One person had been rushed to hospital in a serious condition after their car smashed into back of a van on a road near Pelehake in Tongatapu.
The crash happened on Friday 4.
The passengers of the van including a 74-year-old woman and a 13-year-old boy were uninjured, local reports said.
An eye witnessed, a passenger of the van believed the car driver may have been intoxicated.
Last month Kaniva News visited China at the invitation of the Chinese Communist Party Centre for International Exchanges.
In this series of reports, we bring you China as they see themselves.
Based on documents provided by our hosts, this is the official view of China: A rising giant with an enormous population, enormous potential, but serious problems with an acute lack of resources, facing internal problems and often overshadowed by a strong sense of grievance at the way China has been treated in the past.
With China active throughout the region and often in competition with other powers for influence and prestige, it is important that we try to understand China and how they see themselves.
In this second of three reports we look at the Communist Party and its role in China.
The ruling party
The Chinese Communist Party is the ruling party. There are eight other parties: The Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang, China Democratic League, China National Democratic Construction Association, China Association for Promoting Democracy, Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party, China Zhi Gong Party, and the Jiu San Society.
The constitution and law is the fundamental norm governing the acts of the CPC and other political parties.
The Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is an organization of the patriotic United Front of the Chinese people.
It is also an important organ for the development of multi- party cooperation and political consultation led by the CPC, and an important forum for promoting socialist democracy in the Chinese political system. Its main functions: political consultation, democratic supervision and political advisory.
The National People’s Congress
The National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China is the highest organ of state power. Its permanent body is the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress.
The NPC has legislative powers, appointment and dismissal powers, the power to decide on major national affairs, supervision power, and other powers that it should have.
Its 2987 deputies are elected for five years and meets in session once a year.
The term of the current congress, the 12th, runs until 2018.
A session of the NPC is held in the first quarter of every year and is convened by its standing committee.
Regional ethnic autonomy
Regional Ethnic Autonomy means organs of self-government are established in areas where various ethnic minorities live in compact communities. Ethnic minorities rule themselves and manage affairs within their own groups. China has five autonomous regions, 30 autonomous prefectures, 120 autonomous counties/banners and more than 1100 autonomous townships.
Autonomous localities have the right to enact autonomous regulations and separate regulations in light of the political, economic and cultural characteristics of the ethnic group or ethnic groups in the areas concerned; autonomy in using locally raised money, managing local economic development; managing local education, science and technology, culture, health care and sports and in protecting and developing ethnic culture.
The country takes vigorous efforts to train ethnic-minority cadres and professionals in institutions of higher learning, ethnic universities/colleges, and training institutes for ethnic-minority carders. The central government provides financial and material support to autonomous areas, and coastal regions offer individual assistance to ethnic regions to promote local economic and cultural development. The country also gives special privileges to ethnic minorities in regards to policies on education and childbearing.
Community Level Self-governance
Under this system urban residents or villagers elect a residents’ or village committee to conduct self- governance, self-education, self-service and self-supervision. This system has gradually taken shape since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, and appeared in cities first. The 17th CPC National Congress wrote the system into its party congress report for the first time, making it part of a China-specific political system along with the People’s Congress System.
Under this system urban resident’s committees, or rural village committees can be established to allow residents to undertake self-education, self-governance and self-service. Committees consist of a Director, Deputy Director/s, and committee members elected by residents.
Sub-committees can be set up to run public affairs and public service programmes in the community, to mediate civil disputes, help government departments to safeguard public security, promote good ethics and public morality and tell the government about the complaints, suggestions and requirements of the community members.
Philosophy of the CPC
This is how the Party’s Centre for International Exchanges, which organised our visit to China, describes the philosophy of the Communist Party:
“A clear and correct guiding philosophy is essential, one that must suit national conditions and meet the people’s aspirations.
“No matter how progressive the CPC is, it must have comrades and allies. Thus a wide united front is needed.
