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End child marriage campaigners want restrictions on sexual taboo to be eased

By
Kalino Latu
-

Campaigners in Tonga who wanted to end child marriage said they want the kingdom’s taboo on speaking freely about sex to be eased.

Tonga’s Ministry of Justice and the Talitha Project launched a campaign to end child marriage last month.

The ‘Let Girls be Girls!’ campaign calls for repealing sections of the law that permit children to marry before the age of 18 – as early as age 15 – if they have parental permission.

The call comes as the Ministry of Justice is consulting on amendments to marriage laws, including raising the marriage age.

Amelia Kinahoi Siamomua of Talitha project referred to the Tongan cultural respect known as faka’apa’apa implying it has restricted children from talking openly to their parents when they were sexually abused. She said this is one of the things that leads parents to support childhood marriages.

She said some child marriages in Tonga had occurred after under age girls had been abused.

Siamomua told Tonga Broadcasting News services embarrassment over such cases meant they were not reported.

She said they wanted girls to grow up and get the education that would give them more opportunities in life.

There had been more than 100 marriages of children in Tonga in the past two years.

“Girls have often been compelled by parents to marry, sometimes because of teenage pregnancy, or simply because they were seen with boy,” Human Rights Watch online reported.

“Locals have also documented cases where girls were forced to marry their rapists”.

Ending child marriage was the right thing to do.

“Research consistently shows that child marriage is deeply harmful to children,” the website said.

“When girls marry young, they often have early pregnancies which put them and their babies at risk of serious health consequences, including death.”

Married girls had a heightened risk of violence, including marital rape, domestic violence, and emotional abuse.

They often left school permanently, denying them the right to education and increasing chances that they and their children would live in poverty.

She said there was a global movement to end child marriage.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals adopted in 2015 includes a commitment for all countries to end child marriage by 2030.

Countries such as Malawi and Nepal were moving ahead with anti-child marriage legislative efforts and many other countries were developing, national action plans to achieve the goal.

According to the United Nations Population Fund Child marriage is a human rights violation.

In developing countries, one in every three girls is married before reaching 18. One in nine is married under age 15.

The main points

  • Campaigners in Tonga who wanted to end child marriage said they want the kingdom’s taboo on speaking freely about sex to be eased.
  • Tonga’s Ministry of Justice and the Talitha Project launched a campaign to end child marriage last month.
  • The ‘Let Girls be Girls!’ campaign calls for repealing sections of the law that permit children to marry before the age of 18 – as early as age 15 – if they have parental permission.
  • The call comes as the Ministry of Justice is consulting on amendments to marriage laws, including raising the marriage age.

For more information

Child marriage in Tonga “shocking,” Lord Tuʻiʻāfitu says, questions power of Tongan law

“I won’t support any law to allow child marriage”, says PM Pōhiva

Gisborne crash driver pleads not guilty to death, injury, charges

By
Philip Cass
-

The driver of a bus which crashed near Gisborne on Christmas Eve last year has pleaded not guilty to charges of killing three people and injuring 27 others.

Talakai Aholelei, 65, appeared in the Manukau District Court today.

He was charged with three counts of careless driving causing death and 27 charges of careless driving causing injury.

Aholelei, who was represented  by Nalesoni Tupou,  was remanded to appear in the Waitakere District Court on July 25.

A large contingent of the Tongan community were at court today.

Aholelei was driving a bus carrying members of the Mailefihi Siu’ilikutapu College brass, which was raising money for the Tongan school’s 70th anniversary.

The bus was carrying 53 members and supporters.

The group had been heading to Gisborne’s Wesleyan Methodist Church for a performance.

The bus went off the road about 30km south of Gisborne and plunged down an embankment.

Those killed in the crash, or who died from their injuries later, were school teacher Leotisia Malakai, 33 years-old Talita Fifita and 11 years-old Sione Taumalolo.

The survivors were later flown to Auckland. Memorial services were held in Gisborne and Auckland.

Following the crash, about NZ$70,000 was raised for the survivors from a Givealittle page and a concert.

