Tonga’s deputy prime minister Sione Vuna Fā’otusia has been acquitted of charges of wrongful interference with the course of justice and using threatening language to police officers in a dispute over a stolen cow.
The Minister successfully argued there was no case for him to answer, local media have reported.
Crown prosecutors have appealed the magistrate’s acquittal decision.
Fā’otusia, the MP for Tongatapu 7 was charged after an incident that occurred on 12 January 2019.
The court was told a police officer stole a cow from Fua’amotu and sold it to a butchery in Ha’ateiho.
The owner of the cow complaint to police and an
investigation was under way.
Police investigators together with the owner of the cow finally found the cow at a tax allotment belonged to the owner of the butchery. When told by police they have to take the cow with them the butcher refused and said he wanted his money back from the police officer.
The police investigators anyway removed the cow and returned it to the owner. The butcher, a Tongatapu 7 constituent, then complained to the Minister.
The Minister is then alleged to have called the police investigators and used threatening language, including swearing at them for taking the cow.
It is understood the police officer who sold the stolen cow has been suspended from his duty.
He was charged with theft and accepting money as an inducement to refrain from doing his duty as a police officer.
Tonga was committed to carrying out its responsibilities under international maritime law, Minister for Infrastructure and Tourism ‘Akosita Havili Lavulavu said today.
The Minister also
warned of the dangers of global warming and praised the International Maritime
Organisation for regulating greenhouse has emissions in shipping.
She also praised the role of women in the international maritime industry.
Hon.
Lavulavu said Tonga had improved its relationship with the International
Maritime Organisation following an audit by the World Bank.
“The Technical assistance from IMO and development partners will always be welcomed and highly appreciated,” Hon. Lavulavu said.
The
Minister acknowledged there were still many real challenges in complying with
international maritime laws.
Despite
this, safety, security and the role of ships’ crews in the orderly conduct of global
trade were of paramount interest to Tonga.
A Government National Maritime Policy had been established, through technical assistance provided by the World Bank so that all maritime sectors work together.
The Minister also warned of the dangers of global warming and praised the
International Maritime Organisation for regulating greenhouse has emissions in
shipping.
“Customarily,
maritime
safety and navigation, port and infrastructure development, transport policy,
environmental protection, fisheries, security, customs,
maritime tourism and border control, fall within
different departments and ministries
and often there is little to no co-ordination,” the Minister said.
“We
have since rectified the situation.”
She said sharing information and helped decision making and reduced the wastage of limited resources by preventing duplication.
Women
Hon. Lavulavu praised the
IMO for the theme ‘Empowering Women in the Maritime Community.’
Tonga was committed to
this theme He said the Ministry responsible for the maritime division, and the
Permanent mission to the IMO were led by women.
Climate change
Pacific Island states may cease to exist because of climate change, the
Minister said.
He
commended the IMO for taking a leading role on climate change, by regulating
greenhouse gas emissions in shipping.
“Shipping companies and shipowners have risen admirably to the challenge in addressing climate change issues, in partnership with IMO,” the Minister said.
“Without
their endorsement and assistance, IMO will face a greater challenge in
achieving its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
“Tonga
will enormously benefit from establishing global mitigation, and adapting relevant
measures to address climate change, for our immediate survival.”
Cyber-security
Tonga
appreciates the IMO’s plan to be a ‘knowledge based’ organisation to meet the challenges
and related modern technology issues, such as cyber security with transnational
criminal activities, and autonomous vessels.
“No
doubt, there will be changes in the Organization’s management practices and in
working relationships with Member States,” the Minister said.
“We
will meet the new and unexpected challenges head-on, and manage them
successfully, and effectively.
“It is welcomed with perhaps, a sigh of
relief, for Tonga (and other SIDS) that IMO has plans to improve the implementation
of the existing regulatory regime.
“This is a comprehensive regulatory regime,
that
covers the whole life of a vessel, from start to finish, and its operational
environment.
“We will stand together with other Member
States in meeting our responsibilities, prescribed under international maritime
laws.
“We will need all of the help in
implementing the international maritime laws, and to comply with all
requirements.”
Sustainable
development
Tonga
was strongly committed to achieving the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development and associated Sustainable Development Goals,
the Minister said.
It
supported the IMO’s plans to achieve those commitments.
“This is clearly reflected in the annual IMO’s World Maritime Day theme approved for 2020 – ‘Sustainable Shipping for a Sustainable Planet,” she said.
“A sustainable maritime sector will support
Tonga’s trade and economic activities and at the same time assist in the
fulfilment of its obligations on individual SDGs.”