“While being a ruling party, the CPC must concentrate on economic development. Our top priority must be developing the country, and development is key to solving all the problems in China.
“The CPC is founded for the interests of the public and it governs for the people. It must always stay in close touch with the people. It must always enhance support from the classes it represents, and seek to gain greater public support.
“Scientific, democratic and law-based governance. The party shall always seek to improve the way it leads and governs.
“It must strengthen its party building efforts in a reform-oriented spirit, and conduct party building in a more scientific, institutionalized and standardized way. Strict party discipline must be enforced. The party must always strive to become more creative, cohesive and able.”
Editor’s Note: Our next article on this will be – Looking to the future
The main points
READ MORE:
China as they see themselves: Its people, history and economy
For more information
China president slams ‘conspiracies’ in Communist Party
The Communist Party of China (China Today)
New Zealand basketball star Steven Funaki Adams and his American team were back on form this week.
Oklahoma City Thunder defeated Minnesota Timberwolves 112-92 at Chesapeake Energy Arena just days after being defeated by the Golden State Warriors.
“The 23-year-old Kiwi proved a handful for Minnesota through the first three periods as he tallied 14 points (on six-of-seven shooting), eight rebounds, two assists, two steals and a pair of blocks in 28 quality minutes,” Stuff reported.
So commanding was the Thunder’s advantage that he was not needed on court during the final quarter.
Adams, who is half-brother to double gold Olympic shotputter Valerie Adams, recently signed a US$100 million (NZ$140 million) contract making him the highest paid New Zealand athlete.
He was the first lottery pick and first-round pick to come out of New Zealand in NBA Draft history.
He is one of 18 siblings, six of whom played basketball for New Zealand.
Adams, who is Tongan through his mother, has been an increasingly important player and is described as one of the best centres in the league.
He has appeared in 231 games.
Oklahoma City Thunder will play the Miami Heat next up on Tuesday.
The main points
For more information
Steven Adams signs new $140m deal – reports
Steven Adams, OKC Thunder bounce back with strong showing against Minnesota
Seven Georgians who were caught using fake Greek passports at the New Zealand Immigration office in Tonga were deported on Friday.
They had paid their $6,000 paʻanga fine to the Supreme Court before they left the kingdom in a process the deportation procedures normally used by Tongan immigration was not used because they “intended to depart voluntarily”.
Radio New Zealand International reported the group, which includes a ten year old boy, flew to Fiji on Friday with plans to go to Europe.
A court document said the Georgian citizens “flew to Turkey and there obtained passports that were Greek and had been stolen from a person more popularly known as a people smuggler for a sum of about US$8000 each”.
Koba Shinjkashvili, Zaza Tsikarishvili, Nino Menabdishvili, Genadi Gacechechildaze, Mai Garibashvili and Dato Dekanoidze used these passports to enter Tonga intending to later gain entry to New Zealand.
When they attempted to obtain a permit to enter New Zealand their deception was discovered in September.
Sentence
The Georgians were convicted and sentenced to two-year imprisonment but the Supreme Court suspended the imprisonment.
They were also ordered to pay fines of TOP$1000 each.
In his ruling Justice Cato said: “It is a serious matter to use fraudulent means to enter Tonga for any reason and as a platform from which to illegally enter other countries.
“This Court must send out a deterrent message that offenders will be treated harshly by the Courts for offending of this kind”.
The document said the Georgians were cooperative with the Tongan authorities after they were arrested.
They paid for their return flights while their basic needs had been catered for by Tonga’s Ministry of Police.
READ MORE:
Investigation after Greek passports seized in Tonga following complaint by Immigration NZ
A 16-year-old Tongan girl who was reported missing from Sunshine West in Victoria, Australia more than a week ago has returned home.
16-year-old Meleane and her sister 14-year-old Rachel Fangaake were last seen on Lachlan Road, Sunshine West on Thursday October 27, according to a missing person alert from Victoria Police.
