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Lord Tupou trying to politicise sport in Tonga says Sports Institute head

By
Philip Cass
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The director of the National Sports Institute has accused Lord Tupou of trying to politicise sport in the kingdom

‘Ikani Taliai said the president of Tonga’s leading sports body had issued what he called “a fumbling and inaccurate report” of a meeting on May 31 called by the Prime Minister to discuss the government’s relationship with TASANOC.

According to Lord Tupou the meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and acting Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon Semisi Sika, senior staff of MIA as well as nine representatives of the National Federations of Archery, Body Building, Football (Soccer), Rugby League, Netball, Swimming, Va’ a (Outrigger Canoe) , Volleyball and Weightlifting.

He claimed that Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva said the government could no longer work with the TASANOC executive board and suggested it be dissolved.

“This smacks of dictatorial and blatant, political interference with sport,” Lord Tupou said.

“It appears clear to us that the main reason for calling the meeting and expressing your displeasure was because of the legal action by Pacific Games Council (PGC) and TASANOC against Government for unilaterally pulling out of the agreement for Tonga to host the 2019 Pacific Games.

“If you and Government continue with this mission and aim to interfere and dissolve TASANOC, it may result in Tonga’ s suspension from the Olympic Movement and her membership with the lnternational Olympic Committee, the Commonwealth Games Federation and  the Pacific Games Council.”

The Pacific Games Council and TASANOC lodged a claim for millions of dollars of damages against the government last month for its late withdrawal from hosting the 2019 event.

Lord Tupou also denied allegations of financial impropriety by TASANOC, saying it had provided properly audited financial accounts and that overseas donations had been accounted for.

However, the director of the National Sports Institute said he vehemently denied the accuracy of Tupou’s version of what happened at the meeting.

Taliai said the meeting was held to provide the sport federations the chance to discuss their general concerns and the pending court case between the Government of Tonga and TASANOC and the Pacific Games Council.

“It was apparent at the meeting that there was and is a rising discontent amongst many of the membership of TASANOC with their Executive’s performance,” Taliai said.

He said government plans to reform the sports sector of Tonga were being undermined by the misinformation being disseminated.

“The historic poor governance and recent actions of the TASANOC Executive are a destabilising force in a Tonga that is desperate to return the focus of the sports sector back to where it should be – the athletes,” Taliai said.

“The inaccurate description of the purpose of the meeting is a blatant attempt to silence the voices of the sport federations who clearly declared their displeasure with the TASANOC Executive during the meeting.”

Reports say 21 kg illicit drugs seized in Ha’apai

By
Kaniva Staff
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Police in Ha’apai have seized 21 kilograms of illicit drugs, local news media reports said this week.

The details of the seizure and the drugs were still unknown.

Radio FM 87.5 broadcaster Siaosi Lavaka reported the seizure on the station’s 5pm news bulletin on Monday but did not give any further details.

Nuku’alofa Police had been contacted for comment.

The seizure came after Tonga Police seized about $2m of methamphetamine at Fua’amotu Airport last month.

A 59-year-old man was arrested after the seizure of 1.9kg of meth which has a street value of  about $2 million pa’anga.

Sione Suli appears in court in USA hammer attack

By
Kaniva Staff
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29-year-old Sione Suli Jr of Vancouver appeared in a US county court on Tuesday last week for a potential charge of first-degree assault, stemming from his alleged attack with a hammer on a passerby.

Suli entered the Clark County Superior Court courtroom wearing a suicide-prevention smock. Judge Bernard Veljacic appointed a defense attorney to represent Suli, who appeared confused when the prosecutor asked three times to verify his name, local news media reports.

Senior Deputy Prosecutor James Smith said Suli has prior convictions for violent crimes. Smith asked for and was granted a bail of $350,000 in the case. He also noted that Suli may suffer from mental health issues.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Suli’s wife said he has bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

She said she and Suli were in their front yard Monday afternoon when Suli attacked the man, according to the affidavit.

A deputy said the victim had been struck with a hammer, and Suli threw the tool into a nearby yard.

A quick-thinking young woman jumped in action Monday afternoon to help the vicrim deputies said was attacked by a neighbor in Hazel Dell.

According to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, the attack occurred near Northwest 18th Avenue and 96th Street around 12:30 p.m.

The woman says she heard yelling outside and found a man lying in the street, bleeding heavily from his head. She says she thought he was going to die–so she and her grandmother, a war medic, jumped in to help.

