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43 Fijian peacekeepers held captive by Syrian rebels

By
Kaniva Pacific
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A Syrian rebel group has captured 43 Fijian peacekeepers from the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) Friday 29 in Golan Heights after forcing them to surrender their weapons.

The Fijian Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama, said on Friday that talks were under way to release the hostages and they were believed to be safe.

"I want to assure the families of the soldiers we are doing everything possible to secure their safe return," he said.

"The latest information we have is that they are safe and I can say now that the negotiations for their release have already begun."

In a statement issued by United Nations’ Secretary Ban ki Moon, he called for the immediate release of the detained peacekeepers, as well as for the immediate lifting of the restrictions on the movement of the Force.

The Security Council made a similar call in a press statement: “The members of the Security Council demanded the unconditional and immediate release of all the detained United Nations peacekeepers and called upon all parties to cooperate with UNDOF in good faith to enable it to operate freely and to ensure full security of its personnel.

“They called on countries with influence to strongly convey to the armed members of the opposition in the UNDOF area of operation to immediately release the peacekeepers.”

UNDOF peacekeepers were previously detained by armed elements in March and May of 2013 and were released safely.

“The United Nations is making every effort to secure the release of the detained peacekeepers, and to restore full freedom of movement of the Force throughout its area of operation,” UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told reporters in New York today.

Peacekeepers serving with UNDOF monitor the 1974 disengagement accord between Syria and Israel after their 1973 war. In June, the Security Council extended the mission’s mandate until 31 December 2014.

As of 31 July 2014, there are 1,223 peacekeepers from six countries – Fiji, India, Ireland, Nepal, Netherlands, and the Philippines – serving in UNDOF.

Certification brings cheer to 27 local handicrafters

By
Kaniva Pacific
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Twenty-seven handicrafters in Nuku’alofa under a handicraft training program were awarded with certificates on Wednesday 27.

Participants and organisers gathered at Girl Guides Training Centre in Nuku'alofa for the awards which were presented by Lady Tuna Fielakepa.  

The New Zealand funded program was aimed at providing opportunities for local communities to obtain sources of income through cultural tourism activities.

The short handicraft training courses were designed to prepare participants to know how to make jewellery from local materials.

It also provided workshops to help participants to screen-print a wide range of items and to weave and make handicrafts using cultural and professional skills.

Participants, including10 men and 17 women, were also trained on customer service and tourism awareness.  

Monalisa Palu, the National Coordinator of the program, said this was a chance for local communities to obtain income for their families.

Provided under Tonga Handicrafts and Cultural Tourism Support Program, the trainers were: Sione Loseli for screen printing, Hu’ahulu Ha’unga for jewellery making and Taumosi Hemaloto for customer service and tourism awareness.

Tractors to help farmers in outer islands

By
Kaniva Pacific
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Farmers in ‘Eua and Niuafo’ou are expected to receive refurbished agricultural tractors to help them farm more lands and grow more crops.

Three of the four Massey Ferguson tractors would be taken to ‘Eua while one goes to Niuafo’ou. They will be shipped shortly.

The tractors, worth TP$128,873.71 in total, were purchased through fund donated by the people of the islands and part funded by the Tongan government through Tonga Rural Innovation Project as well as  the International Funds for Agricultural Development.

A statement from Tonga's Ministry of Forestry and Fisheries says: “ These machineries are greatly needed in ‘Eua to improve small scale farmers’ production especially as market access is a priority to the farmers to export their products.

“Farmers are also seeing the benefits of vanilla production as they worked together with Heilala Vanilla this year which the search for the tractors in New Zealand was made possible through Heilala Vanilla Company.

“Niuafo’ou has made a great impression at this year’s Royal Agriculture Show and their new tractor will give farmers a boost in their production and open new opportunities for their economic benefit”.  

Fisherman’s expertise keeps crew and boat afloat as they drift for 10 days across Pacific

By
Kalino Latu
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A Tongan fisherman says he signalled aircraft and passing vessels, but without any success as he and two other men drifted from Tonga to Fiji.

‘Elone Taulafo, his son Sione Taulafo and son-in-law Sofele Folau came ashore on Oneata Island in the Lau group in Fiji on August 8.

