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Tonga Legislative Assembly organises first-ever budget briefing for CSOs

By
Kaniva Staff
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This article is republished with permission under PACNEWS partnerships with Kaniva News

NUKU’ALOFA, 01 JUNE 2020 (UNDP) – In a historical move, the Legislative Assembly of Tonga has for the first time organised a budget briefing for representatives of Tonga’s civil society organisations (CSO). The briefing was held in recognition of the CSOs’ role as key players within Tonga communities, and the importance of their involvement in the
national budget process.

The 2020-2021 budget, which also includes the appropriation for the COVID-19 stimulus package, was tabled on Monday 11 May. Ahead of the budget address in the House, parliamentary staff from the Tonga Legislative Assembly’s research and committees units have been working to decipher budget documents and provide a quick
analysis of the budget perspectives.
With assistance from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), remote support was provided by the Parliaments of Fiji and New Zealand through the Pacific ‘Floating Budget Office’ to develop budget sector briefs outlining allocation trends and analysis. The briefs also informed members of parliament (MPs) before the debate and vote in the House.

The Pacific Floating Budget Office brings researchers from across Pacific parliaments to assist the national parliament in undertaking independent budget analysis. As the COVID-19 pandemic spread and imposed travel restrictions, the researchers provided virtual support to the Tonga Assembly staff.

“The budget briefings are not just important to the members of parliament, as they also contain information that are useful for members of CSOs and citizens”, highlighted the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga, Lord Fakafanua.

“The budget is impacting the whole country, all sectors and institutions, and all communities across the country. The more information that is made available to citizens and CSOs to allow for their full participation in the process, the more open and transparent our governance systems become,” said Lord Fakafanua.

He added, “Today’s workshop is an opportunity to share with you as representatives of CSOs, the way in which the budget was debated in Parliament, and also information on the content of the budget itself.”

Lord Fakafanua also expressed his gratitude for the assistance of the pool of library and research staff from the Parliaments of Fiji and New Zealand, which were facilitated by partners from UNDP, the European Union (EU) and the Government of New Zealand.

The President of the Tonga CSO Forum, Drew Havea, was pleased with the briefing, and highlighted that the task now would be to transfer the knowledge to people in the communities and how they can be more involved.

“(I found it) very useful to see the process and the thinking behind the budget. The challenge is how to now make this easier for the people to understand and participate in the process,” said Havea.

He added, “(the Briefing was) awesome and very grateful for the opportunity to all come together as CSOs.”

The New Zealand Deputy High Commissioner to the Kingdom of Tonga, Peter Lund said, “New Zealand has supported the Floating Budget Office under the Pacific Parliamentary Effectiveness Initiative since 2016, now in its second phase. The Floating Budget concept provides the invaluable opportunity for parliamentary staff and researchers from the region to contribute to an independent analysis of national budgets and allow our parliaments to
engage and learn from each other. “

He added, “This is Pacific-wide cooperation at its best. This year’s budget comes at a challenging time and today’s briefing for civil society organisations is a welcome initiative.”
The UNDP Pacific Office Parliamentary Development Specialist, Mr Jean-Raphaël Giuliani, emphasised that the principle of transparency, which applies to budget processes, does not only require providing access to information, but also that this information is easily understandable.

“Today’s workshop for CSOs is in line with this adage and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) talk about this very issue. SDG 16 makes explicit reference to the aim of making national institutions transparent and accountable.”

“This workshop is intended to provide information and analysis on the annual budget and its process, which will help to enable CSOs to actively participate in budget development,” said Giuliani.

He added, “The analysis in the briefs allows for an in-depth understanding of specific areas which can then inform CSOs’ engagement strategies with Parliament and Government.”

The one day workshop will be held at the Tanoa International Hotel and will be attended by more than 35 participants from 18 CSOs which include Tupou Research Institute, Women and Children Crisis Centre Tonga, Tonga Public Service Association, Lavame’a Ta’e’iloa Disabled People Association Inc, Tonga National Youth Congress, Tonga Family Health Association, Fo’I Tuluta – Ha’atafu Community, Tonga Nurse Association, Naunau ‘o e ‘Alamaite Tonga Association Inc, Tonga Community Development Trust, Tonga National Centre for Women and Children, the Civil Society Forum of Tonga, Ma’a Fafine mo e Fanau, Kolomotu’a Town Council, the Tonga Red Cross Society amongst others.

