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No Tongans arrested in US immigration raids

By
Philip Cass
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Sources inside the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement have confirmed that no Tongan nationals were arrested during last month’s raids.

As Kaniva News reported, unsourced news reports claimed that hundreds of Tongans had been arrested in the raids which occurred across the United States.

The stories also claimed that the Tongans who had supposedly been arrested were liable for deportation.

One site claimed 831 Tongans had been deported in the raids on illegal migrants in the US.

However, this number was higher than the total number of 680 arrests arrests reported by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.

According to ICE statistics, in 2016 a total of 16 Tongans were deported from the US by immigration authorities.

Bogus stories about changes to US immigration laws have also circulated.

Meanwhile, US and Tongan officials are meeting in Nuku’alofa this week to discuss problems surrounding the reintegration of Tongan deportees into the kingdom.

Tongan deportees often face serious difficulties adjusting to a culture, language and traditions with which they may be completely unfamiliar.

US Ambassador to Tonga Judith Cefkin said reintegrating deportees into Tongan society was a major concern.

Some limited services are available to help deportees, but these organisations themselves often struggle for support.

The US has agreed to give the Tongan government three weeks’ notice of the arrival of deportees and to criminal records.

The main points

  • Sources inside the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement have confirmed that no Tongan nationals were arrested during last month’s raids.
  • As Kaniva News reported, bogus stories also claimed that the Tongans who had supposedly been arrested were liable for deportation.
  • Meanwhile, US and Tongan officials are meeting in Nuku’alofa this week to discuss problems surrounding the reintegration of Tongan deportees into the kingdom.
  • Tongan deportees often face serious problems adjusting to local culture and society.

For more information

Reports of mass arrests follow bogus stories about US immigration policy

Two Tongan sisters in US plead no contest to elder abuse in death of mother

By
Kaniva Staff
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Two San Mateo sisters pleaded no contest Monday to felony elder abuse and infliction of great bodily injury in the death of their elderly mother, who died of pneumonia and was found decaying in her own bed and covered in fecal matter, prosecutors said.

Moala Siafoou Tatola, 41, and Tafolosa Haisaane Tatolamahe, 48, were charged after police responded to a report of a dead body in the 1600 block of Third Avenue on March 9, 2013, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.

Sela Tatola, 78, was nude and her lower extremities were “nearly black due to filth and necrotic tissue,” prosecutors said. Gangrene was found throughout the body.

Defense attorney Mitri Hanania described the defendants as committed and loving daughters who worked full time and stepped up to take care of their mother when other family members did not.

The victim did not want to see a doctor, and her daughters should have encouraged her to seek medical treatment, according to Hanania.

“This wasn’t a case where the daughters weren’t cruel to their mother, they were overwhelmed,” Hanania said. “They should have done better, and they acknowledged that they should have done better.”

“They took responsibility, and that’s why they pled,” he added.

The family is Tongan and that may have been a factor in the case, according to Hanania.

“In the Tongan culture, the theme that I heard a lot was that the matriarch in the family is very, very highly respected, so since she was the mother and the matriarch of the family, the daughters were really committed to listening to what the mother’s wishes were,” he said.

The defendants face no more than three years in state prison and are scheduled to return to court  for sentencing on May 12.

–Fox Television

Missing Tongan man located safe and well

By
Kalino Latu
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Missing man Semisi Feao has been located safe and well, Victoria Police have said this morning thanking the public for their assistance.

As we reported earlier Semisi Fe’ao, 62, went missing from his Hickory Street, Werribee address at 8pm, Tuesday 14 March.

Police were concerned for his welfare due to a medical condition.

 

Teacher arrested after Vainī student beating

By
Kalino Latu
-

Police this afternoon arrested a teacher for allegedly beating up a student at Vainī Middle School.

The teacher, whose identity has yet to be released, had been charged with assault.

Police reportedly said the arrest has sent a clear message to victims of this type of crime they could be dealt with if they had the courage to come forward and reveal it.

As we reported earlier the student was hospitalised amid an investigation by the ministries of Police and Education.

