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Parliamentary session officially close tomorrow

By
Kaniva Pacific
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THREE nobles of the realm will officially close the Legislative Assembly session for 2013/2014 on behalf of his Majesty during a soft closing ceremony tomorrow.

They are Hon. Luani, Kalaniuvalu Fotofili & Tu’iha’angana

This was announced by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Lord Fakafanua when the House opens today.

One of the nobles will deliver a closing speech from his Majesty King Tupou VI from the throne.

The soft closing ceremony will start at 10am tomorrow.

Meanwhile the House will resume sitting in June to discuss the national budget for the new financial year 2014/2015.

Tu'ivakano could be impeached for disobeying king’s order: MP Isileli Pulu

By
Kaniva Pacific
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The Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakano could be impeached for defying the King’s order, said MP 'Isileli Pulu.

The king has ordered the Prime Minister in 2012 not to issue any more diplomatic passports to Chinese man Sien Lee.

Tonga’s Minister of Justice, Hon Clive Edwards told Television Tonga last week there was an order from the king regarding the diplomatic passports.

Edwards said under the Tongan law the king has the power to issue Tongan diplomatic passports.

Apart from the royals and Members of Parliament as well as Cabinet, Edwards said Tongan diplomatic passports  can only be issued to tourist commissioners or people who are representatives of Tonga.

Tongan diplomatic passports were given to Lee because he is a millionaire and he travels regularly, Edwards said.

Leaked emails revealed Tu’ivakano ignored the royal order and ordered the Foreign Affair’s secretary at the time, Mahe Tupouniua to issue Lee with a diplomatic passport in October 2012.

Tupouniua was told the Queen Mother wanted the passport for Lee because he was her very close friend.

Pulu, who was Tourism Minister in 2012, told Kaniva News, the Prime Minister is bound by the constitution to obey the king.

“When the Prime Minister and we MPs as well as ministers were sworn into office we swore before God that we will be truly loyal to His Majesty the rightful King of Tonga,” Pulu said.

“The constitution of Tonga is above everyone in the country and the Prime Minister should have obeyed the king’s order and not the Queen Mother”, he added.

Pulu said he is concerned the royals still have great influence in the government and the decision makers.

“Our undemocratic government still allow this to happen and this is our main problem,” Pulu said.

The Tongan diplomatic passports are being openly issued to Chinese millionaires and foreigners and Pulu said it is worrying because Tongan taxpayers are left in the dark without knowing who benefit from it.

He said the rule of law in Tonga is of great concern and the recent court case where two staff at the Immigration Department were jailed has proved the law is not working at the top level.

 “See, two Tongans have been sent to jail  because of illegal activities that connected them to abuse of just two Tongan passports. The sentence was made because the judge believed the abuse had been intentional.

“In my view, the Prime Minister knew really well that he swore to obey the king. And his order to issue the passport to Lee in contravention of the king’s order is a deliberate breach of his oath,” Pulu said.

The king might have known something about Lee and that was why he made the order, Pulu added.

Responding to the allegation the Prime Minister was involved in the passport scandal Edwards said he was aware of the king’s order.

“I know of the order as it was passed on to me but it was meant to cancel the diplomatic passports,” Edwards said in Tongan adding that that was really a difficult job to do as they have to cancel all diplomatic passports issued since the beginning.

Kaniva News understands the king's order was made directly for Mr Lee.

The Prime Minister told Tupouniua to issue Lee the passport as it was a request from the Queen Mother.

 “The reasoning I was given is that he is a friend of HM The Queen Mother and we Respect Her Wishes,” the email by Tupouniua said.

Tupouniua was worried if His Majesty knew they did not follow his advice.

“I will have to explain and bear the bunt at the next audience with Their Majesties,” the email said.

Auditor general: Passport scandals involved PM’s office

By
Kalino Latu
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Tonga’s Auditor General Dr  Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa  said yesterday the passport scandal was one of  the two biggest he had come across in the past three years.

The Auditor General made his comments after Tonga’s Minister of Justice, Clive Edwards, told Radio and Television Tonga he suspected  the Auditor General of leaking information about the passport scandal to Kaniva News and the New Zealand media.

Edwards told the state broadcaster that  22 passports had been issued to a Chinese millionaire Sien Lee.

Dr Tu’i’onetoa compared the revelation of passport irregularities with the disappearance of millions of dollars of aid money from Australia and New Zealand.

The money was given to Tonga in 2010 to fund the kingdom’s political reforms.

He said millions of dollar disappeared without evidence  to show whether it was legally spent or on what.

The money was under the care of the former Prime Minister’s office at the time.