The CSO workshop was supported by the UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji through the Strengthening Public Finance Management and Governance in the Pacific Project funded by the European Union (EU) and the Pacific Parliamentary Effectiveness Initiative funded by the Government of New Zealand.

For more information: Jone Tuiipelehaki Raqauqau, Communications Associate, Effective Governance, UNDP Pacific
Office in Fiji; Email: jone.raqauqau@undp.org , Tel: (679) 3227 552

Government says new airline will be joint venture, but will partner be Fiji Airways?

By
Philip Cass
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Speculation continues that Fiji Airways will be a partner with Tonga’s new airline.

The Fijian government is the majority shareholder in Fiji Airways, with Qantas as the next largest shareholder.

It also has links with the Oneworld alliance, particularly American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways and Qantas.

Prime Minister Hon. Dr Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa announced last week that the new airline would be a joint venture, but gave no further details.

All of the Pacific Islands have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, with the tourism industry particularly badly hit.

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Fiji is the centre of the Islands tourist trade and a link with its airline could help bring additional tourist dollars to Tonga.

The government has emphasised the role of the airline in providing services to Tonga’s outer islands.

Last year the kingdom’s existing airline, Real Tonga, began a service from Fua’amotu International Airport to Nausori, the airport serving Fiji’s capital Suva using a Saab propliner.

At the time Real Tonga announced plans for a twice weekly jet service to Fiji’s main airport, Nadi, on Viti Levu’s west coast with an onward connection to Auckland.

However, in May this year Real Tonga was reported to be on the verge of bankruptcy.

Owner and CEO of Real Tonga, Tevita Palu, said the airline was millions of dollars in debt.

Minister of Finance Tevita Lavemaau claimed it had been operating at a loss since it started flying  seven years ago.

The Lulutai Airline

The king has named the new domestic airline as Lulutai. Lulutai is traditionally a large tropical bird of prey with a cultural and royal significance. The Tongan proverb “Kai pe manu vaivai ‘i he fāngota ‘a e Lulutai” appears to be the only source of information which could say something about the background of the bird which is hardly seen nowadays in Tonga. The proverb literally meant young birds shared the fish they had from the Lulutai’s fishing. It is being poetically used in Tongan speeches and writings to mean the monarch provides what is best for the people.

Eight games to NRL: family-first Katoa an instant hit

By
Kaniva Staff
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By Chris KennedyNRL.com Reporter

Warriors rookie Eliesa Katoa had played just eight games of rugby league prior to his NRL debut in round one after starring in junior rugby, with the code-switch made for the good of his family.

Speaking to NRL.com after bagging his maiden NRL try in an 18-0 shutout of the Dragons at Central Coast Stadium on Saturday, Katoa frequently mentions his family back home in Tonga and how everything he is doing – including the switch from union to league – is for them.

“Tonight was, I think, my 11th game of rugby league,” Katoa said.

“The reason why I wanted to play league is to help my family, whatever helps my family I’ll go with it.”

A regular in national age group rugby sides in Tonga, Katoa made several representative trips to New Zealand which resulted in a scholarship to Tamaki College for his senior years, where he played First XV until then being scouted by the Warriors when he finished school.

“I finished school in 2018 and I was playing First XV rugby and got the opportunity to come play for these guys,” he said.

“All my family is back in Tonga. I moved to New Zealand from Tongan rugby union in under-16s and I got a scholarship to one of the schools called Tamaki College in east Auckland and it started from there.”

Katoa missed half of last year’s Jersey Flegg season with injury before an impressive 2020 pre-season earned him a call-up to the senior side in round one and with back-to-back players’ player nods to start his career he hasn’t looked back.

“The boys have made my job a lot easier; I’m just glad I got an opportunity and every time I get an opportunity to play I try to put my best foot forward,” he said.

“I’m lucky, all the boys have helped me a lot and the coaches. I always ask questions if I don’t know something, ask the boys how they do something and they help me, they want me to get better.”

Given Katoa’s family is back in Tonga and he was already living away from them in Auckland, he feels like his sacrifice in coming over to be based in Australia pales in comparison to his teammates, who have made sacrifices to leave partners and young children behind.

“I don’t mind, as a young kid,” he said.

“My family is all back in Tonga. I’m happy for them because there’s no (COVID-19) cases there and not much back in New Zealand so I’m happy with my family in Tonga. I want to help all my family and if this is what it takes to help my family then why not.”