Siaosi Pohiva has declared victory in the Tongatapu 1 by-election after he secured the democrats’ seat over his opponent Dr Netatua Pelesikoti Taufatofua by 16 votes.
Siaosi won 1160 votes against 1144 for Dr Taufatofua.
The election was held to fill the vacancy left by the death of former Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva, Siaosi’s father.
Dr Taufatofua lost to the former Prime Minister in 2017. ‘Akilisi won it by 1376 votes.
Siaosi is an educational assessment specialist who has worked for the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.
A total of 4,382 voters have registered for the election.
This is 126 more than registered for the general election in 2017.
The finding eases blame on ship owners who were accused of being part of a sabotage plot after a dragging anchor left Tonga with drastically limited internet and phone services for 12 days.
The incident on 24 January sparked widespread panic and cost Tonga an estimated $US200,000.
Police launched an investigation in February to assess whether the damage to the cable was deliberate or accidental. A report was due back in July but police have refused to release the document or comment on the investigation.
A police spokesperson could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.
However, a May briefing prepared by New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) said the report “concludes there was no foul play and a ship had dragged its anchor”. The briefing, which was obtained under the Official Information Act, did not include a copy of the report.
The owners of the ship – identified by Tonga as the Duzgit Venture – have said they were assisting investigations.
RNZ Pacific reported in August that the Turkey-based Duzgit had previously admitted it could have “trapped a cable with its anchor” in Tonga on the day the internet cable was cut. Duzgit could not immediately be reached to comment for this story.
The director of Tonga Cable, which manages Tonga’s internet cable, Paula Piukala told RNZ Pacific in July that the ship’s actions were “intentional” and “clearly sabotage” by a powerful but unknown actor, but has not provided any evidence to support his claims.
Mr Piukala did not respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.
Tonga’s Police Minister, Mateni Tapueluelu, has said Tonga’s government would seek costs against anyone responsible for the cable cut. Mr Tapueluelu did not respond to requests for comment.
“It is likely the government will seek compensation from the shipping company,” the May MFAT briefing said.
The Chair of Tonga Advisory Council in Auckland Melino Maka has been mocked after New Zealand police announced his complaint has been closed without anybody being charged.
Maka has been also accused of attempting to make malicious allegations against the democrat supporters (PTOA) after he linked them to the online threats against Prime Minister Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa.
The PTOA supporters have denied any involvement.
Maka laid the complaint last week saying the threats had upset many members of Tonga’s community in New Zealand.
As we reported last week, the complaint was made after what appeared to have been part of a post on Facebook alleging there was a threat to also kill Hon Tu’i’onetoa’s political colleague ‘Etuate Lavulavu.
In a statement on Wednesday, police said they spoke to the person involved and found they were “remorseful and meant no harm”.
A police spokesperson said threatening a person was a serious crime that could result in prosecution.
“This is true regardless of who is making the threat or what medium they use. Making these threats can cause serious harm to the victims, whether it is acted upon or not.”
Maka took to Facebook last week and posted a comment which was accompanied by a screenshot of what appeared to be the original post on which he based his complaint to Police.
In that
screenshot the threat was made by a person who goes by the name of Moana
Fameitau.
Maka told his followers he had been busy that “morning with calls
from our community here in NZ about this threat to kill Hon Tu’ionetoa (PM
Kingdom of Tonga) and Lavulavu.”
When Tonga Broadcasting Commission asked how many callers he received Maka said there were four of them.
He also accused the PTOA advocates of making the threat.
“To the NZ PTOA committee, like it or not
you have to understand and respect democracy. So you have now deal with the
police,” Maka wrote.
But a PTOA spokesperson in Auckland denied
any involvement and said the poster was not a member of their group.
The PTOA advocates have applauded the closure with many saying the complaint was made in jest and it should have not been addressed by Police.
In the PTOA chatroom on Facebook, of which has been viewed by Kaniva news, the supporters welcomed the New Zealand police’s announcement that the case had been closed.
“It should have been thrown to the rubbish
bin in the first place,” a messenger wrote.
“Shame on you Melino,” another wrote.
“Police should then investigate Maka,” a commenter wrote.
Her Royal Highness Princess Angelika Tuku’aho has become patron of the United Nations Population Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) for the Pacific.
She’s also patron of the Nairobi Summit on ICPD25, a high-level conference that aims to mobilize the political will and financial commitments necessary to implement the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) programme of action.
“UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and
reproductive health agency. Our mission is to deliver a world where every
pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s
potential is fulfilled.”
