Reports circulating on social media reveal that cemetery vandalism remains an ongoing issue in Tonga. A recent incident in Fua’amotu town drew public outcry, complaints, and threats of legal action.
Facebook posts from local residents show heated disputes, with individuals accusing others of damaging graves in the area.
According to sources, the vandalism was allegedly carried out by a family who believed that desecrating a grave would cure a sick relative.
The family reportedly attributed the illness to a spiritual haunting by a deceased person and thought that destroying the grave would break the curse and restore health.
The act has sparked widespread condemnation, with many calling for legal consequences.
Some community members have demanded police intervention, while others have expressed frustration over the persistence of such superstitious practices leading to disrespect for the dead.
Authorities have yet to issue an official statement, but tensions remain high as the debate continues online.
This incident highlights the clash between traditional beliefs and modern legal and ethical standards in Tonga.
Editor’s Comment: Time to bury outdated superstitions
Tonga, as a modern and civilized society, should no longer cling to prehistoric beliefs that have no basis in science or reason.
The idea that desecrating a grave can cure illness is not only absurd but deeply disrespectful to the dead and distressing to the living.
If such beliefs held any truth, we would see the spirits of the murdered or wronged returning to haunt their enemies—yet this does not happen.
The fact that vengeful ghosts aren’t overrunning Tonga should be proof enough that these superstitions are nothing more than fear-driven myths.
It’s time to move forward. Let science, law, and common sense guide our actions, not irrational fears that belong in the past.
Vandalising graves is a crime, not a cure—and those who engage in it should face the full consequences of their actions.