The Prime Minister’s Office appeared to have been involved in both scandals, he said.

No prosecution

When the Auditor’s office urged the Attorney General to charge the people involved, his office said they could not do anything because there was no law that could be used to launch a prosecution.

Dr Tu’i’onetoa said a dozen ordinary and diplomatic passports had been issued to 12 foreigners. They were not Tongans, had not been born in Tonga and did not hold any naturalisation certificates like Chinese-Tongans.

He told Kaniva News that when his office recommended the Attorney General to prosecute those involved, they were told the accused could not be prosecuted because the law that covered such  crimes was no longer valid.

Dr Tu’i’onetoa asked whether the lack of prosecution in these cases meant that people were free to do whatever they wanted.

“Does this mean the faults in the law will remain unfixed?”  he asked.

The Auditor General said he was concerned that the Prime Minister’s office appeared to have been involved in both cases.

He said it was important to maintain good governance in Tonga to facilitate economic and social development.

Legal

Justice Minister Clive Edwards said allegations that about 20 passport had been given to Sien Lee were true.

“That is true and I think there were more than that,” he told Television Tonga.

Edwards said the passports had been issued legally as Lee had been naturalized in 1993.

Dr Tu’i’onetoa said his office was permitted to release information about its investigations.

“The thing is I did not give you (Kaniva News) the leaked information,” he said

“The minister should cool down. He was quick to get furious.”

The Attorney General said his “principles are not for sale”.

He said someone had to do something to save Tonga from the situation it was in.

The main points

  • The Auditor General,  Dr Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa, has described the Tongan passport scandal as one of  the biggest he had come across in the past three years.
  • He said the Prime Minister’s office appeared to be involved in this and an earlier case in which millions of dollar of aid money from Australia and New Zealand had disappeared.
  • The Attorney General’s office had declined to prosecute anybody in either case.
  • Dr Tu’i’onetoa asked whether the lack of prosecution in these cases meant that people were free to do whatever they wanted in Tonga.

Tonga flooding: Call to declare state of emergency

By
Kaniva Pacific
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Tongan Opposition Leader ‘Akilisi Pohiva has called on the government to declare a state of emergency after heavy rain and flooding across Tongatapu last week.

The House was told flooding had never been so widespread before.

Pohiva said his constituents were concerned by the frequency of the flooding and the lack of action by the government. 

“A woman came to me this morning, weeping while complaining about the flooding,” Pohiva said.

He attributed the level of flooding in his area to recent road construction by Chinese constructors.

The Opposition Leader said after work on the Sunia ‘Akaveka Road up to Hala ‘o Vave Road, properties within the area appeared to have been fenced in, allowing floodwater to collect.

Up to 80 percent of toilets in the area had been flooded.

Responding to Pohiva, Deputy Prime Minister Samiu Vaipulu, who is also Minister for Infrastructure, said three pumps had been working since the week before last week in Tongata’eapa.  

“We are just trying to keep down the level of the flooding as we cannot fight against Mother Nature,” he said. 

The Deputy Prime Minister said he had visited areas like Ha’atafu and Sopu and had never experienced such a volume of rain before.

He said flooding in the region was “really serious.”

Hihifo (Western) was hardest hit by the downpours, with localised flooding in some areas in the central area, the House was told.

Hundreds of homes were affected and pictures taken during the flooding suggest the flood waters may be up to 1 metre deep in places.

Vaipulu told the House he would call an emergency meeting with the Tongan National Emergency Committee.

Pohiva asked why he was going to call a meeting to gather information about the flooding when he knew how big the disaster was.

Vaipulu appealed to the Speaker about Pohiva’s interjection, but the Speaker told him the government already had enough information about the flooding and should act now.

The main points

  • Tongan Opposition Leader ‘Akilisi Pohiva has called on the government to declare a state of emergency after heavy rain and flooding across Tongatapu.
  • Both Dr Pohiva and Deputy Prime Minister Samiu Vaipulu said the amount of rain and extent of flooding were unprecedented.
  • In some places the flood level may be up to 1.5 metres deep
  • The Speaker of the Tongan Parliament supported Dr Pohiva and said the government should act immediately.

Edwards warns Tongan police and auditor’s office over passport leak

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tonga’s Minister for Justice Clive Edwards has warned Tonga’s Ministry of Police and the Auditor General, Dr Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa, over the leak of information about the Tongan passport scandal to Kaniva News and the New Zealand media.

In an interview with Radio and Television Tonga, the Justice Minister even implied that Australia and New Zealand might be involved in the leaks, claiming that they wanted to get access to Tongan Foreign Ministry records.

