Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pōhiva held a meeting with the Chinese Ambassador Mr. Huang Huanguang on Friday to discuss what his office has described as “related to the brutal crimes against the Chinese community in Tonga”
Press were invited to take photos but were barred from covering the meeting which was also attended by Tongan Police officials and the Chinese community.
As we reported, the Tongan government has set up a sub-committee to investigate crimes against Chinese and other expatriates in Tonga.
Justice Minister Sione Vuna Fa’otusia said attacks on foreigners were a grave concern to the government.
The subcommittee is chaired by Hon. Fa’otusia and also includes the Minister of Police, the Commissioner of Police, the Commander of the Tonga Defence Force and the Commissioner of Prisons.
“This committee is to see what we can do to mitigate this rather senseless crime against the Chinese and foreigners in the land,” the Minister said.
“The Chinese were brought here by the late King Tupou IV so that we may learn from their work ethic!
“Instead, our people have kept on abusing this people in our land.
“What a shameful act !”
Crimes
In 1999, the Chinese community submitted a list of criminal offences against Chinese migrants to the then Police Minister Clive Edwards.
Crimes included arson, armed robbery and attempted rape.
Edwards assured the Chinese the police would work around the clock to put an end to such incidents.
Eighteen years later, there has been some improvement, but Tongan police are still working to bring crimes against the Chinese community under control.
In February this year Deputy Commissioner Pelenatita Fe’ao Vaisuai said the Police had established Operation Great Wall with the aim of reducing crimes against the Asian community in Tonga.
Vaisuai said that while Chinese made up three percent of victims of crime, the offences committed against them were quite serious.
They included robbery and violent assault.
“Our mission is to make sure all our citizens feel safe in Tonga,” Deputy Commissioner Vaisuai said.
A New Zealand police officer, Inspector Kai Shao, was sent to Tonga to help the local force build a relationship with the Asian community.
He met with members of the Chinese community and staff from the Chinese embassy.
Inspector Shao believed the safety situation in Tonga had improved in recent years.
However, they expressed concerns in relation to some recent high profile cases.