“There was so much blood,” Reneasha Ahlstrand said.

Ahlstrand attempted first aid, which she says she learned in the Girl Scouts, as she waited for medics to arrive.

“I had my hand on his head, trying to stop the bleeding, and I kept screaming for the ladies to get me towels, get me water, but they were in shock, you know,” Ahlstrand said.

The sheriff’s office said the man was attacked by a neighbor who lives across the street.

The victim told deputies the suspect attacked him with a hammer. Investigators are still trying to confirm what, if anything, he was hit with.

Ahlstrand said she sat with the man until medics arrived on scene.

“I kept telling him, ‘honey, please don’t move, just please stay still’ … I thought he was going to die, I was terrified,” Ahlstrand said.

When medics arrived, they rushed the man to an area hospital, where they say he is being treated for life-threating injuries.

Ahlstrand said she prays that everything works out for the better.

“I just hope that he is okay,” Ahlstrand said. “They told me which hospital he went to and I’m probably going to call later, or go by and see if he is alright.”

Deputies said they have arrested 30-year-old Sione Suli in connection to the case.

They believe Suli may suffer from mental illness and said he is being held at the Clark County Jail, where he faces an assault charge.

The Clark County Major Crimes Unit is assisting patrol deputies with the investigation. No other details were released, including a possible motive.

 

Woman run over by her own car in Auckland, seriously injured trying to stop thief

By
Kaniva Staff
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A woman was run over by her own car in West Auckland and seriously injured as she tried to stop a young female taking it.

Police are appealing to the public for information relating to an aggravated wounding at a residential address on Royal Rd, Massey late Tuesday 19 June.

Just before midnight a female offender entered a house on Royal Rd and took the owner’s car keys for her car, which was parked in the driveway, Detective Senior Sergeant Callum McNeill said.

The home owner has woken to hear her car starting and the offender trying to manoeuvre the car down the driveway.

The 58-year-old victim has attempted to stop the offender by getting into the front passenger seat of her car and received serious injuries and was taken to hospital.

The offender left the car and ran off down Royal Rd.

Police now believe the female offender had been breaking into other cars in the area and ask the public to come forward with any information which may lead to the arrest of this person.

The offender has been described as a young Maori or Polynesian female of slim build with long brown hair parted in the middle.

We’d like to reassure the community we are doing everything we can to apprehend this offender.

If you have any information that could help our investigation, please contact Waitemata Crime Squad on (09) 839 0697.

Alternatively, information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Roaming cow shot dead; residents warned to keep Neiafu clean

By
Kaniva Staff
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A cow had been shot dead in Neiafu, Vava’u on Tuesday by Neiafu town officer Vava Lapota.

Lapota has confirmed the deadly shooting to Kaniva News and said he has already warned cow owners to stop allowing their cattle to roam the capital town or face shooting.

He said the dead cow was one of a herd of about 20 wandering cows which has been causing unrest in Neiafu.

He described the situation as “unwise.”

He said he had been trying his best to keep the area clean and tidy but some residents did not want to support it.

The Neiafu incident came after we reported seven cows were shot dead while damaging a watermelon garden in ‘Utui last year.

At the time, three cows belonging to a livestock farmer of Pangaimotu were also shot dead after they wandered onto a tax allotment.

It appears that roaming of cows in Neiafu particularly in the evening and early in the morning was typical.

But Lapota said time has changed and cow owners have to consider supporting the call to keep the town clean and tidy.

It is understood residents in Neiafu and outer Vava’u islands had raised the issue with their Members of Parliament during the recent general election campaign.

At the time the Minister of Health Saia Piukala, the MP for Vava’u 14 told Kaniva news he had asked the owners of animals to make sure they could control their animals.

He believed the problems would not be resolved soon so he advised his constituents the best thing for them to do was to put their animals into enclosures.

Vava’u residents react with fury at fishing ban as accused free to leave Tonga

By
Kalino Latu
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Vava’u residents are furious after being banned from fishing after an Australian businessman allegedly dumped human and hazardous waste in the mangroves near Pangaimotu.

Leaked e-mails obtained by Kaniva News showed people of Pangaimotu ask why their only source of livelihood had been endangered.

An inspection by the Health Authority following the dump allegedly found infectious disease from the waste germs in the sea near the dumping site.

Ian Jones was fined by a court in Vava’u this week and ordered to pay a TP$1000 fine. The court also ordered that his confiscated passport be returned.

The Pangaimotu residents have organised a protest march to the governor’s office in Neiafu.