The main points

  • The driver of a bus which crashed near Gisbourne on Christmas Eve last year has pleaded not guilty to charges of killing three people and injuring 27 others.
  • Talakai Aholelei, 65, appeared in the Manukau District Court today.
  • A large contingent of the Tongan community were at court today.
  • Those killed in the crash, or who died from their injuries later, were school teacher Leotisia Malakai, 33 years-old Talita Fifita and 11 year-old Sione Taumalolo.

For more information 

Gisborne bus crash driver Talakai Aholelei pleads not guilty 

Gisborne bus crash – Tongan school group leader dies

New Zealand Pacific Access Category quotas to be drawn by ballot today

By
Kaniva Staff
-

The New Zealand Pacific Access Category quotas will be drawn by ballot today.

650 places are available under the Pacific Access Category for nationals from Tonga (250), Fiji (250), Tuvalu (75) and Kiribati (75).

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) Assistant General Manager Geoff Scott says around 10,500 registrations were received this year under the Pacific Access Category quotas.

The PAC quota ballot results will be announced on 16 June 2017.

Those who are successful in being drawn from the ballot will be contacted directly by INZ about how and by when they are required to complete and lodge their formal residence visa applications.

There are another 1,100 places available under the Samoan Quota for Samoan nationals. This year the Samoan Quota ballot will be drawn on 30 June and results will be announced on 7 July.

100 days taboo following Queen Halaevalu Mataʻaho’s death lifted

By
Kalino Latu
-

The 100-day-taboo imposed after the death of late Queen Mother Halaevalu Mata’aho was lifted tonight.

Kava club and band members of the Fōfōʻanga gathered at Māhinafekite royal residence this evening performing Tongan hiva kakala (songs) as part of the lifting ceremony.

There were noises and an air of joy at royal residences tonight as they marked 100 days since the matriarch’s death.

Known as fakamalele, the practice means people, especially the immediate family of the late Queen Mother, are allowed to enjoy whatever entertainment they wanted to the full.

As it was traditionally exercised after the death of monarchs, the 100-day-taboo meant everybody in Tonga had to follow certain restrictions until the days were over.

People had to wear black clothes, businesses were closed down, performing hiva kakala was prohibited and public entertainments were not allowed.

His Majesty King Tupou VI reformed the traditional taboo after His late brother King George V died in 2012.

He announced that the public was exempted from the 100-days-taboo and said it was restricted to the royal family, the nobility and their immediate families only.

The late Queen Mother died in Auckland on February 19 aged 90 after a short illness.

She had two sons who became kings, George Tupou V and Tupou VI.

She married late King Tupou IV and they had four children.

Born on 29 May 1926, she was the daughter of Heuifanga Veikune and Noble ‘Ahome’e Manuopangai.

The  main points

  • The 100-day-taboo imposed after the death of late Queen Mother Halaevalu Mata’aho was lifted tonight.
  • Kava club and band members of the Fofo’anga gathered at Mahina Fekite royal residence this evening performing Tongan hiva kakala (songs) as part of the lifting ceremony.
  • The late Queen Mother died in Auckland in February after a short illness.

For more information

Tauanga’a: Foreigners clothe their respect for Queen Mother in Tongan culture

Body of Siaosi Brown recovered after he went missing in Bell Canyon Creek, Utah,United States

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By Gephardt Daily Staff

SANDY, Utah, June 6, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — The body of a 22-year-old man who fell into the creek just below the first waterfall in Bell Canyon on Sunday night has been recovered, police said.

Siaosi Brown was located in the lower falls of Bell Canyon at 8:30 a.m. Monday by the Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter, said Unified Police Department in a tweet. Dangerously high water levels forced recovery crews to halt their operation until Tuesday.

iA follow-up tweet Tuesday morning said Brown’s body has now been recovered. “He has been flown to the landing zone and is being reunited with his family,” said the tweet from the UPD.

The family of Brown also released a statement via the UPD. “The family would like to thank everyone for the assistance in locating and retrieving their brother,” the short statement said. “They see what everyone is doing for them and appreciate it all but they are grieving and want that time to grieve.”

The UPD added this recovery was one of the toughest and most technical that search and rescue crews have experienced.

