Police said a male victim from Fatumu has been hospitalised while his brother was arrested after a fight they both were injured on Tuesday.
Police said an altercation had led to the older brother, 20, allegedly attacking and injuring his young brother, 18, with a blunt object, Tonga Daily News reported.
The young brother allegedly stabbed him with a knife.
The older brother was taken to hospital, the report said.
Police investigation continues.
A Teʻekiu man in his late 30s has died trying to save a 13-year-old boy after he got into difficulties while swimming at a Kalaʻau beach.
The boy was later rescued by a local boat after Nukunuku Police were contacted.
The victims were with the Teʻekiu Mormon Church youth at the Fotua Beach in the Western District of Tongatapu yesterday, Wednesday 14 December at 5:10pm.
Deputy Commissioner Pelenatita Fe’ao Vaisuai said: The Youth of Te’ekiu Mormon Church had gathered at Fotua Beach for an end of the year camping and fishing when the incident occurs.
The deceased jumped in to the water when he noticed the 13 year old youth was being sucked in to a hole in the fringing reef, approximately 80-100 meters from land.
He managed to get hold of the 13 year old and tried to get them back over the reef but as the current was too strong they crashed into the reef rocks and he lost his grip on the boy.
Another 36 year old man who was at the beach saw what happened and swam out to assist them. The current was very strong and they were swept out to the open water.
Call for assistance was relayed to the Nukunuku District Police at this time and a local boat was dispatched to the scene and rescued the 13 year old boy and the 36 year old man, while recovering the body of the deceased who at this time was floating in the water.
Police continues to complete their inquiries as well as awaiting a report from the Doctor, in order to arrange for an inquest. Police pay their condolences to the family.
Police would like to thank Mr Steve Burling and his two friends from Ha’atafu for their assistance during the rescue and recovery of the deceased body.
Police would like to remind people of the importance of keeping safe while out in the water, during this summer holiday. Beware of the tide, current and conditions.
WARNING: This article contains graphic photos. You have been warned.
A nine-year old boy who died in Tu’anekivale, Vavaʻu last night drowned while he was swimming with a group of people, police have confirmed.
Health authority in Neiafu told Police the boy was arrived in Ngu Hospital last night Wednesday 14 at about 8pm.
“Doctor confirmed that the child died from drowning”, Deputy Police Commissioner Pelenatita Vaisuai said.
“The 9 year old boy was with a group of people who were swimming at the causeway from Tu’anekivale to Holeva”, Vaisuai said.
Tonga Police would like to offer their sympathies to the family at this sad time, she said.
The Deputy Commissioner also said in the Police statement:
“Be safe on the water”
Our beaches become more inviting as the holiday period and summer temperatures approach, but Police is urging everyone to be cautious before taking the plunge.
Being safety conscious takes a little time but ensures a life time of fun in, on or under the water, says Deputy Commissioner Pelenatita Fe’ao Vaisuai.
To avoid these from occurring we all need to take time to consider all activities around water this coming festive season, even if it is just ensuring we are actively watching and supervising those in the water.
Make sure that you are familiar with the beaches that you’re taking your loved ones to, and if all else fails you can save yourself by ensuring your swimming ability is right for the conditions or you are wearing a life jacket.
“Our message to all this summer is to think safety before you put your boat or yourself in the water. Be prepared and keep an eye on the weather and water conditions.
If it’s not looking good or you’re not sure have a break.
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WARNING: This article contains a graphic image. You have been warned.
Heartbreaking images of a young boy’s lifeless body on a Tongan beach have been widely shared online this morning.
Apparently, the boy died yesterday Wednesday 14 according to reports on social media.
Tongan Police told Kaniva News they will be releasing a statement on the incident shortly.
More to come….
The incident was reported on Facebook.
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 will be chaired by Hon. Fa’otusia and will also include the Minister of Police, the Commissioner of Police, the Commander of the Tonga Defence Force and the Commissioner of Prisons. It may also co-opt other members.
“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 !”
Hon. Fa’otusia said Cabinet was working towards the safety of the Chinese and the Police Force and the Tongan Defence Force were working together to prevent their abuse.
“We are also working with the office of the Attorney General to see whether laws regarding senseless violent crime, including armed robbery, are in line with the rest of the other common law jurisdiction,” he said.
The Minister was responding to questions from Kaniva News following a story we ran earlier this year.
That story referred to the robbery of a Chinese shop in Tonga. Subsequent online comments suggested Tongan residents should be able to buy guns to protect themselves.
However, that appears to be a step too far for the government.
Hon. Fa’otusia said arming the public had never crossed his mind. He said the idea of people being allowed to buy guns was “a bit too western.”