Her Royal Highness led a Tongan delegation and Pacific participation to the Nairobi Summit and ICPD25 in Kenya on 12-15 November 2019, a statement said.
It said the Under-Secretary General and Executive Director for UNFPA Dr Natalia Kanem visited Tonga in February 2019 and she personally sought the approval of the royal family and government for the princess’ new role.
“Her Royal
Highness, is looking forward to engaging and to champion the work of UNPA in
Tonga and the Pacific to set of global commitments that would collectively
advance the ICPD agendas and for sustainable development through genuine and
durable partnership.”
UNFPA’s Pacific Sub-Regional Office, located in Fiji, assists 14 countries and territories: the Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. The office additionally provides technical assistance to Papua New Guinea.
Princess Angelika served as Tonga High Commissioner in Canberra since 2012 and advocating for government to achieve National Plan TSDF II2012-2025, Samoa Pathway, Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals, in collaborations with other governments including Australia and partners.
Sacked chair of the Shared Communication Boards Piveni Piukala said the Prime Minister had not provided enough evidence to justify his recommendation to suspend three TBC staff members.
The
Tongan Broadcasting Commission has cited a letter of termination sent to
Piukala in which his refusal to suspend the three officers was given as a
reason for his sacking.
TBC
said the grounds for the termination in the termination letter were
incompetence, failure to assist the Public Enterprises to act according to its
principal objective and acting in bad faith.
The
Broadcaster said the termination
followed Piukala’s decision to decline to the PM order to suspend three staff
members and investigate them for alleged misconduct.
The
staff members are two news reporters Salamo Fulivai, Vilisoni Tu’inia and the
Station Manager Setita Tu’i’onetoa.
Piukala
said if sufficient evidence had been provided he would have sacked the staff
members straight away.
The
Prime Minister claimed that Piukala’s actions had caused the broadcaster’s business to be carried out in a
manner likely to create a substantial risk of serious loss to TBC’s customer’s
and government.
This
morning’s statement widens the controversy surrounding Piukala’s dismissil from
several government positions.
Kaniva news reported yesterday that Prime
Minister Tu’i’onetoa said Piukala has been removed as chair of the Shared
Communication Boards because of underperformance.
The
Shared Communication Boards included the Tonga Broadcasting Commission (TBC),
Tonga Communication Cooperation (TCC), and the Tonga Post & Fast Print Ltd
(TPFPL).
The
government had already revoked his appointment as head of the government’s
electronics reform programme.
The
main points
Sacked chair of the Shared Communication Boards Piveni
Piukala said this morning the Prime Minister had not provided enough evidence
to justify his recommendation to suspend three TBC staff members.
The Tongan Broadcasting Commission has cited a letter of
termination sent to Piukala in which his refusal to suspend the three officers
was given as a reason for his sacking.
For
more information
Director of Shared
Communication Boards Piveni Piukala fired, PM says he was ‘incompetent’
(NZ) Manukau police have arrested and charged two men after a serious assault that has left a Tongan man in a coma.
The pair were arrested yesterday and will be appearing in the Manukau District Court on 3 December.
A 36-year-old man has been charged with wounding with reckless disregard for the safety of others, and a second man, aged 45, with assault.
As Kaniva news reported last month, the assault was caught on CCTV and was featured on Police Ten 7 programme and has also been uploaded to Facebook video clip.
Police said their first suspect “threw a cowardly punch, instantly knocking out the victim.”
He was then seen walking off down the East Tamaki road, Papatoetoe.
The second suspect saw the victim on the ground and slapped him on his head while the victim was still unconscious, Police said.
Kaniva news can reveal that the victim’s name was Sioeli ‘Otukolo.
Investigators appealed through Police Ten 7 earlier this month about the incident which happened outside Weighbridge bar in Papatoetoe in the early hours of Sunday, 13 October.
” Information from Police Ten 7 viewers combined with detective work has led to the arrests of two men in relation to an alleged serious assault in Papatoetoe which hospitalised a man with head injuries. “
Police thank Police Ten 7 and the public for their help. The victim has been advised of the arrests.
Trees that blocked the Lupepau’u airport runway this
afternoon have now been cleared.
The airport services are returning to normal tonight, a statement said.
It said a suspension to airport services had been due “to trees and obstacles infringing the approach areas from the sides of the runway (i.e the Leimatu’a and Holonga side).”
Works conducted to remove these trees and obstacles are now confirmed to be completed, it said.
“The Civil Aviation Division of the Ministry of Infrastructure wishes to thank the people of Leimatu’a and Holonga for their cooperation and support that enable this project to proceed smoothly till the end.”