UPD spokesman Lt. Brian Lohrke said Brown’s friends saw him go under the water without resurfacing at approximately 9 p.m. Sunday.

Search and rescue crews were on scene for several hours, with the Utah DPS helicopter assisting. The search was called off shortly before 11 p.m. and resumed at 7 a.m. Monday.

A GoFundMe page has been set up by family friends to benefit Brown, which as of 10:30 a.m. Tuesday had raised $6,745 of a $7,500 goal.

The page said: “You are probably aware by now that our beloved mission son and brother Siaosi Brown died in a tragic hiking accident. He was an outstanding missionary, a remarkable mission leader, and a true friend to all of us. He had a great vision of the Lord’s work and now has the opportunity to continue doing missionary work in the spirit world.

One year after vowing its support for Games, Pohiva asks PGC to find another host

By
Philip Cass
-

It is just under a year since the Tongan Government assured the Pacific Games Council that it was fully committed to hosting the 2019 Games.

But yesterday the Tongan government said it would stand by its decision to not host the regional sporting event.

Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva made the announcement during a meeting with Pacific Games Council president Vidhya Lakhan.

Mr Lakhan asked for a meeting with the government to see whether it would change its mind about withdrawing from the Games.

Hon. Pohiva asked the PGC to endorse the Government’s decision and to consider having another country host the 2019 Games.

Samoa has already lodged a submission to host the Games in place of Tonga.

In reiterating the government’s decision, the Prime Minister once again cited economic reasons as the basis for withdrawing.

He based his original shock decision on a 2013 report on the consequences of holding the Games.

During the meeting with Mr Lakhan Hon. Pohiva said there were more important matters in Tonga which  needed the government’s attention.

In late June 2016, Mr Lakhan and PGC executive director Andrew Minogue flew to Nuku’alofa to assess the state of preparations for Tonga’s hosting of the 2019 Pacific Games.

During the visit the Tongan Government expressed its full support for hosting the 2019 Pacific Games.

Lakhan also received extensive briefings from the staff of the Tongan Pacific Games Organising Committee on the development of the sports and marketing programmes.

“The Pacific Games Council is pleased the Prime Minister is now involved in overseeing the Tongan Government’s commitment to hosting the 2019 Pacific Games and providing the necessary facilities and funding support to stage a successful Games,” Lakhan said after the PGC visit  in 2016.

The main points

  • It is just under a year since the Tongan Government assured the Pacific Games Council that it was fully committed to hosting the 2019 Games.
  • But yesterday the Tongan government said it would stand by its decision to not host the 2019 Pacific Games.
  • Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva made the announcement during a meeting with Pacific Games Council president Vidhya Lakhan.
  • Samoa has already lodged a submission to host the Games in place of Tonga.

For more information

Lakhan visit Tonga on update for 2019 Pacific Games

Samoa bids for Pacific Games

‘Dangerous’ prisoner who escaped custody arrested by police

By
Kalino Latu
-

The prisoner who escaped from the Magistrate Court while he was in Police custody, was arrested by Police at around 4:00pm yesterday Monday 5 June 2017.

Amoni Fifita was captured from an area near the village of Fatai and is remanded in custody to appear at the Magistrate Court later this week, Acting Chief Superintendent Tevita Vailea said.

In January Police searched for Fifita after he and another prisoner escaped custody before allegedly robbing a shop owner at gun point.

At the time Police had warned the public that Fifita and the prisoner were armed and dangerous.

They were arrested two days later.

Police would like to thank members of the public for the information and assistance provided during the search for the escaped prisoner.

Woman charged after pouring hot dripping on de facto partner

By
Kalino Latu
-

Police have charged a woman with causing bodily harm after she poured hot dripping over her de facto husband’s body.

The woman who is in her late 20’s also scratched the man’s body.

The 27-year-old victim was injured in the alleged attack at Pea, Tonga Broadcasting News services reported.

Tonga Police said officers were responding to a report of a brawl between the couple last week.

Search for Tongan man who went overboard in Waitemata habour suspended

By
Kalino Latu
-

The search for a Tongan man who fell overboard during a cruise on the Waitemata Harbour has been suspended

He was Tevita Kava, aged 29 of Mangere.