He may have only played 11 games of rugby league but there need be no concerns about Katoa’s focus on what the Warriors need to do to carry on the momentum from their first win of the season.

“We just have to back it up, we’ve got a game against Penrith next week so hopefully I get picked for that game and we do what we do again,” he said.

Coach Steve Kearney had praise for Katoa and his fellow rookies Jamayne Taunoa-Brown and Jack Murchie.

“Those young guys have worked really hard during the pre-season,” Kearney said.

“I’ve got trust they can get a job done for us and they’ve gone out there and done that. Young Murchie has just joined us this week, he’s done a job, Karl Lawton jumped out to left centre (after Peta Hiku was injured); I’m really pleased for those young guys.”

Tonga in top five of countries recommended for re-opening borders by Auckland academic as gov’t further eases coronavirus restrictions

By
Kaniva Staff
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Tonga should be a priority in re-opening quarantine free travel, according to an Auckland academic.

Dr Collin Tukuitonga, who is Associate Dean Pacific at the University of Auckland Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, said quarantine-free travel would bring enormous economic benefits to the Islands.

Writing in IdeasRoom, Dr Tukuitonga said priority islands should be Tonga, Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tokelau.

“The economic benefits to small island economies cannot be overstated and most islands would welcome early restoration of economic activities to offset the damage brought on by the pandemic lockdowns,” he said.

“Tourism from New Zealand would recommence with minimal Covid-19 risks and trade would resume.”

He said the risk of introducing Covid-19 into New Zealand from the islands was near-zero and when New Zealand had been Covid-19-free for 28 days, the risk to the islands was near zero.

“Fiji could now be included in a New Zealand bubble as that nation was Covid-19-free for 35 days at the time of writing,” he said.

However, Australia was still showing new cases, which posed a threat to any trans-Tasman travel.

Dr Tukuitonga said New Zealand was the transit point for travel to and from these islands and Auckland was the home for many extended families from the islands and most Pacific communities would welcome the ability to reconnect with families and whanau.

He said  New Zealand had constitutional obligations to the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau. It had a Treaty of Friendship with Samoa and long historical relationships with Tonga.

It is also the specialist hub for medical referrals from the islands.

Restrictions eased further

Meanwhile, the government continued gradually lifting its restrictions imposed to prevent the country from the novel coronavirus.

Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa announced Wednesday that businesses such as nightclubs, clubs and bars will reopen on Mondays until Saturdays beginning this Monday.

The night-time curfews shall apply from 11:00pm to 5:00am, he said.

All contact sports shall be prohibited.

Strict social distancing measures will continue to be in effect, and the country’s borders remain closed to foreign visitors until June 12.

Restrictions on gatherings have been tough for those mourning the death of a relative or friend, and it has been restricted to a total of 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors with an authorised officer to be present throughout.

Indoor gatherings in the kingdom have been limited to a maximum of 50 people and 100 people outdoors except for religious services and education institutions.

All activities and gatherings shall comply with those gathering restrictions and as well as with the Ministry of Health requirements for sanitation and hygiene.

Tonga is still Covid-19 free.

Support by local people ensures good quality food available says Neiafu Town Officer

By
Kalino Latu
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The Neiafu Town Officer, Vāvā Lapota, has attributed the arrival of quality meat in Vava’u to the hard work and the support of the local people to ensure they were buying good quality food.

Rotting chicken and expired goods destroyed in Vava’u in February. Photo/Vavā Lapota

Lapota told Kaniva News it had begun to be possible to buy and cook quality meat in Vava’u.

He described the meat as fresh compared with the meat they had bought previously.

He said that in the past and before the disputes between him and Food Authorities, they purchased frozen meat that, when defrosted, released dark blood.

He said meat bought after the dispute released  light red blood.

Lapota had accused Food Division authorities of being indecisive and letting down the taskforce trying to control the importation of poor quality food into Vava’u.

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Meanwhile, Opposition MP Piukala raised the issue in Parliament and told the Minister of Health Dr ‘Amelia Tu’ipulotu  and Food and Agriculture Minister Lord Tu’ilakepa that Vava’u  people had complained about poor quality food.

The Member for Vava’u 14 said people were extremely concerned about the ongoing problems of expired foods and frozen meat in dry containers being brought into the island group.

Dr Tu’ipulotu  said the government would provide a response later.

Eggs

Meanwhile, it has been claimed that fake chicken eggs were discovered in Vava’u last week.