The authorities acted after the student’s grandmother reported the incident on Tonga Broadcasting Broadcom radio show.

She said the teacher allegedly threatened to beat the children’s parents if they told them about their punishment.

She said her grandchild was terrified and when she asked to take him with her to the school and talk to the teacher he refused.

“To make sure that any victim of this kind of crime should have the courage to come forward and also in the long term, to create an environment in school that is more safe and more friendly and welcomes every member of society here,” Radio New Zealand has quoted Tonga’s Acting Chief Superintendent Tevita Vailea as saying.

Artist calls for a world that nurtures children and their hopes for the future

By
Philip Cass
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Tongan artist Ruha Fifita hopes that Tongan children will grow up in an environment that nurtures their potential.

Fifita, whose ngatu (painted tapa) work was recently on show at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, said in a recent interview that children were like seeds.

“The environment we create should nurture the growth of each seed and, as a result, ensure the world can benefit from the fruits latent within each,” Fifita said.

She said children should receive an education that developed every aspect of their humanity and their aspirations.

“This education, among other things, includes having the opportunity to be involved in meaningful, service-oriented community and family life, and being encouraged to reflect on and develop individual talents and qualities.

“The environment should be free of criticism and infused with love, encouragement and faith in the profound capacity of every individual.”

Fifita, who has exhibited her work in several galleries in New Zealand and Australia, often in collaboration with New Zealand artist Robin White,  said she hoped Tonga would become a place where its own culture and global knowledge.

“Perhaps we need to get better at consulting, generating new ideas in unity and then acting together, and reflecting on our actions,” the artist said.

“Perhaps if we were eager to learn from others we would discover that even the grandest ideals become possible.”

Fifita said the Pacific had a generation of young people curious about the world and thirsty to live lives of significance and contribute to causes greater than themselves.

“We’re a very young population, with a wealth of energy, new ideas and fresh perspectives of the world.” she said.

“If we can support the children and youth of our nation to realise the important role they can play in our society we will see these small island nations become lights of guidance to others, radiant examples of thriving communities living in harmony with each other and their natural environment.

“What a valuable service that would be to the world!”

The main points

  • Tongan artist Ruha Fifita hopes that Tongan children will grow up in an environment that nurtures their potential.
  • Fifita, whose ngatu (painted tapa) work has been on show at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, said in a recent interview that children were like seeds.
  • “The environment we create should nurture the growth of each seed and, as a result, ensure the world can benefit from the fruits latent within each,” Fifita said.
  • She said children should receive an education that developed every aspect of their humanity and their aspirations.

US and Tongan authorities join forces to deal effectively with returning deportees

By
Kalino Latu
-

The United States authorities had overhauled the country’s deportation system so they could inform the Tongan government before sending back deportees to the kingdom.

The centrepiece of the reform was to allow Tongan authorities time to prepare and could communicate with the US authorities in anything they want regarding the deportees.

This had been revealed yesterday in Nukuʻalofa during a three-day conference with the Tongan government and law enforcement officials.

The U.S. Ambassador to Tonga, Judith Cefkin was one of the speakers at the conference.

She said: “Last year our regional security office consulted with Tongan law enforcement officials to overhaul the process for all returning deportees from the U.S which includes providing an advance notice and more complete information prior to deportation which might be useful to Tongan law enforcement”.

“The Tongan National Deportation Reintegration Conference is the result of two years of consultation and discussion between the U.S and Tongan government and law enforcement officials to create a platform to share our experiences dealing with deportee reintegration,” Cefkin said.

Deputy Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni said the conference was “a new beginning to finding solution to growing concerns in Tonga relating to reintegration of deportees”.

The Tongan government will establish a task force to deal directly with the returning deportees, he said.

There were 20,800 Tongans in the United States according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates 2013. The United States have deported 22 Tongan citizens to Tonga since last year.

As we reported last year Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva said in New Zealand in August that he was concerned about high risk deportees being sent back to the kingdom.

Hon. Pohiva said the Tongan government was not told about the crimes they had committed overseas.

