The Solomon Islands is located in the South Pacific Ocean just east of Papua New Guinea. It became a British protectorate in 1893. Self-governing was achieved in 1976, followed by independence in 1978. The Solomon Islands was plunged into political turmoil and civil strife in late 1999 due to ethnic tensions, and by mid-2003 the country had reached a state of near-collapse. The Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI), a multinational police-centered force organized by Australia, arrived in the country in July 2003 at the government's invitation to assist in restoring law and order and rebuilding the country's institutions. The RAMSI has generally been effective in the mission. Rich in forestry resources, the economy of the Solomon Islands has been heavily dependent on exports of timber.