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Tongan found guilty of drive-by shooting in Australia

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By Elizabeth Byrne

A Tongan Comanchero club member along with another member have been found guilty of shooting the former member of a rival bikie gang two years ago in Canberra.

Lihai Vimahi, 24, and Daniel Grech, 27, were found guilty of discharging a firearm but cleared of the more serious charge of causing the Rebel member grievous bodily harm.

Prosecutors told the court they believed the shooting was part of a dispute between the rival gangs, with one witness telling the court that Vimahi told her the Rebel deserved to be shot.

The court also heard that Vimahi had admitted to the witness a gun he owned had been used to shoot a Rebel.

Justice Stephen Walmsley said the victim was shot as he smoked outside a home in the Canberra suburb of Stirling late in the evening on March 12, 2015.

Justice Walmsley said he accepted the pair had gone to the house to shoot the man, each armed with a firearm.

“They took the shots at [the victim] and then they left,” he said.

But Justice Walmsley found the man had not suffered grievous bodily harm after hearing evidence from the victim’s former partner.

She told the court that only months later her former partner had subjected her to a violent rape lasting four hours, in which he picked her up multiple times.

The man has not yet been sentenced over the rape.

The woman’s evidence was important for Vimahi and Grech, meaning they now face the significantly lower maximum penalty of five years, compared to 20 years for the more serious charge.

Justice Walmsley also found the pair were not guilty of charges relating to a second incident in the nearby suburb of Kambah on the same night, when shots were fired into an unoccupied house.

Vimahi and Grech were charged with discharging a firearm so as to cause another person reasonable apprehension for their safety. But the man they were allegedly targeting, who is also a Rebels associate, was not home.

Grech has been found guilty of possessing an illegal firearm.

The two are expected to be sentenced in June.

-ABC

Claims of mental health benefits for kava disputed, WHO warns on medical use

By
Philip Cass
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Claims that kava could benefit people with mental illness have been disputed, with warnings that its dangers outweigh any benefits.

Kava, which is widely drunk in Polynesia, can induce feelings of drowsiness and relaxation.

Massey University lecturer, Dr Sione Vaka told a conference last week that kava had significant medical benefits, including mental illness.

Dr Vaka’s doctoral research looked at definitions of mental illness from a Tongan perspective.

He said his new research showed that because kava was familiar and used in a social context, it could help calm people with mental health issues.

Dr Vaka told Radio New Zealand kava was important for Pacific people because it was part of their identity.

“Kava reminds us where we come from,” he said.

“I know to have good mental well-being you have to be connected culture-wise with your level of identity, so those levels of support will be good to maintain mental well-being.”

However, Dr Colin Tukuitonga, director general of the Pacific Community and a former New Zealand Secretary of Health, disputed the claim.

He said the dangers of kava use outweighed any good effects it might have.

In a 2007 report The World Health Organisation said if kava was used for medicinal purposes it should only be available on prescription.

It said kava should not be used in conjunction with antipsychotics.

The American non-profit organisation Mental Health America says kava has been shown in more than a dozen placebo-controlled studies to be effective for treating generalised anxiety, with some evidence for stress, depression and insomnia.

It says kava is generally safe for short-term use, but there are concerns it being used at the same time as other drugs.

There are disputes about whether it causes liver damage.

The main points

  • Claims that kava could benefit people with mental illness have been disputed, with warnings that its dangers outweigh any benefits.
  • Kava, which is widely drunk in Polynesia, can induce feelings of drowsiness and relaxation.
  • Massey University lecturer, Dr Sione Vaka told a conference last week that kava had significant medical benefits, including mental illness.
  • However, Dr Colin Tukuitonga, director general of the Pacific Community and a former New Zealand Secretary of Health, disputed the claim.

For more information

Academic says kava good for mental health

Dispute over alleged health benefits of kava

Assessment of the risk of hepatotoxicity with kava products. (World Health Organisation)

Kava

North Korea fires missile and it exploded overland, US officials say

By
Kaniva Staff
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By Foster Klug 

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea test-fired a mid-range ballistic missile from the western part of its country Saturday, but the launch apparently failed, South Korea and the United States said Saturday.

The test will be condemned by outsiders as yet another step in the North’s push for a nuclear-tipped missile that can strike the U.S. mainland.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that the North fired the unidentified missile from around Pukchang, which is near the capital Pyongyang, but provided no other details.