Lapota said the eggs were reported to him by locals at Holonga, Vava’u after buying them from a local convenience store.

He took them to the Food Division office before they conducted experiments to check the eggs.

He said the eggs would be sent to Tongatapu for further scientific investigation.

The main points

  • The Neiafu Town Officer, Vāvā Lapota, has attributed the arrival of quality meat in Vava’u to the hard work and the support of the local people to ensure they were buying good quality food.
  • Lapota told Kaniva News it had begun to be possible to buy and cook quality meats in Vava’u.

Assault on family that led to death was cowardly and terrifying, NZ High Court told

By
Philip Cass
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The New Zealand High Court in Auckland has described an assault which led to the death of a man as cowardly.

Photo/© 2018 RICHARD F. EBERT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Siosaia Joe Maka was sentenced to 44 months on charges of assault with a weapon; assault with intent to injure; common assault and manslaughter.

The charges arose from an incident on October 19, 2019.

At 3.45am that morning Maka and others went to the home of the victims in Māngere because one of the group was angry about something said in a telephone conversation by one of the victims.  The two were once in a relationship. The victims were already outside.

Maka had a sawn-off shotgun.

“You and your co-offenders approached them and said” ‘Do you know who you are messing with?’ ” Judge Downs told the court.

“You pointed the gun at the chest of Ms Rogers.  She pushed one of her adult children behind her and grabbed the barrel.  She implored you not to shoot her children.

“One of your co-offenders spoke to you in Tongan.  You left the driveway and returned the gun to the car.”

A co-offender then attacked Ioteva Taikoko, 18, who fell to the ground. Maka and the other offenders repeatedly punched Taikoko in the head while he was defenceless on the ground.

Maka then punched Rocky Rogers in the head, who fell to the ground. When  Rogers got up and tried to leave Maka chased him and kept punching him.

Rogers’ stepfather, Hashim Saad and Ms Rogers’ partner came out of the house and went to help his stepson.

Maka pursued him and knocked Saad down with an uppercut to the jaw.  Saad hit his head on the concrete and later died.  Maka and his co-offenders got back in the car and drove away.

“He was doing no more than trying to dissuade you from assaulting his stepson,” Judge Downs said.

“Your use of violence was not spontaneous.  You went to the victims’ home looking for trouble.”

The judge said much of Maka’s behaviour that night was cowardly.

“You assaulted others and you pointed a gun at a female while her adult children were nearby.  That must have been terrifying,” he said.

“Your offending has caused great harm and pain.  Ms Rogers has lost her partner; her children their stepfather.”

Maka was 23 when he committed the offences and is a former Auckland University student with six children. He has three prior convictions.

Maka claimed to be a patched member of the Black Power gang.

“I doubt that very much,” the judge said. “Your conviction list is much too short.

“And even if this were true, it would be nothing to be proud of.”

Maka was sentenced to three years and eight months’ imprisonment for the manslaughter of Mr Saad.

He was also sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment for the other offences, to be served concurrently, making three years and eight months in total.

Trademark of Mate Ma‘a Tonga name by New Zealand company  outrages rugby league fans

By
Kalino Latu
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Mate Ma’a Tonga rugby league fans and businesses are not happy after it was revealed that a New Zealand company has trademarked the name, while two other bodies had their applications to register the name put on hold.

Mate Ma’a Tonga slogan has been trademarked in New Zealand

The trademark has been registered by Mate Ma’a Tonga Ltd while Iese Miti Tata’s application to register Mate Ma’a Tonga National League and Mate Ma’a Tonga Rugby League New Zealand’s request is now on hold.

Mate Ma’a Tonga Ltd was a company registered in New Zealand to an address in Grey Lynn  in April 2018 by Josaih Maile Latamai Koloamatangi.

Tongan fans and sponsors said the move amounted to “heritage-highjacking, politics” and hunger for money.

Mate Ma’a Tonga or Die For Tonga is a common Tongan slogan with a much wider cultural and traditional significance.

Its history goes back to the establishment of Tonga College in 1882 where the slogan was used as the school’s motto after a dispute between King George Tupou I and the founder of Tupou College, Dr James Eagan Moulton.

Protecting the brand name is something most businesses would do, to prevent a rival Mate Ma’a Tonga products or services popping up next door or a rival sports tournament being held without permission but this has enraged the fans.