He said after the deportees arrived in Tonga they were released into the community and there was nothing the government could do to make sure they would do no more harm to the society.

Hon. Pohiva said it was important for the government to be informed so they could alert people if any criminal deportees moved into the community.

 Rehabilitation facility

Tonga’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Vaʻinga Tōnē who was also in the meeting with Hon. Pohiva in Auckland, told the audience there had been discussion with the governments of New Zealand and Australia to help fund a rehabilitation facility in Tonga.

He said this was a big issue for Tonga, especially for deportees who were sent directly from prison to Tonga and did not usually join any rehabilitation programmes after their release.

In November last year it was reported that Patrick ʻUnga, who had received a life sentence for murdering his fiancé in New Zealand in 2003, killed again in Tonga only a few months after his deportation to Tonga.

He was sentenced to more than 12 years in jail for manslaughter after the death of Sitanilei Sime in Nuku’alofa in April 2014.

Yesterdayʻs  opening ceremony was attended by the Ambassador of China to Tonga, H.E Mr. Huang Huaguang, Australian High Commissioner to Tonga, H.E Mr. Andrew Ford, New Zealand High Commissioner to Tonga, H.E Ms. Sarah Walsh, Assistant Adjutant General Army/Director Joint Staff Nevada Guard Brigadier General Zachary F. Doser, Police Commissioner Mr. Stephen Caldwell, Members of Parliament, Church Leaders, Representatives from line Ministries, NGOs and Town Officers.

Tonga A wins over Samoa 30 – 22

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tonga won its second match in the Pacific Rugby Challenge beating Samoa 30-22 at the ANZ Stadium this afternoon.

In its first game last Friday Tonga lost to Fiji Warriors 38-30.

Tonga A will take on Junior Japan on Saturday next week while Fiji Warriors will face the Samoans.

Drowned Pātangata diver named

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Pātangata old man who drowned while diving near the village has been named by police.

The body of Sioeli Tuʻakalau, 72, was recovered following a search of the area on March 7.

His cause of death has been confirmed as asphyxiation due to drowning.

Vavaʻu Police investigating damage to cars at Hinakauea parking lot

By
Kalino Latu
-

A Police investigation was underway after complaints were received about two vehicles being damaged at Hinakauea parking lot in Neiafu on Saturday.

Police said they had received complaints from Taunga motorists who had parked their vehicles at the spot before leaving for the island to attend a funeral.

They returned on Sunday to find their cars had been damaged, Vavaʻu Police Superintendent Natane Falakiseni told Kaniva News.

He said Police suspected the damages had been caused by drunken vandals.

Falakaiseni said the Taunga and Kapa islanders used to park their vehicles in the area before travelling by boats to their islands.

It was alleged on social media that a boat belonged to the Taunga people had been damaged prior to Saturday’s incident but Falakiseni said no complaint had been received in relation to that alleged incident.

Tonga reserve bank warns of illegal money exchange operators

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Tonga National Reserve Bank said some retail shops in Tonga have provided foreign exchange services to their customers without holding the required license.

It reminded that people conducting these illegal activities could be imprisoned or fined.

It urged those who were interested in this business to apply for a license.

The Bank said: “The Reserve Bank is responsible for the licensing, regulation and supervision of authorized dealers providing foreign exchange services in and from Tonga.

“Authorised Dealer”, as defined by the Regulation, means “in relation to any foreign currency, a person appointed by the Reserve Bank by notice in the Gazette to act for the purposes of these Regulations as an authorised dealer in relation to that foreign currency. Such appointment may be subject to such restrictions as are set out in the notice.”

The public is reminded that pursuant to Regulation 11, “A person who commits an offence against these regulations shall be liable on conviction – in the case of an individual to a fine not exceeding $200,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years, if a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $200,000.”

“The public is hereby notified that by providing foreign exchange services without the required license is an offence and you are to immediately cease and desist such operations and apply to the Reserve Bank for a license. We are urging the public to please report to the Reserve Bank any unauthorized foreign exchange services”.

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