But yesterday November 5 Meleane returned home.
Their aunty Lose Fangaake said she received contact from a Tongan person reporting that Meleane was at his house.
Lose said she immediately called Police but when they arrived to pick Meleane up she disappeared.
“I (texted) her to come home wherever she may be and she did…the younger one Hingano Rachael Fangaake is still missing”, Lose told Kaniva News.
“The older one is back and the 14 year old is still missing.
“It is really really sad”, Lose said.
Meanwhile an unconfirmed report said the 20-year-old Vitolio Latu who was reported missing on October 17 had been found.
Vitolio Latu, who is Tongan, was last seen at a factory in Elliot St, Dandenong South, at 4.14am.
The 20-year-old is described as about 183cm tall with a solid build, dark short hair and dark eyes.
He was last seen wearing a fluorescent green top, dark blue pants and black work shoes.
Two young Tongan sisters in Samoa were lucky to talk face to face with Olympian Valerie Adams while she was waiting to talk to an audience in Apia.
Adams was in Samoa as New Zealand’s first Sport Ambassador to the Pacific.
The two sisters, nine-year-old Rosa and four-year-old ‘Amelia Enoka were vying to get close to the shotput queen when Adams noticed they were wearing royal blue T-Shirts with Tongan logos and names on them.
Adams, who has Tongan heritage and can speak Tongan,  instantly asked ‘Amelia if she was Tongan.
‘Amelia’s mother Taina Kami Enoka posted on Facebook: “Valerie pulled up close and started reading what was on her t-shirt. ‘Ko e Tonga koe? Translated: (Are you Tongan?) Fuoloa hoomou ‘i heni? Translated: Have you been here long? “You’re the first Tongans I’ve met here.
Taina, a senior Tongan journalist who contributes to various Samoan and Tongans news outlets told Kaniva News Adams was on her “last stop at the Nobesity programme for children, before she returned to the hotel and off to the airport.â€
The three time Olympic medallist returned to New Zealand yesterday after visiting Tonga and Samoa where she conducted coaching for promising athletes.
She did physical exercises with school children athletes, met with public figures and visited some of New Zealand’ sport programme in the Pacific including the Just Programme.
She was on her last stop in Samoa to visit the Nobesity Kids Programme at the Cricket field in Tuanaimato when she was approached by Rosa and four-year-old ‘Amelia.
The Nobesity Samoa programme encourages kids to eat properly and exercise.
Taina said: “Valerie encouraged kids to eat the colours of the rainbow as it will make them strong. Strong is beautifulâ€.
“Do you know what it means to eat the colours of the rainbow? Yes? It’s very important as young children to eat the colours of the rainbow so you can be big and strong. Strong is beautiful!â€
The phrase “eat the rainbow†was a reminder to people that a variety of fruit and vegetables in their diet would give them the vitamins and minerals they needed.
While Adams was in Tonga she told those who she met at physical exercise to “”Move! Move yourself to a healthier lifestyle!â€
“If I can get one family or one child moving to live a better lifestyle for themselves – then our future looks a little bit brighter for these kids,†the double-gold Olympic medallist said
Adams said if Tongans spent 30 minutes of moving a day it would help them to live a healthier life.
Catching up with All Blacks and Manu Samoa
When she was in Apia, Adams caught up with All Black players and posed for photos.
Actually, they were not quite the All Blacks and Manu Samoa players in the flesh, but just cut out pictures of them that were erected in places in Samoa.
The double Olympics gold medallist has posted a photo of her and a cut-out of SBW on Instagram.
“Good to catch up with the bro @SonnyBWilliams while in Samoa,” she posted.
.Good to catch up with the bro @SonnyBWilliams while in Samoa. ????? pic.twitter.com/5E8ilKITMq
— Valerie Adams (@ValerieAdams84) November 3, 2016
The main points
For more information
Ambassador Valerie Adams’ visit to kingdom “so much fun” and “super awesome”
Last month Kaniva News visited China at the invitation of the Chinese Communist Part Centre for International Exchanges.