Well-known Tongan singer Melenau Lino, sings the Tonga National Anthem during Tonga and New Zealand
Oceania Cup game in June 2019. Photo/Fox Sports News (Screenshot)

Well-known Tongan singer Melenau Lino, who triggered strong emotions among Mate Ma’a Tonga supporters, when she sang the Tonga National Anthem during Tonga and New Zealand Oceania Cup game in June last year said she did not want to lose the team.

She said she believed the name should stay with the rugby league team and the move by some people to control it was sad.

“It was the name that promotes worldwide in rugby league and I feel every Tongan will be disappointed if the team loses the slogan,” she told Kaniva News.

The director of Nasita Production, one of the biggest designers of Mate Ma’a Tonga T-shirts and team uniforms and fan  clothing said any other slogans for the team never beat the Mate Ma’a Tonga.

He said when the team was renamed as Kau To’a after the ousted Tonga National League Board prevented the Mate Ma’a Tonga team and its logo from joining the Oceania Cup last year people still referred to the team as Mate Ma’a Tonga.

“Every Tongan is proud to be associated with name because it sends out a very compelling message they have to die for Tonga no matter what,” Nasita Production Director Veili Paongo told Kaniva News.

He said the former TNRL board sent out a form last year demanding that anybody who wanted to use the Mate Ma’a Tonga slogan and logo had to ask permission from them and pay before selling items to their customers.

Tekiteki Kinikini, an administrator of the Aotearoa Mate Ma’a Tonga Supporters group, which has more than 25,000 members on Facebook, said the slogan was exceptionally unique.

“We have no choice but to change it because the Koloamatangis owned it legally.”

Last year a letter circulated on social  media which was claimed to come from former TNRL Chair Siaosi Koloamatangi prohibiting businesses in New Zealand from selling any Mate Ma’a Tonga products without his permission.

The letter drew an angry reaction, with many people saying it was an attempt to own something that belonged to the country as a whole.

Kaniva News has contacted Tonga’s Minister of Law and the new Tonga Ma’a Tonga rugby league chair for comment and is awaiting a response.

The main points

  • Mate Ma’a Tonga rugby league fans and businesses are not happy after it was revealed that a New Zealand company has trademarked the name, while two other bodies had their application to register the name put on hold.
  • The trademark has been registered by Mate Ma’a Tonga Ltd while Iese Miti Tata’s application to register Mate Ma’a Tonga National League and Mate Ma’a Tonga Rugby League New Zealand’s request is now on hold.

Heated debates arise after revelation gov’t guaranteed private companies loans for its roading project; Sika accuses gov’t of nepotism over lucrative contracts

By
Kalino Latu
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Opposition Leader Sēmisi Sika has accused the Tu’i’onetoa government of designing the tendering  process for its roading project so the contracts would be given to three of its friends.

Hon.Sika made the accusation in Parliament after the Minister for Finance said the government would guarantee loans from the Tonga Development Bank to three private companies which won the bid of outsourcing road works from government.

Hon. Tevita Lavemaau said the government had supported the loans (“poupou pe pule’anga ia ki ai.”)

The Opposition MPs were concerned that if these companies failed to pay back their loans the taxpayers would suffer because the government was the main shareholder of the Development Bank.

Former borrowers fail to reimburse

There was a mixed response from the government, with the Minister of Finance saying these were secured loans and the companies’ assets and equipment were pledged as collateral.

The need for a guarantor was just something to add on top so the bank could sleep well, Hon. Lavemaau said.

He said there was a precedent  and the government had guaranteed loans by private companies before.

However the Minister said companies which borrowed from the government to rebuild their businesses after the Nuku’alofa 2006 blaze failed to reimburse the government.

“These companies could not pay back their loans,” he told the House.

One of those businesses was the Tungi Colonnade and the Minister said the construction was faulty and the revenue collected from renting out of the building could not cover the costs.

He said the government was now paying for all those costs.

Call for transparency

The democrats implied they knew the identities of the three companies, but wanted confirmation from government before they would discuss their background and histories in the House.

The government did not disclose the identities.

MP Mateni Tapueluelu said there were companies which could implement the work without having to borrow from the bank.

He said the people were uneasy about the scheme.

“We wanted to make sure the people feel secure as the government is there in that bank,” Hon. Tapueluelu said.

The Prime Minister told Kaniva News in a previous interview that Cabinet had made a deal with three quarry owners for the project, two of whom were Cabinet Ministers Lord Ma’afu and Lord Nuku. He did not name the third owner.