Edwards said New Zealand had condemned Tonga’s sale of passports.

Kaniva News reported that leaked e-mails showed that civil servants were worried that they had been ordered to provide passports to Chinese millionaire Sien Lee in direct contravention of an order from the king.

A report by the Auditor General’s office asked why 12 passports had been issued without the applicants holding naturalisation certificate. The response to the auditor from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff was that it was because of an order from “higher authority” to process them.

That “higher authority” has been identified as the Prime Minister, Lord Tu’ivakano .

However, the Justice Minister said the Auditor General’s report regarding the issuing of passports did not mean there were criminal activities involved.

Edwards said Lee was issued with diplomatic passports in 1993 before he became a minister in 1996 and as Police Minister he was given order to issue Lee with more diplomatic passports.

Lee, a very close friend of the late King Tupou IV, may have been issued with up to 12 passports.

Defence

Edwards said he met with the Prime Minister yesterday morning and said Lord Tu’ivakano did not really comprehend the allegations.

Edwards stopped short of denying the auditor’s report.

“When auditing is taking place they can ask questions like why did that happen?” the Justice Minister said.

“They took note of it so that they could check, but that does not mean there was something wrong as the auditing is still processing.”

In his report, the Auditor General said: “This practice is unacceptable and puts the country’s reputation at risk and should be discontinued immediately.”

Information leaks

“Only two sources could leak the information – the Ministry of Police or the Auditor General, Dr Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa,” Edwards said in Tongan.

He said leaking the documents was illegal.

“It is horrifying,” Edwards said.

He said it would have been inappropriate for Dr Tu’i’onetoa to release any documents

The Justice Minister described Dr Tu’i’onetoa’s interview with TVNZ last week as “a diversion” designed to disguise the source of the information.

Database

Edwards said he also suspected information could have been leaked to  Kaniva News from within the police.

Edwards said the Police Minister asked him to move the Foreign Affairs database to the care of the Ministry of Police.

“They promised they would not release any record, but not even a month passed before this information was leaked,” Edwards said.

 “I am absolutely dissatisfied that my record, the ministers’ records as well as people’s records have been taken to Police.”  

He said Australia and New Zealand had been trying to get access to the Foreign Affairs database for years.

E-mails

The Justice Minister said they contacted Mahe Tupoiniua on Thursday regarding the information that appeared in the Kaniva News.

He said Tupouniua said it was his internal memo to the staff and he was not sure whether what appeared on Kaniva was his.

It is normal for the Tongan government to take legal action against media if it carries defamatory or libellous information.

Edwards did not mention any legal action being taken against media for reporting the e-mails between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff or the auditor’s confidential report.

The main points

  • Tongan Minister for Justice Clive Edwards has named Tonga’s Ministry of Police and the Auditor General, Dr Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa, as possible sources of information about the Tongan passport scandal that were leaked to Kaniva News and the New Zealand media.
  • The Justice Minister even implied that Australia and New Zealand might be involved in the leaks, claiming that wanted to get access to Tongan Foreign Ministry records.
  • New Zealand has previously condemned Tonga’s sale of passports.
  • Edwards was responding to a report in Kaniva News and on TVNZ last week that the Tongan Ministry of Foreign Affairs was ordered by Prime Minister, Lord Tu’ivakano, to disobey a direct order from the king not to issue passports to a Chinese millionaire, Sien Lee.
  • It is believed  Lee may been issued with 12 passports, including four diplomatic documents.

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Auckland Airport releases 30-year vision

By
Kaniva Pacific
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An underground public transport station and single terminal for all passengers are among the new development efforts that have been revealed by the Auckland Airports authority for expanding the airport capacity.

Adrian Littlewood, Auckland Airport chief executive says, “Our airport of the future will be absolutely world-class – it will be friendly, convenient, efficient and a uniquely New Zealand themed airport serving Australasia and the Pacific Rim.”

Passenger numbers at Auckland Airport are expected to reach 120 million by 2044, and it is forecast that the first phase of the new combined terminal will be built by 2019.

“Our plan is to phase each stage of development to match growth, working closely with local communities, businesses and Auckland Council.”

“We intend building the first phase of the combined domestic and international terminal within five years, and it will be developed around the existing international terminal. It will include facilities for domestic travel at the southern end of the building and international travel at the northern end, and will enable more convenient passenger transfers for both international and domestic passengers.”

“The combined terminal will have three major piers where aircraft will dock. There will be 94 spaces for aircraft to park, a significant increase on the 56 spaces currently available at the two separate terminals.”