Kava was on an inner harbour cruise on Saturday evening and it is believed at some point during the night he has fallen over board.

Over the last two days a land and water search was undertaken utilising the Police Maritime Unit, Eagle helicopter, Land SAR, Coastguard and Harbourmaster.

The Police Dive Squad was called in on Saturday afternoon and the Navy assisted police on Sunday.

A significant area has been searched but unfortunately with no success.

A decision has been made to suspend the search at this time and the family have been informed of this.

Police will not be making any further comment at this time.

Vaitai charged with attempted murder after attacking father, sister with machete

By
Kaniva Staff
-

A 26-year-old man who allegedly use a machete to strike his father and a sister who eventually played dead to survive has been charged with attempted murder.

Sione Fono Vaitai from Sandy, Utah in the United States has been charged with two counts of first-degree felony aggravated attempted murder; a second-degree felony for obstructing justice; three counts of third-degree felony commission of domestic violence in the presence of a child; and a third degree felony for failing to respond to an officer’s signal to stop.

The night of May 12 is when Vaitai attacked his 14-year-old sister and father with the machete.

The 14-year-old girl and her 13-year-old sister were in the bedroom they shared when Vaitai entered with the machete in hand, according to court records. He then told the girls to be quiet or they’d be killed. He then put the machete to the 14-year-old’s neck and asked if she believed in God.

At this point Vaitai’s mother entered the bedroom and Vaitai hid the machete. The two began to argue and Vaitai drew out the machete again and held it to the 14-year-old’s neck and threatened to kill her.

At this time the 13-year-old fled to a neighbor’s house with a 10-year-old brother in tow. Other family members also fled from the house while Vaitai’s father went to confront him.

“(The father) came to the room and told Vaitai to hit him first,” the court papers state. “Vaitai began attacking (his father) with the machete. (The father) used his arms to block the blows and attempted to grab the machete from Vaitai. Vaitai pushed (his father) to the ground and continued to strike him with the machete.”

This May 15 file photo shows investigators going through the truck Sione Vaitai, 26, of Sandy, used in an attempt to flee police. Vaitai is a suspect in a stabbing incident involving his father and younger sister in Sandy May 12. He fled the scene and was later found in St. George where he was apprehended, St. George, Utah, May 15, 2017 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

Vaitai then returned his attention to his 14-year-old sister and attacked her. She used her arms to cover her face and neck despite Vaitai’s attempt to move them.

She shielded herself her with her right arm first and was struck several times to the point “she could no longer use her right arm.” The girl then switched to her left arm as the attack continued and “found she was no longer able to use her left arm.” She was then struck in the head by the machete, according to the court documents.

The girl ended up playing dead as she was no longer able to protect herself, and Vaitai poked her in the chest with the tip of the machete “as if trying to make sure she was dead.”

Both the 14-year-old and her father were taken to the hospital in critical condition. However, Sandy Police confirmed to St. George News that both had been upgraded to stable condition by May 15.

The girl sustained multiple lacerations to her arms, hands and head, as well as a skull fracture and mild brain injury. Her right wrist was also partially severed.

Vaitai’s father had a finger on his right hand severed, with a second finger partially severed. He also sustained a skull and nasal fracture, as well as extensive lacerations to both arms with accompanying tendon lacerations and open fractures to his left forearm.

This May 15 file photo shows Sione Vaitai, 26, of Sandy, being examined by medics while he stands in handcuffs following an attempt to flee from police. Vaitai is a suspect in a stabbing incident involving his father and younger sister in Sandy May 12. He fled the scene and was later found in St. George where he was apprehended, St. George, Utah, May 15, 2017 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

Vaitai fled to St. George in his father’s truck following the attacks and made his way to St. George. His capture by police was the result of a tip from a St. George resident who learned Sandy Police were searching for him.

According to KSL / Deseret News, the attack may have been caused by Vaitai’s father refusing to give him the keys to his truck. Witnesses also initially told police that Vaitai was acting as though he has been under the influence of narcotics.

Family members told Fox 13 News that Vaitai had also been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, yet had never shown aggression toward the family before this incident.

Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

-St George News

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