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, said the missile was likely a medium-range KN-17 ballistic missile. It broke up a couple minutes after the launch and the pieces fell into the Sea of Japan.

A South Korean military official also said without elaborating that the launch was believed to be a failure. He didn’t want to be named, citing office rules. The official couldn’t immediately confirm how far the missile fleweo or whether it had exploded shortly after launch.

North Korea routinely test-fires a variety of ballistic missiles, despite United Nations prohibitions, as part of its weapons development. While shorter-range missiles are somewhat routine, there is strong outside worry about each longer-range North Korean ballistic test.

Saturday’s launch comes at a point of particularly high tension. U.S. President Donald Trump took an initial hard line with Pyongyang and sent a U.S. aircraft supercarrier to Korean waters. His diplomats are now taking a softer tone.

On Friday, the United States and China offered starkly different strategies for addressing North Korea’s escalating nuclear threat as Trump’s top diplomat demanded full enforcement of economic sanctions on Pyongyang and urged new penalties. Stepping back from suggestions of U. S. military action, he even offered aid to North Korea if it ends its nuclear weapons program.

The range of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s suggestions, which over a span of 24 hours also included restarting negotiations, reflected America’s failure to halt North Korea’s nuclear advances despite decades of U.S.-led sanctions, military threats and stop-and-go rounds of diplomatic engagement. As the North approaches the capability to hit the U.S. mainland with a nuclear-tipped missile, the Trump administration feels it is running out of time.

Number of typhoid cases in Tonga increases

By
Kaniva Staff
-

The number of cases of typhoid in Tonga has gone up to 14 this week.

A Ministry of Health spokesperson said the patients were from eight villages in Tongatapu.

She said all those confirmed to have typhoid fever are connected but she did not go into details.

The number of cases remained steadily at 12 until last week when two more cases were identified – since it was first brought to light publicly.

Health Officer ‘Ofa Tukia told Tonga Daily News the two new cases were identified last week.

Of the 14 cases confirmed, she said two were from Folaha and Nukuhetulu, one from Kolonga, one from Niutoua, one from Nakolo, one from Haveluliku, one from Tofoa, two from Fanga and five from Veitongo.

Tukia reportedly said all the cases were connected to those who had been sick of the fever since January.

Two Tongans wanted by New Zealand Police for fraud and drug charges

By
Kalino Latu
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New Zealand Police were appealing to the public to help find wanted Mary-Anne Mafi, 41, and Weiss Donald Saafi, 41.

Police said they have a warrant to arrest Mafi for 19 charges relating to using a document and obtaining by deception.

She is 180cm tall with a solid build and has tattoos on the back of her left hand.

Mafi is thought to be somewhere in the Auckland area.

She is known to use a number of aliases including the first names of Mele, Stephanie, Chantelle, Marysienna and Luseane.

On a separate note, Police in Counties Manukau have 15 warrants to arrest Weis Donald Saafi for multiple drug charges including possession of methamphetamine.

Saafi is 175cm tall with a solid build and has multiple tattoos including a dragon on both upper arms, a sword on left upper arm, a line around the lower part of his neck as well as “Tonga” written across his back.

Saafi is likely to be in the West Auckland area.

Police warn he is considered dangerous and should not be approached.

My father is “genuine” in what he does, says Prime Minister’s eldest son

By
Kalino Latu
-

The son of Tonga’s Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva said his father was genuine in whatever he did.

Siaosi Pohiva was speaking to Tongan television programme Tnews in Auckland. The interview was released on its Good Morning Tonga service on Tuesday.

Siaosi said his father was not a person who only talked about what he wanted to do, but acted in a way that agreed with the things he said, particularly when they benefitted people.

He stood by his father in his move to change the assessment system in Tonga from standardisation to raw marks.

Siaosi, who was head of the SPC’s Assessment Unit of the Education Quality and Assessment Programme , said Fiji and Samoa in the Pacific had already changed from standardisation system and used modern raw marks system.

He said he never regretted growing up with a father who dedicated his life to politics, even when it put the family at risk.

Siaosi said of all the Prime Minister’s seven children he was closest to his father.

He said he grew up in a home where politics was the main topic of the day from morning until sun set.