“A new terminal plaza and forecourt will be created by the crescent-shaped space in front of the terminal building. It will include an underground station for rapid public transport to the airport, and provide a landscaped area for retail outlets and activities such as public art programmes, temporary displays and events.”

“A new air traffic control tower will be located in the centre of the plaza and a pedestrian and cycle-friendly walkway will link the terminal to hotels, parking buildings and the many businesses and recreational activities located around the airport,” says Mr Littlewood.

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Dr Taufe'ulungaki: Focus on your goals and commit yourself to achieve them

By
Kaniva Pacific
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Hon ‘Ana Ta’ufe’ulungaki was honoured with the University of Auckland’s Distinguished Alumni Award on March 14.

Taufe’ulungaki with five others – Bruce Aitken, Dr Julie Maxton, Gareth Farr, Dr William Tan and Roseanne Liang – were welcome by about 400 guests of the Auckland University Alumni in an enormous marquee in Old Government House gardens.

Tongan Auckland University ex-students surprised the guests by standing up immediately after Taufe'ulungaki presented her speech and left the pordium.

They sang the hymn 'Eiki ko e 'Ofa 'A'au to show their support for Taufe'ulungaki. The performance was received by a warm applause.

Taufe’ulungaki is Tonga’s Minister of Education and she was graduated from the University of Auckland with a BA  majoring in History between 1966 and 1968 before completing a MA in Leeds in 1978. She then went on to complete a PhD at the University of Birmingham in 1988.

"I am totally humbled as it is most unexpected but I am very honoured and proud that I can receive this award on behalf of all the pioneer Polynesian students who paved the way at Auckland University to ensure our of today can also achieve their dreams," she said.

Dr Taufe'ulungaki came to New Zealand in 1964 and attended Epsom Girls Grammar School for two years before starting University in 1966.

It was a very different Campus back then. Dr Taufe'ulungaki says she was one of a small number of Pacific Islands' students at the University at that time. There was very little Pacific cultural activity of any kind.

"I think it was the skill of survival! The academic programme was demanding for a young Pacific islander in those days, and being able simply to survive the three year BA programme was an achievement," she says.

Dr Taufe'ulungaki says the time at the University of Auckland was tough, but it set her up for the rest of her formal study.

"I learned to cope on my own and to rely on my own inner resources. As far as I am concerned the three years at Auckland University were the toughest of my university career. My other studies for my masters' and doctoral degrees in the UK were much easier to cope with. I had learned by then the art of studying and surviving for long periods away from my family and from the familiar context of my own country."

"Focus on your goals and commit yourself to achieve them. No worthwhile goal is ever accomplished without hard work and personal sacrifice," she said.

PM disobeys King’s order over diplomatic passport

By
Kalino Latu
-

E-mails between staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have revealed Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakano ignored King Tupou VI’s warning not to issue any more diplomatic passports to Chinese man Sien Lee.

According to the e-mails, Sien Lee is a close friend of Her Majesty the Queen Mother.

Foreign Affairs staff sought confirmation from the Prime Minister about whether the passports would be issued, reminding him of the king’s warning.

However, the Prime Minister  told Foreign Affairs Secretary Mahe ‘Uli’uli Tupouniua to either issue it or he would bear the consequences.

The Prime Minister ordered Tupouniua to issue  Lee with a diplomatic passport. He warned Lee that he would not be issued with another passport if it is lost it before its expiry date.

It has been revealed that this was the fourth diplomatic passport issued to Lee. He said he had lost two other diplomatic passports which had been issued to him.

It has been also revealed the Prime Minister told Tupouniua not to issue a diplomatic passport to Lee’s wife, Yi Qian Lee.

However, a week later the ministry approved an application for a passport for Lee’s wife.

She was issued with passport number R383792.

The staff e-mails showed they were worried about what would happen when the king found out what had happened.

“It’s the prerogative of the PM to approve the issuance of Dip Ppts. I suggest we abide by his direction at this stage as he made it very clear to me yesterday that we take action or else,” Tupouniua wrote.

Aleteisi Tangi asked Tupouniua what would happen if the king found out they had not obeyed his orders.

“I’d hate to be around when HM Tupou VI, finds out,” Tangi wrote.

Auditor’s report

An auditor’s report revealed that 12 passports were issued to Asians who did not hold naturalisation certificates.

The Tongan constitution stipulates that foreigners who apply for Tongan passports must first be granted letters of naturalisation. This process requires applicants to live in the Kingdom for at least five years before they can apply.

The report said that when auditors asked why these passports had been issued in breach of the passport regulations, they were told directions came from a “higher authority to proceed with processing these applicants.”

