people to eat ground."
Unresolved grievances left-over from the crisis lie just below the surface of Solomon Islands' society permeating even into the floor of parliament.
"For negotiating my release in the Ranadi area when I was kidnapped for the first time in my life."
That was Solomon Islands MP Bodo Dettke last month thanking a fellow parliamentarian, a former militant commander, for not executing him during the crisis.
The MP went on to say the country should forget all those things and move on for the sake of the children.
But those working with victims of the conflict say the children, now adults, have not forgotten.
"Children who have seen relatives have been shot by militants. Girls who have been sexually abused by perpetrators. I talked to a lot of children who have been through a lot and some of them are already married but the fear is still there."
Sister Doreen is an Anglican Nun who has worked extensively with victims of the conflict.
She said many people were afraid of the country sliding back into conflict now the expat forces known as RAMSI had gone.
One woman Anthonia Deve expressed it this way.
"Sometimes we will be thinking it will be okay but we are not really sure, we are not really sure what will come after they are leaving the Solomon Islands. As we are the women of Solomon Islands."
A lot of progress has been made though in Solomon Islands. Government institutions have been strengthened and the police force which was severely compromised during the crisis has been torn down and rebuilt from the ground up.
Police Commissioner Matthew Varley said his focus now was on the future.
"The challenges ahead is to make sure that we can sustain the gains that RAMSI has accomplished. It is up to us to now take what we have learned. We remember the past but we know have to move forward into the future."
Two thousand New Zealand men and women took part in RAMSI and New Zealand contributed $150 million to the mission's $3billion bill, footed mostly by Australia.
New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett said it was a significant contribution.
"So I think we should be really proud of that and the fact that we have put so many personnel here and through the aid programme are investing in things that make a practical difference to the people of the Solomons. So you know I am really confident that the money has been well spent."
Thousands of Solomon Islanders [http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/334142/thousands-turn-out-to-farewell-ramsi gathered to farewell the final contingent] of the mission's Participating Police Force in June.
"RAMSI's legacy is a platform where we build our strength and forge a common future together. We have done it before and we shall do it again."
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare is aware of the challenges ahead.
But locals say RAMSI's true success will be measured by whether the country can deal with the legacy of the conflict and move forward.