He was used to the challenges the family faced, such as the time when Hon. Pohiva  was convicted in court because of his involvement in politics.

“There were punishments the public was not aware of,” he said.

“They were just social punishment.”

He admitted the family was affected because of his father’s political involvement.

He said his father put people as his priority before his family.

“When he got some money he saved it for his political interest”, he said.

“We had only food without meat or anything else because he saved the money for his political needs”, Siaosi said.

His mother Neomai suffered a stroke.

However, he said no matter how difficult the situation, he did not regret being his son.

Siaosi supported his father’s political work, quoting Edmund Burke’s statement that “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing”.

“That’s one of the things I am happy about with my father as he was not someone who only speaks out about what needed to be corrected but he did something about it, no matter how difficult it was,” Siaosi said.

“There is merit in his political belief and thinking. “

Siaosi said that while he was young he could not do much except give his father his moral support.

The Prime Minister

Hon. Pohiva said in a recent interview with Kaniva News he knew his supporters were still with him and they were happy with his leadership, despite the many challenges from his political foes.

Analysts believe his government was the first to put Tonga’s economy in growth.

As we reported recently, the gross international reserves increased from US$166 million in June 2016 to US$171 million in December 2016, reflecting increased public and private transfers, stronger than expected remittances and changes in the value of the US dollar.

The National Reserve Bank of Tonga said Tonga had enjoyed a year of economic growth and there was more good financial news to come.

However analysts said the government has not yet come up with a plan for the dramatic increase in unemployment rate and the drugs related crime rates.

Challenges

Pohiva is being criticised for his stance on media freedom in Tonga especially his approach to the national broadcaster, Tonga Broadcasting Commission.

He called for a review of the TBC and said privatisation would be an option.

Some commentators from regional media associations believe Pohiva had a point in saying there was unethical, unprofessional and malicious attitudes from senior officials at TBC towards him and his government.

However many, including Pacific Freedom Forum chair Monica Miller, said that while there might be royalists in the TBC who acted unethically, shutting down the TBC was not the right way to prove the Prime Minister’s allegations.

The main points

  • The son of Tonga’s Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva said his father was genuine in whatever he did.
  • In a television interview, Siaosi Pohiva said his father was not a person who only talked about what he wanted to do, but acted in a way that agreed with the things he said, particularly when they benefitted
  • He said his father put people as his priority before his family.
  • However, he said no matter how difficult the situation, he did not regret being his son.

First Pacific Centre for Renewable Energy opens in Tonga

By
Kalino Latu
-

The first Pacific Centre of Excellence for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency was opened in Nuku’alofa Wednesday 26.

Tongan Deputy Prime Minister said Tonga is happy to become the selected site for the regional office.

He said the centre supports Pacific Island countries in their respective priorities and commitments to achieve sustainable renewable energy.

The centre has been established with support from the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), SIDS DOCK and the Government of Austria.

According to Martin Ledolter, Managing Director of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), “the centre is an important contribution to accelerate the shift from fossil fuel dependency to renewable energy and energy efficiency.”

Tonga was selected as the site for PCREEE in recognition of the kingdomʻs strong commitment in promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Pacific Community Director General Dr. Colin Tukuitonga said that there was still a long way to go as the Pacific island countries were one of the most fossil-fuel dependent regions in the world.

“Every year, we import about 800 million to 1 billion USD worth of fuel.  Most of this fuel is used in transportation and in power generation,” he said.

The opening of the office coincides with the regional energy and transport ministers’ meeting currently being held in Tonga.

Tonga signs first regional agreement for safety of domestic shipping

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tonga’s Tourism Minister Hon. Sēmisi Sika has signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Flag State Implementation for Domestic Ships in Nuku’alofa Thursday 27.

The agreement means the signatories have to enforce certain controls over vessels entitled to fly their countries’ flag.

These include inspecting, surveying and certifying of ships to make sure they could only sail if they are certified as seaworthy.

Nine Pacific Ministers signed the agreement on behalf of their various countries during the Third Pacific Regional Energy and Transport Ministers’ Meeting which is currently held in Nuku’alofa.

The signatories were Cook Islands, Marshall Islands, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

The Ministers were also concerned about the persistent issues in relation to the safety of domestic ships such as maritime casualties caused by inadequate resources.