The report shows Mr Lee had been issued with eight ordinary Tongan passports since 2005 as well as diplomatic documents. He was issued with the last Tongan ordinary passport in October 2012.

His wife has been issued seven ordinary Tongan passport since 2001. She was last issued with an ordinary passport in January 2012.

“This practice is unacceptable and puts the country’s reputation at risk and should be discontinued immediately,” the auditor’s  report said.

Immigration officer jailed

In a separate case, last week the Tongan Supreme Court sentenced a former senior Tongan Immigration officer and a woman co-accused for the attempted forgery of two Tongan passports.

'Oto Tu'itupou and Sofia Laukau were sentenced by Justice Charles Cato in Nuku'alofa.

 Tu’itupou will serve two-years and six-months while Laukau serves one year and three-months imprisonment at Hu'atolitoli Prison.

Tongan Facebook users have questioned whether the law is being applied equally in all passport-related cases.

Kaniva News has contacted the Prime Minister on his private email but has so far received no response.

We also  made several attempts to obtain comment from the king's Lord Chamberlain,  but the Palace Office did not respond to our emails..

A continuing concern

The issuing of passports by Pacific island nations to Chinese and other Asian nationals has been a matter of concern to citizens, opposition groups and international banking and crime fighting authorities for many years.

As reported in Kaniva News, last year Tongan opposition Leader ‘Akilisi Pohiva tabled a question in Parliament about passports previously issued to the Lees.

According to a recent report on TVNZ, a confidential immigration audit report presented to the Tongan government last year found dozens of diplomatic and ordinary passports had been issued to Chinese citizens. The audit office believes they were not entitled to them.

In some Pacific nations, passports are sold outright. Australian researcher Anthony Fossen has estimated that the sale of passports had raised more than $150 million to island nations.

The main points

  • Leaked documents show the Tongan Prime Minister disobeyed an order from the King not to issue a diplomatic passport to a Chinese man.
  • The Chinese man and his wife have already been issued with 15 Tongan passports.
  • E-mails between staff in the kingdom’s Foreign office show they were being pressured to issue the documents and feared what would happen when the king found out.
  • The issuing – and in some cases sale – of passports by Pacific Islands nations to Chinese and other Asian citizens has been a matter of concern for many years.

For more information

‘Tongan PM caught up in probe into passport irregularities’

’15 Tongan passports issued to Chinese couple’

Fossen, A., 2, ‘Citizenship For Sale: Passports of Convenience From Pacific Island Tax Havens,’ in Commonwealth and Comparative Politics (2007) Volume 45, Number 1

Student charged with attempted murder

By
Kaniva Pacific
-

A student of Tupou College has been charged with attempted murder after a vicious attack in a residence in Tofoa on July 18, 2013.   

He was also charged with attempted arson, unlawfully damaging a building and serious housebreaking.

The student is one of the twenty-four Tupou College students and two adults who have been charged with serious offenses relating to the violent attack.

The two adults have been charged with one count of abetment to rioters unlawfully damaging a building.

The court case had been adjourned to May 5.

The violent attack left a Tonga College  ex-student Taniela Halahuni in a coma and a Tonga College student Daniel Jr. Mahe injured. Both victims have been fully recovered.

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Wellington Tongan community sends second container to Ha'apai

By
Kaniva Pacific
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Wellington’s small but vibrant Tongan community is to be commended for its continuing efforts to help friends and relatives in cyclone-ravaged Tonga, Minister of Pacific Island Affairs Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga says.

Mr Lotu-Iiga was the guest of honour at a fundraising dinner held last night at the James Cook hotel by the Wellington Tongan Leaders Council. The council filled and sent a container of supplies shortly after Cyclone Ian hit Ha’apai in January this year.

“The Council also sent members up to Nuku’alofa to unload, then repack the contents into smaller units for transfer to a local boat which took them on to Ha’apai.

“That’s an admirable level of practical support,’ Mr Lotu-Iiga said.

The Wellington Tongan Leaders Council is now repeating that exercise and fundraising to enable delivery of a second container of supplies to Ha’apai. This will help local people re-establish normal life as soon as possible. Once again, the Council will send up personnel to help repack contents include building materials, gardening supplies and other practical items.

The New Zealand government has donated $2.27 million to the relief and recovery efforts in Tonga. The government has also sent six Tongan-speaking technicians to help restore the electricity network.

Auckland Tongan communities have fundraised and filled 10 containers of relief supplies.

“It is not easy to re-establish your life when hundreds of homes have been damaged and destroyed. I commend the Wellington Tongan Leaders Council for their assistance and support to the people of Ha’apai,” he said.

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