Two Tendering processes

Hon. Sika told the House the three companies made higher bids than those who were supposed to win the tender before the government cancelled it.

He said the three companies then made a deal with the government to bring down their prices to TP$70 per truck of rock before the tender was re-processed.

This time the three companies were successful and won the bid.

“Why wasn’t the $70 price discussed with all the tenders,  but only with these three?” Sika asked.

He said the other tenders may have offered a cheaper deal.

He said the intention of the roading project was to benefit the government’s friends and not because of a duty to build the country’s road.

Government response

Responding, Minister of Trade and Economic Development Samiu Vaipulu said this was the government’s own way of doing tenders.

He likened it to what Late Democratic Leader ‘Akilisi Pōhiva allegedly did when he was Prime Minister.

Hon. Vaipulu said these three companies won it and they wanted to apply for a loan to secure equipment for the work.

The Prime Minister told Parliament the loans for the government’s Roading Project had been criticised and described as wrong, illegal and something the government should not do.

In return, the Prime Minister said he wanted to  give the House some questions to answer.

“For whom are these roads being built?” he asked.

“For the elderly of the country. For the children of the country. The growers of the country. Men and women. Yes for everyone in the country.”

Noble scolds PM

The Prime Minister asked the House to give him and his government the opportunity to build and repair the road as this was people’s priority and urgent need.

He said according to history the Prime Minister of 2011, Lord Tu’ivakano attempted to build the road and what he did he applied for a loan from a Chinese bank.

Lord Tu’ivakanō interrupted and asked the Speaker to allow him to correct the Prime Minister.

Lord Tu’ivakanō, who received a suspended two year sentence for passport, perjury and firearm offences, told Hon. Tu’i’onetoa that during his premiership the IMF and World Bank had advised Tonga not to apply for any further loans.

The Prime Minister then said he wanted to correct his statement.

He said he was wrong when he said the government applied for a loan.

Lord Tu’ivakano told him to confirm his statement before making it as it was wrong.

“Maybe it’s better for you to sit down and allow the Minister for Finance to speak,” Lord Tu’ivakano said.

The former Speaker said the House would spend a long time on the issue because the Prime Minister was speaking balderdash (“me’a noa’ia.”)

Lord Tu’ivakano warned the House on Monday that it was wrong for the government to fund its Tonga Development Bank and at the same time guaranteed loan applicants.

Tu’i’onetoa’s outsourcing policy

Hon. Tu’i’onetoa was also criticised for the government’s outsourcing and procurement policy.

Some opposition party MPs publicly said they supported the roading project, but believed the multi-million cost was too much for the country to be spent within two years.

They believed this could cause financial trouble for the country.

The government has been working on its roading project since it took power in October 2019, but the construction is still stuck in Tongatapu 10, the Prime Minister’s constituency.  This means the government has to complete the construction of the other 15 constituencies within one year and five months to stay on schedule.

In a recent interview with Kaniva News,  Hon. Tu’i’onoetoa said it was very difficult to work together with people who they do not hold the same beliefs.

“We need to begin with people who believe in us and then end up with the unbelievers.”

“The same thing applies to contractors for whom we outsourced the roading project.

“We will use the contractors who hold the same beliefs with us before those who we do not have the same beliefs.”

 

Man jailed for rape, beating despite wife’s plea for three years six months

By
Kalino Latu
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A man who raped his wife in what the judge described as “unwanted sexual violence” has been jailed for three years and six months.

The man was identified in court under the pseudonym VP pleaded guilty to three counts of rape, causing serious bodily harm and domestic violence.

He was sentenced to five-years three-months imprisonment but his final year and nine months had been suspended after being remorseful, he reconciled with the victim and co-operated with the authorities.

Na’e tautea’i ‘e he ‘Eiki Fakamaau Lahi’ Whitten ‘a e tangata na’a’ ne tohotoho’i hono mali’ ke ngāue pōpula ‘i ha ta’u ‘e tolu māhina ono.

Na’e ui pe ‘i he fakamaau’anga’ ‘a e tokotaha’ ni ‘aki ‘a e hingoa ko e VP, ‘a ia ne taumu’a ke ‘oua na’a faka’asi hono hingoa totonu’.