An e-mail by a person known as Lucy Fa’anunu from the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC) office in Neiafu said the people of Pangaimotu contacted her and asked when were they going to be allowed to fish in the sea.

It was not clear what the government has done to resolve the problem.

An e-mail from the Minister of MEIDECC Hon Poasi Tei at 12.34pm today June 20 said Jones has been fined by court and told to pay TP$1000.

“Hon Ministers, Latest update from Lucy. Court decision for Ian to pay $1,000. Guess he’s free to go,” Hon Tei e-mailed.

The message was the latest in a previous series of e-mails which appeared to show how the authorities had been concerned about Mr Jones action.

An e-mail from a lawyer at the Crown Law Office on June 17 seen by Kaniva News read: “Ian Jones has been charged in Vava’u, with dumping hazardous waste, and dumping waste which cause pollution under the Waste Management (Litter and Waste Control) Regulations 2016.”

“An order prohibiting Mr Jones from departing from Tonga has been issued by the Magistrate’s Court in Vava’u, and the order has been deposited with Immigration Tonga.”

One e-mail said in Tongan: “Please do something for the bad action this palangi man has done.”

Another read: “Thank you for all the assistance as long as Ian does not get away with what he did providing enough time for the prosecutor to collect required information before the trial.”

“CEO, this case is taking a huge burden on me emotionally and the stress is very high,” another read.

Ian Jones describes himself on Facebook as manager of the Vava’u Villa Hotel, Bar and Restaurant. He lives in Neiafu, Vava’u.

He and wife Vanessa also owned the vanilla farm of Vava’u Villa.

“The owners Ian and Vanessa Jones had worked as corporates in Auckland, New Zealand, decided to leave their hectic life and start a coconut farm in Tonga.”

According to a post on Facebook yesterday in which Mr Jones was tagged, the Vanilla Grower Association in Vava’u hosted a feast to farewell him as he was about to leave for London this week.

Student forced to remove ta‘ovala in USA

By
Kaniva Staff
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A Tongan teen in Utah, California said he was forced to remove his ta’ovala before walking with his classmates at his high school graduation.

Finehafo’ou Malohifo’ou was told by a graduation administrator if he did not remove his ta’ovala, he would not be permitted to walk in the ceremony at Westlake High School.

“He slid off the mat, pinned his name to it so he could pick it up after the ceremony and got back in line, zipping his gown,” Fox4 KC reports.

“He was now last behind 900 other students.”

“It would have meant a lot to wear it,” Malohifo’ou said, reflecting on his May 31 graduation. “I know it means a lot to my family.”

The ta’ovala is a woven mat-like skirt worn by Tongan men and women in formal occasions. He said it was a sign of his culture, and he wore it to honor his family.

According to Fine, the dress code for the occasion prohibited leis and any other item covering the graduation robe, but said nothing about what was to be worn under it.

He hopes that by speaking out about the experience, the Alpine School District will reconsider the policy.

Church building on fire in Tongatapu

By
Kalino Latu
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Smoke was seen billowing out of a church at Haveluliku this morning.

The building belonged to the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga.

There were no reported injuries.

Local broadcaster Mapa Ha’angana, who uploaded photos from the scene to Facebook said the fire started at about 9am.

He said some family members were in the house but they managed to escape before the fire became uncontrolled.

It is understood the burnt property was an old building and the church has just completed building a new house for its church minister.

Fire Service has been contacted for comment.

China says Pacific debt claims “ridiculous” after Julie Bishop raises concerns

By
Kaniva Staff
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SYDNEY MORNING HERALD / PACNEWS

China’s ambassador has branded “ridiculous” the idea that Beijing is threatening
the sovereignty of small Pacific nations by building infrastructure that saddles them with unsustainable debt.

His comments followed remarks by Foreign Minister Julie Bishop that the Australian government was concerned some Chinese financing arrangements in the Pacific would damage the island nations sovereignty and that Australia would
offer alternatives to Chinese infrastructure development.

Speaking in Canberra, ambassador Cheng Jingye indicated he was not aware of Bishop’s remarks but said the proposition China was creating so-called debt-traps for small nations was “ridiculous”.

“We have a growing economic co-operation with some of the island countries. They are on [an] equal footing and I think it’s mutually beneficial, as has been said by the local people – both the local people and both the government,” he said.

“The fact is there. I hope any comment will be made based on fact, rather than speculation.”

