PHOTO: Elder O. Vincent Haleck of the Pacific Area Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (right) presented Prime Minister Pohiva with a letter from the Church’s First Presidency congratulating him on his election on 29 December. Photo/Sione Langi Folau and Siniva Fotu
Tongan Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva has not been attacked, his office said last night.
The Prime Minister’s communications unit was responding to speculation that a photograph of an injured Hon. Pohiva proved he had been attacked at home.
The photo first appeared on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints’ news website in New Zealand and has been widely circulated online.
In the photograph, which was taken at an award ceremony in Ha’apai recently, Hon. Pohiva’s nose and lips appear to be bruised.
Some commentators have linked it to reports in some Tongan newspapers that Hon. Pohiva had said he was attacked at home.
However, Kalafi Moala, from the Prime Minister’s office communication unit, told Kaniva News this evening the Prime Minister had been trying to save a pig which was attacked and bitten by his dog at his residence.
It was still dark and the Prime Minister, who was not carrying a torch, stumbled and injured his face and hand, Moala said.
This happened shortly before he travelled to Ha’apai for an award ceremony, where he was photographed with his injuries.
The award was initiated by the government of Tonga and the Mormon Church in appreciation of apprentice builders who helped in the rebuilding project for the Ha’apai group.
Parts of the Tongan press also appear to have misinterpreted a statement Hon. Pohiva made in Ha’apai last month during the appointment of the new governor, Ha’apai Mo’ale Finau.
Hon. Pohiva urged Finau to be courageous in his new job and said he had met with a number of incidents in his political career where his life was at risk.
The Prime Minister said one night he dreamed that he had been attacked by his window. He raised his hand to protect himself as he was waking up and injured himself.
The main points
- Tongan Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva has not been attacked, his office said last night.
- The Prime Minister’s communications unit was responding to speculation that a photograph of an injured Hon. Pohiva proved he had been attacked at home.
- The photo first appeared on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints’ new website in New Zealand and has been widely circulated online.
- However, Hon. Pohiva’s office said the injuries were the result of a mishap while dealing with a pig that had been attacked by his dog.