Na’e fakahā ki he fakamaau’anga’ ‘i he po’uli hifo ‘aho 9 ‘o Sune, 2019 ne fononga me’alele atu ai ‘a e husepāniti’ mo hono uaifi’ ki honau ‘api’.

Na’e mamahi ‘a e pōpula ‘i hono uaifi’ ‘i ha me’a ne hoko ki mu’a pea kamata ke ne tā.

Na’a’ ne fakamana’i te na iku ki honau ‘api ‘uta’ ‘o hoka’i hele’i ai.

‘I he’ena a’u atu ki honau fale’ ne kilofi atu ‘e he mamahi’ ‘oku ulo mai ‘a e kaungā’api’.

Ne hopo ia ‘o lele ki ai ka ne a’u atu e mamahi’ ‘o  hoko atu hono tā mo tuki mo hamu ke na foki ki ‘api.

Ne na foki mai ‘o hoko atu hono taa’ pea iku ki he’ene fakamālohi’i ‘a hono uaifi inu kava mālohi pea fekau ke ne vete hono vala’ pea fakahoko ki ai ‘a e tō’onga fakaepō ne ‘ikai loto ki ai ‘a e mamahi’.

Na’e faingata’a ‘ia ‘a e uaifi’ ni he ngaahi tō’onga kovi ne fakahoko ange ‘e hono husepāniti’ lolotonga hono tohotoho’i ia’ ka ne ‘ikai te ne toe mafeia ha me’a.

Ne iku e tō’onga fulikivanu ‘a e pōpula’ ni ki he’ene fakalavea’i ‘a e konga tapu ‘a hono mali’ pea ‘i he ‘ikai ke i kātaki ‘a e fefine’ ni na’a’ ne kaila ‘o  ongo’i mai ‘e he kaungā’api’ ‘o nau tā ki he kau polisi’.

Ne omi ai e kau polisi ‘o puke ‘a e husepāniti’ ni.

Tohotoho māsolo pe fakakautau:

Ko e fa’ahinga tohotoho ‘eni ‘oku ‘iloa he lea ‘Ingilisi’ ko e martial rape pe ko hono fakamālohi’i ‘o e hoa’ ka ‘oku ‘ikai loto ia ki ai.

Mahino ‘i he fekumi ‘a e fakamaau’anga’ ne te’eki ha keisi peheni ki mu’a ‘i he’ene lekooti pea ‘oku ‘ikai pe lipooti ia ‘i Tonga.

Ka ‘i he lao ‘o Tonga’ ‘oku ‘ikai ha kehekehe e ‘uhinga ia ‘o e tohotoho ‘o tatau ai pe ka ko hano fakamālohi’i ‘o ha taha kehe pe mali pe paatinā.

‘Oku ‘i ai ha fānau ‘e toko fā ‘a e mamahi; mo e pōpula pea na’a’ na kei nofo fakataha pe a’u ki he ngāue pōpula ko eni’.

Ko e tautea ‘o e tohotoho’ ko e ngāue pōpula ta’u ‘e 15, fakalavea lahi’ ko e ta’u ‘e nima pea ko e fakamamahi ‘i ‘api’ kapau ko ha toki fakahoko ko e ngāue pōpula ta’u ‘e taha pe ko e mo’ua pa’anga ‘ikai toe ‘ova he $2000.

Na’e meesi ‘a e fakamaau’anga’ ma’a e pōpula’ ‘i he ngaahi makatu’unga ko ‘eni:

Na’a’ ne feongoongoi mo e kau polisi pea tō mu’a ‘ene tali halaia’, si’i hano tautea ia ki mu’a pea lekooti lelei, mātu’aki fakatomala mo’oni ‘o iku fakamolemole’i ai ia ‘e he mamahi’. Ne holoki ai ‘e he Fakamaau Lahi ‘a hono tautea’ ‘aki ‘a hono to’o e māhina ‘e 21 pe ta’u ‘e taha māhina ‘e hiva. Na’e toe leva ‘a e ta’u ‘e nima mahina ‘e tolu ke ngāue pōpula ai.

Na’e peheni leva hono tautea’:

Fakatupu lavea lahi’ ke ne ngāue pōpula ta’u ‘e taha māhina ono ai, pea ko e fakamamahi ‘i ‘api’ ke ne ngāue pōpula ai māhina ‘e ono. Ngāue’i fakataha pe ia mo e tautea ki he tohotoho’.