Cheng, who was at Parliament House on Tuesday morning to address an Australia China Business Council event, was trailed by waiting media for much of his way out the building, facing questions on tensions between Australia and China.

Bishop told Fairfax Media Australia on Monday Australia was concerned about the economic viability of small Pacific nations and did not want unsustainable debt burdens imposed on them.

“They are sovereign nations,” she said. “We want to ensure that they retain their sovereignty, that they have sustainable economies and that they are not trapped into unsustainable debt outcomes. The trap can then be a debt-for-equity swap and they have lost their sovereignty.”

She said Australia should take “a very proactive role” in offering Pacific nations alternatives to Chinese projects.

“What we don’t want is for countries to have no other options,” she said.

Sri Lanka last year handed over a large, strategic port to a Chinese company under a debt-for-equity swap after it was unable to meet loan repayments to China.

Cheng said China was “sensitive to any possible debt burden”. And asked whether China was deliberately overburdening countries with debt to ensnare them, Cheng said the proposition was “absurd”.

He also refused to say whether Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull would be invited to visit China this year. It has been widely expected he would visit, and any slippage of that plan would be seen as a diplomatically bruising development.

Speaking at the same forum, Turnbull insisted the relationship – including strong economic ties – was better than was often shown in political and public debate.

“You’ll see in the media, and sometimes you'll see from politicians – and I know there’s been a bit of negativity expressed by my political opponents in the course of today’s sessions – a lot more negativity presented than is actually
the case.”

“I think there are discussions about bilateral exchanges at different levels. When there is any news, I will let you know.

There are discussions,” he said.

Earlier in a speech to the Australia China Business Council, Cheng said there needed to be “less bias and bigotry” in the relationship between the two countries, though afterwards he refused to say where these qualities lay.

He said there were “some difficulties, obviously”, in the relationship.

Labour foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong told the conference the major parties should avoid fighting over the China relationship. She said there would be differences with China from time to time but “the government should try and not make things worse”.

Papua New Guinea’s deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer, Charles Abel, told the Lowy Institute on Monday night that while Chinese aid and investment was providing opportunities to his country, it was also presenting challenges that Australia needed to help “balance”.

“Whilst we appreciate the interaction with China, there remains some concerns in terms of the way they do conduct business,” he said.

Kaniva Tonga News has a republication arrangement with PACNEWS

Tonga hosts UN regional meeting for Pacific small islands

By
Kaniva Staff
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Officials from small island developing States in the Pacific region are meeting in the Tongan capital Nuku’alofa to review progress in implementing the SAMOA Pathway – the dedicated programme of action for small island developing States (SIDS).

In declaring the meeting open this morning, the Prime Minister of Tonga, Hon. Samuela ‘Akilisi Pōhiva, said “We are gathered here in Tonga at a critical juncture in terms of our common interests in the sustainable development of our islands.  As we approach the 5th year since the world came together in Samoa in 2014 and endorsed the SAMOA Pathway, it is critical that we recall the mandate of the Conference . . . especially in light of related international and regional processes that have come to be, after the fact.”

“This regional meeting is highly important for small island developing States in the Pacific as it helps to chart the future direction of sustainable development for island nations in the region. Tonga has therefore played a critical role in this process.  I am certain that the outcomes will add great value to our collective efforts in supporting the sustainable development aspirations of Small Island Developing States in the Pacific and beyond,” said Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States.

The three-day meeting from 19-21 June is an occasion to discuss achievements, challenges and gaps in the first five years of implementing the SAMOA Pathway and to agree on an outcome for accelerating implementation in the region. Substantive discussions are expected to take place in areas including: social inclusion, environment, equitable economic growth as well as addressing gaps in implementation through partnerships.  Addressing linkages between the implementation of the SAMOA Pathway and the wider 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goals are also on the meeting agenda.

On the margins of the regional meeting, a dedicated partnerships dialogue will also be held for various stakeholders from governments, private sector and civil society to assess the status of SIDS-specific partnerships which were launched at the 2014 SIDS Conference in Samoa.

The Midterm Review of the SAMOA Pathway will take place in 2019 to review all major commitments of the last five years through a SIDS lens – from the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals, to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Paris Climate Change Agreement, the New Urban Agenda, and the outcomes of the 2017 Ocean Conference – and how living up to these commitments will help accelerate the implementation of the SAMOA Pathway.

The regional meeting is being hosted by the Government of the Kingdom of Tonga and co-organised by the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs with support from the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and the United Nations and the United Nations Development Programme.

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