Director General of the Pacific Community (SPC) said: “The Pacific MoU supports improved regional coordination in the delivery of safe domestic shipping services with reduced impact to the environment through regional standards, training of ship safety inspectors or surveyors and exchange of information”.

North Korean weapons displayed during parade are fake, sunglasses aren’t even combat ready, US military expert says

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By ARIEL ZILBER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

North Korea’s soldiers mostly carry fake weapons during their mass-scale parades, a former US intelligence officer has said.

Michael Pregent believes many of the arms flaunted by menacing-looking North Korean troops during their displays are dummies, and claims even their sunglasses wouldn’t be fit for combat.

Pregent was asked to look at photographs from an April 15 military parade in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang.

He suggested many of the guns were not real, and hinted many may have even been given toys, in a move designed to boast their strength to the world.

‘This was more about sending a message than being combat effective,’ Pregent told Fox News, who now serves as an adjunct fellow at the conservative think-tank, the Hudson Institute.

The parade was held to mark the 105th birthday of North Korea’s founder, Kim Il-sung, the late grandfather of the country’s current ruler, Kim Jong-Un.

Images from the parade show what appear to be North Korean ‘commandos’ carrying AK-47 assault rifles with attached grenade-launchers.

But Pregent says that the objects seen affixed to the rifles are really ‘helical’ magazines designed to store bullets in a spiral shape.

Pregent says these magazines are often faulty since they frequently jam.

He also doubts that the AK-47s are even loaded since North Korea is believed to have serious shortages of domestically produced ammunition.

Pregent says many of the accessories worn by the troops are also far short of military-grade.

The sunglasses worn by the ‘special ops commandos’ are regular, flat-face frames that offer little protection for the eyes.

Soldiers in Western countries use specially tailored ‘ballistic safety glasses’ that wrap around the head.

Then there are the projectiles the troops attach to the end of their rifles.

Pregent says that these ‘weapons’ are ‘laughable’ because ‘you can see the plastic is over the muzzle.’

Though he concedes North Korea may have a substantial RPG capability, Pregent says that the soldiers on display during the parade were most likely given toy missiles ‘because Kim Jong-Un doesn’t want them to launch one at the viewing stand.’

Other troops marching appear to be holding silver-plated rifles, but Pregent believes ‘these are most likely painted.’

Crown Prince greets Pacific Energy and Transport Ministers in Tonga

By
Kalino Latu
-

Crown Prince ʻUlukālala Tupoutoʻa talked to the Pacific Energy and Transport Ministers in Tonga this afternoon Wednesday 26.

His Royal Highness reminded the Ministers and Pacific leaders they have an important role to play in the world’s endeavour to save the planet.

He described it as a “challenge” for them to think about during the two-day convention in Nukuʻalofa.

More than 100 leaders and experts met in the kingdom for the Third Pacific Regional Energy and Transport Ministerial Meeting.

The meeting had a theme: “Affordable, reliable and sustainable energy and transport services for all.”

The regional meeting comes after the national energy targets in renewable energy and energy efficiency as well as the adoption of greenhouse gas mitigation targets in the nationally determined contributions to the Paris Agreement was adopted.

“In all cases, energy sector is made up of various sub-sectors including coordination and planning, petroleum, power, renewable energy and energy efficiency.

“The planning and coordination of energy sector to meet governments’ sustainable development aspirations and obligation becomes a tedious task when these sub-sectors are managed and planned in isolation and independently of each other – when some have very old legislations and when there is no overarching legislative framework to coordinate them”.

Tonga’s Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni said the meeting was “timely”.

He said they have to agree on what they could see fits for the Pacific to take up with the global forums in support of the Paris Agreement.

In his opening address, Pacific Community Director-General, Dr Colin Tukuitonga highlighted SPC’s contribution to Pacific Island energy and transport sectors, including the adoption of uniform standards and tools for maritime safety and energy security.

He mentioned the support given to the private sector and governments to improve safety at sea and access to electricity and training of hundreds of professionals from governments, administrations and private sector each year.

“And more recently, providing technical assistance for members to reduce greenhouse gas from the energy and maritime transport sectors”.

The Pacific leaders will also celebrate SPCʻs 70th anniversary in Tonga with the inauguration of the Tonga-based Pacific Centre of Excellence on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (PCREEE).

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