He said that when he was passing through San Francisco airport he was asked by the Immigration Officer why crime was increasing in Tonga.
“I immediately answered that what happened to Peace Corp director Nancy Gehron here in Tonga was just an isolated instance, but not common occurrences,” the Minister said.
“The Officer immediately answered that he did not know anything about that case, and he then stamped my passport and allowed me to move on.
“The point to raise here is that that what happened to the Peace Corps was already circulated around all ports of entries to the USA to watch out for the Tongan! What an unfortunate ripple effect caused by stupidity of few of our people!”
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Tongan police warn media after photos of bloody and bruised man leaked
An earthquake with preliminary magnitude of 5.2 was felt in ‘Eua and Tongatapu in Tonga on Tuesday, but no tsunami warning was issued and there were no immediate reports of damage.
The quake occurred on Wednesday, 74 kilometers (46 miles) from `Ohonua, east of Tongatapu, the mainland of Tonga.
A tsunami warning has not been issued (Does not indicate if a tsunami actually did or will exist), says earthquake news today.
People took to Facebook and shared their experiences.
A Chinese man in Tonga has been flown to New Zealand this afternoon with serious injuries after an alleged workplace accident in Nukuʻalofa.
A source said the man was working as a painter at the St George Palace in Pangai Siʻi when the accident occurred.
A New Zealand air ambulance arrived in Tonga and picked up the patient.
No further details available at the time this story was published.
The multi-million Chinese-funded building is constructed by a Chinese construction company
A white and a blue van collided head-on around a bend in Makaunga, Tongatapu before they both ended up in a bush on Monday 12.
There are no reports of injuries so far.
Local photographer Patimiosi Ngungutau took pictures of the incident.
Tonga’s Ministry of Internal Affairs says it is concerned about the bus company in Australia that took 39 Tongan fruit pickers from Bowen in North Queensland to Brisbane airport.
The Ministry told Kaniva News an inquiry was underway after the bus broke down in Miriam Vale 464 kilometres north of Brisbane and its replacement left without Tongan worker Sofia Filo, 30, of Ma’ufanga.
Internal Affairs CEO ʻAna Bing Fonua, said they had a meeting with the group leader on Wednesday last week in Tonga and some of the group members on Thursday.
Fonua said she met with Filo on Friday as part of their inquiry after Kaniva News reported that Filo was left stranded.
When the group found out Filo had been left behind after about two hours they left Miriam Vale, they considered the consequences if they returned to pick her up, Fonua said.
They believed they would be late for their flights, causing them to overstay their visas.
Fonua said their visas were due to expire two days after they arrived in Tonga.
The group feared that if they overstayed their visa they could not have another chance to return to Australia on the fruit picking programme, Fonua said in Tongan.
The CEO said some of the group had considered fleeing in Australia if their visas expired while they were there.
Fonua said the group made contact with Filo after they found out she had been left behind and made sure she was safe.
As Kaniva reported, the bus broke down in Miriam Vale at about 11.30pm after it left Bowen at 5am on Wednesday 23.
Fonua said two men took a break with Sofia on the chairs in a nearby park after the bus broke down. In our report we quoted Filo as saying they were two women.
Fonua said the men left the park early while Filo was still there and when the replacement bus arrived they boarded it without knowing Filo was sleeping in the park.
The CEO said if the bus had returned to pick up Filo it would have taken two hours to reach her, which meant the group would have missed their flight to Sydney to return to Tonga.
She said attempts to contact Police over the cellphone were unsuccessful because Filo did not have any credit on her phone.
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Tongan female fruit picker shares worst nightmare after being left stranded in Queensland
Two government funded schools in Tonga were told to shut down next year as part of the Ministry of Education’s move to make sure it provides proper education for foreigners’ children.
Ngeleʻia and Tokomololo Side Schools were told to merge with Tonga Side School in Nukuʻalofa.
The closings were expected to save the government’s budget and resources so it can improve running the school.
The Tonga Side School was established decades ago in a bit to teach foreign children in English on Tongan curriculum with a palangi perspective.
The only Tongan children allowed to enrol were those of the royals and the nobility.
But the policy was apparently loosen recently allowing the public to enrol their children and this was why Tokomololo and Ngeleʻia schools were opened in early 2000s.
The Ministry however faced criticisms after allowing Tongan students to enrol while there were schools for them available throughout the kingdom.
Tongan parents vied to send their children to the Side School in the hope they could get better education because of the English teaching and curriculum.
But internal reports by the Ministry found most of these Tongan children suffered academically and were unsuccessful when they enrolled at secondary schools because they did not understand English well while they were taught at the side school.
Tonga Broadcasting Commission report says the closing was made because the Ministry also wanted to “downsize” the number of students taught at these levels.