Koe’uhi ko e ngaahi lekooti lelei ‘o e husepāniti’ ni mo ‘ene fakatomala pea ‘osi fakalelei mo e uaifi’ pea hā mai ‘a e mahino ‘e liliu ‘ene mo’ui, na’e  tautea toloi leva ‘e he fakamaau’anga’ ‘a e toenga ta’u ‘e taha māhina ‘e hiva’.

Ka kuopau ke ‘oua na’a’ ne toe fai ha fakahoko ha hia ‘e ala tautea ngāue pōpula ai ia, kuopau ke ne polopeisini, ‘oua na’a’ ne ma’u ‘olokaholo pe faito’o konatapu, fai e koosi kakato ‘e tu’utu’uni ‘e he ‘ofisa polopeisini’ pe ngāue ke solova ‘ene ‘ite’ita mo pā’osi’i’ ‘i he ta’u kuo toloi ai hono toenga tautea’.

Castaway and former South Pacific Boxing Champion Luke Veikoso claims they discovered about “60 skulls and human remains” and met devils in ‘Ata

By
Kalino Latu
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Former South Pacific Heavyweight Boxing Champion title holder Luke Veikoso claimed he and five other Tongan men stranded on ‘Ata island 60 years ago discovered about more than 60 skulls of what appeared to be remains of human adults and children.

Veikoso was one of a group of six Tongan schoolboys marooned on ‘Ata in 1965 when a plan to sail for Fiji went wrong.

He believed these people were Tongans who had been killed and their bodies scattered around the ground.

As Kaniva News reported last  month, their story was recently rediscovered by Dutch author Rutger Bregman, who told the Guardian newspaper  it proved people in extreme conditions could work together and co-operate to survive.

Veikoso also claimed they saw and heard voices of what appeared to be supernatural beings.

He said they heard an electric band performing various kinds of excellent music, but they could not identify what language was being sung.

He said the arrangement of the instruments were marvelous and was extremely loud.

Veikoso said the incident occurred one evening while the castaways were praying.

He said before they appeared he felt terrified.

Mr Luke Veikoso, fourth from left in 1968, including the survivors from ‘Ata. Photograph: Fairfax Media Archives/via Getty Images

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He said that evening he told the other boys he was feeling uneasy and apprehensive. One of the other boys, Sione, said he felt the same.

Veikoso said they used to sit around a fire made from three casuarina branches. That evening, instead of burning, the  branches only gave off smoke.

He said Sione told them to pray and this time the fire was glowing before they saw what appeared to be a human form with four glowing eyes dressed in white clothing.

Veikoso claimed another boy, Tevita, yelled out that it was a devil.

Veikoso said he took one of the casuarina branches and chased after what they saw and threw the branch at it before it disappeared.

He said at the same time their chickens fell out of the trees.

Veikoso, who now lives in Hawai’i told a livestreamed interview on Facebook recently that they re-buried the skulls and the human remains they found.

“The teeth were so beautiful and were still intact,” he said in Tongan.

“it looked like these people were murdered.”

When he was asked by the livestream host about the ethnicity of these people Veikoso replied he believed they were Tongans.

“Adults and children according to the sizes of the skulls,” he said

Boxing Careers / Hollywood Film Deals

Veikoso was born in 1947 and grew up in Ha’afeva in Ha’apai before he moved to Houma, Tongatapu where he was married.

It was in Houma that he began his boxing career.

He was a heavy weight boxer who reached the peak of his career when he won the South Seas Heavyweight title in 1976.

Acording to the Fiji Sun, Veikoso continued boxing in 1980s and in 1982 he lost his South Seas heavyweight champion title to  Fijian Samuela Naliva.

He was one of the seven Tongans named in the National Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.

Meanwhile, the Hollywood studio behind 12 Years a Slave and The Revenant has won the battle for the film rights to the story of the Tongan castaways.

Veikoso came out with his revelation two weeks ago after Kaniva News, the regional and international news media ran stories on Bregman’s version of their story.

The main points

  • Former South Pacific Heavyweight Boxing Champion title holder Luke Veikoso claimed he and five other Tongans men stranded on ‘Ata island 60 years ago discovered about 70 skulls of what appeared to be remains of human adults and children.
  • Veikoso was one of a group of six Tongan schoolboys marooned on ‘Ata in 1965 when a plan to sail for Fiji went wrong.

For more information

Mad and murderous or co-operative and alive? Tongan students’ story shows castaways can survive  by working together says Dutch author

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