In the following series of reports, we bring you China as they see themselves.
Based on documents provided by our hosts, this is the official view of China: A rising giant with an enormous population, enormous potential, but serious problems with an acute lack of resources, facing internal problems and often overshadowed by a strong sense of grievance at the way China has been treated in the past.
As China expands more and more into the Pacific, it is important that people in this region try to understand China and gain some insight into how the Chinese see themselves and their place in the world.
Geography and people
The People’s Republic of China (PRC) is the most populous country in the world.
Run by the Chinese Communist Party, it has the world’s second largest economy.
It is the third largest country in the world, covering about 9.6 million square kilometres.
It claims 4.73 million square kilometres of territorial waters and 18,000 kilometres of mainland coast.
The country is divided into 34 provincial level regions, four municipalities directly under the central government, two Special Administrative Regions; 334 prefecture-level districts containing 284 prefecture-level cities, 2859 counties including 368 county- level cities and 856 districts directly under prefectures), 40,828 townships, and about 3.6 million villages.
The PRC has limited land suitable for agriculture. According to data from late 2013, the total area of arable land in China is 13.538 million hectares, placing it fourth in the world. However the amount of arable land per capita is only 0.101 hectare, placing China 126th in the world.
Nearly one fifth of the people in the world lived in China. By late 2014 the population of China was 1.36782 billion, made up of 700.79 million men and 647.03 million women.
China’s population is mostly urban, with 749.16 million people living in cities and towns and 618.66 million in rural areas.
At the fifth plenum of the Chinese Communist Party it was announced that the pave of urbanisation of the population would be increased.
There are 56 ethnic groups in China, although 90% are Han.
Economy
China is the world’s second largest economy
In 2015, China’s GDP was RMB 67.67 trillion RMB (US$10.38 trillion), a growth of 6.9%
Per capita GDP in 2014 is about US$7400 dollars
It is the largest producer of steel, concrete, TV sets, washing machines, fridges
It is the leading exporter of goods and the second largest importer of goods in the world. In 2014, the total value of import and export was RMB26.43 trillion (US$4.3 trillion)
It was the most popular investment destination (US$119.5 billion dollars in 2014)
It has foreign exchange reserve of US$3.33 trillion.
By late 2015, China had 19,000 kilometres of high speed rail, more than any other country in the world.
At the fifth plenum of the Chinese Communist Party, it was stated that the country’s goal was to become “a moderately prosperous society in all respects.”
Objectives laid out by the plenum were to maintain middle or high level economic growth with GDP and per capita income doubling from 2010 levels by 2020. The plenum declared: “Our industries shall move to a middle end or high end and consumption shall contribute much more to growth.”
History
China can trace its history back 5000 years, although the written records in China date back the Shang Dynasty, about 3350 years ago. The first unified, centralised state ever founded in what is now known as China was the Qin Dynasty, which was about 2200 years ago.
In the middle of the19th century, western powers forced China to open its closed doors with their warships and canons, and the country gradually became a semi-feudal, semi-colonized state.
The Xinhai Revolution in 1911 overthrew thousands of years of monarchy.
In 1921, the Communist Party of China was founded. Following decades of civil war and a brutal invasion by Japan between 1937-1945, the Communist Party under Chairman Mao Zhe Dong came to power in 1949.
An official statement from the CPC Centre for International Exchanges describes the dramatic transformation this way: “After 28 years of painstaking struggles, we overthrew the rule of imperialism, feudalism and bureaucratic capitalism. Our nation became independent and our people were liberated. The People’s Republic of China, where the people rule, was founded.”
“Between 1949 and1978, China witnessed a socialist revolution and development. We set up a socialist system, and a fairly comprehensive industrial mix and economic system, giving the old civilization a new and robust look.
“From 1978 till now, China adopted the reform and opening up policy and pursued socialist modernisation. We identified a socialist path with Chinese characteristics. We remain committed to economic development as a central task, four basic principles, and the policy of reform and opening up. We established a socialist market economy system. As a result, our comprehensive national strength and living standards have been improved significantly, paving the way for building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and achieving socialist modernization.”
Editor’s note: Our next story on this will be : China’s political system
The main points
For more information
Chinese economy (The Economist)
China geography and people (Columbia University)
Bar bouncers and a non-uniform Police officer successfully fought off a machete-wielding man outside a bar in Nukuʻalofa this morning Saturday 5.
An eyewitness Patimiosi Ngūngūtau who is working at the Taliʻeva bar in Nukuʻalofa alleged two men came out of the bar when a man armed himself with a machete and tried to attack one of them.
The incident left bystanders who were at the scene on Taufaʻahau Rd opposite Uata Building in shock.
“It was a horrifying experience to many as the bar was just closed and people were coming out when the attempted attack happened”, he said.
He told Kaniva News the bar bouncers and the non-uniform Police officer managed to fend off and brought the man down shortly before a Police car arrived and took away the machete.
No one was injured, Ngūngūtau said.
Police could not be reached for comment.
Some people who were at the scene took to Facebook and shared their worst nightmare.
Pasiaka Halaholo said on Facebook she was at the scene and saw the incident.
Five Police officers in Vavaʻu were facing punishment after they allegedly failed to follow accepted procedures for handling prisoners leading to the escape of the US murder suspect Dean Jay Fletcher.
Police Commissioner Steve Caldwell said today a team of investigators “identified serious shortfalls” while investigating Fletcher’s escape and “police officers concerned will now be held to account through the disciplinary process.”
Fletcher fled while he was in Police custody in Vava’u at about 3.30am September 29, 2016.
He had been charged in relation to the death of his wife on 7 July 2016 after Vavaʻu Police found her dead body in their yacht.
Police officers managed to track Fletcher down northwest of Vava’u leading to an almost 5 hour standoff, but it was eventually called off when Fletcher allegedly fired flares at police and threatened to set their boat on fire.
Fletcher is currently being detained in American Samoa after he turned up at a marine patrol docking area.
The Tongan government was in the process of applying to have him extradited to the kingdom to face his charges.
“The Internal Investigation led by Professional Standards Unit Manager, Chief Inspector Meleane Taueli into the circumstances surrounding the escape from Police custody in Vava’u of Mr Dean Jay Fletcher, an American citizen facing charges of murder, has now been completed”, Caldwell said.
“A thorough investigation carried out by Chief Inspector Meleane Taueli and her team has identified serious shortfalls in accepted procedures around management of prisoners, and police officers concerned will now be held to account through the disciplinary process.”
Police in Victoria, Melbourne, Australia are appealing for public assistance to help locate two missing girls in Sunshine West and a man in Dandenong South.
Officers have been told 16-year-old Meleane and 14-year-old Rachel Fangaake were last seen on Lachlan Road, Sunshine West on Thursday October 27.
Vitolio Lātū, 20, was last seen at a factory in Elliot St, Dandenong South, at 4.14am on October 17.
The Tongan girls have not returned to their Warmington Road home and family have concerns for their welfare due to their age and the length of time that they have been missing, Police said.
On a post on Facebook a person by the name Lose Fangaake commented and said she dropped them off at school but they never returned.
Police have released images of Rachael and Meleane in the hope that someone may have information on their current whereabouts.
Anyone with information on their current whereabouts is urged to call Sunshine Police on 9313 3333.
Meanwhile, the 20-year-old Lātū was described as about 183cm tall with a solid build, dark short hair and dark eyes.
He was last seen wearing a fluorescent green top, dark blue pants and black work shoes.