The three men went fishing at the eastern side of Nomuka in Ha’apai on July 30, but when they wanted to return to shore their engine could not be started.

Taulafo talked about their ordeal in Tongan on a 7:33 minutes video apparently recorded in Suva and uploaded to Facebook last night.

He said it was fortunate they managed to reach to shore in the last island of the Lau group before they drifted passed Fiji.

While the search was going on the three fishermen were facing strong winds and high seas. They had no food for three days. They threw items overboard and made a sail for the boat.


Video / courtesy of Siosiua Latu, Suva, Fiji

A search involving an RNZAF Orion, a Tongan navy vessel and members of the Fiji rescue team from the Rescue Coordination Centre in Suva launched for them on July 31, but was called off after five days.

While they were at sea Taulafo used his experience to keep them afloat. After the engine failed he advised the boys to throw out the anchor. The water was deep so they had to lengthen the anchor rope with fishing line.

After saying a prayer they went to sleep on their first night drifting at sea, Taulafo woke up before daylight to find the boat drifting. He woke Sione and Sofele up and they waited till daylight.

The wind became stronger as they drifted towards the east, but then they spotted the MV Niuvakai. They burnt clothing to make a smoke signal, but the Niuvakai apparently did not see them.

The next day they saw the MV Pulupaki and made another smoke signal, but the vessel apparently did not see them either.

As the wind became stronger Taulafo fear they might strike Hakaufisi reef.  

They managed to bypass the reef, but the waves became  stronger and stronger. ‘Elone told the boys to throw out another anchor on the port side of the boat as a sinker to keep the boat inclined to the left to avoid big waves from coming inside.

On midnight the next day he felt the anchor touch an underwater reef and directed Sione to cut the anchor.

The three men attempted to re-start the engine on August 1 when they could still see Tofua Island. They managed to get it going, but after 30 minutes it cut out again and could not be re-started.

“We could not do anything other than just pray and keep on baling seawater out of the boat,”  he said

They spotted the Tongan naval vessel Voea downwind of them while drifting west. Taulafo said it turned towards them, but did not see their boat before it disappeared towards the south. On the same day they spotted an aircraft, but again it did not see them.

For three more days they drifted until the wind began to ease.

Taulafo said that from August 6-8 they had no food and just kept praying and baling seawater.

On Friday 8 they spotted Moce Island in the Lau group in Fiji and tried unsuccessfully to get ashore. The boat continued drifting and finally arrived on Oneata, the last island in the Lau groups.

Mr Elone said if they had missed Oneata they would have ended up in the Solomon Islands.

He said they were welcomed by the Fijians in Oneata before they were taken to Suva on August 21. They are staying at the Tongan residence in Suva known as ‘Api-Tonga.

Mr ‘Elone said they had met Fiji authorities and were processing their immigration application for their return to Tonga.

The main points

  • A Tongan fisherman says he signalled aircraft and passing vessels, but without any success as he and two other men drifted from Tonga to Fiji.
  • ‘Elone Taulafo, his son Sione Taulafo and son-in-law Sofele Folau came ashore on Oneata Island in the Lau group in Fiji after drifting for 10 days.
  • The three men went fishing at the eastern side of Nomuka in Ha’apai on July 30, but when they wanted to return to shore their engine could not be started.
  • The three fishermen faced strong winds and high seas and had no food for three days.

For more information

‘Sobbing fisherman home in El Salvador after year adrift in Pacific’

‘Kiribati Fisherman Found After 106 Days Adrift In Pacific’

‘Kiribati fishermen survive a month adrift in Pacific’

Woman who threw boiling water over girl sentenced

By
Kaniva Pacific
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A shopkeeper who left a teenage female scarred for life after throwing boiling water over her has been ordered to pay reparation of TP$300.
 

A medical report read in court says about 50 percent of Lile Netane's body was burnt after she was dowsed with boiling water.

Police Magistrate Salesi Mafi heard Netane went to Shulang Fang's store when she was in Nuku'alofa town centre on June 4.

Read more:

She was using her mobile phone when Fang, who is also known as Siu, asked her to leave but Netale ignored it.

Netane said she was surprised when Feng attacked her and she fell down. She got up and threw a cup of coffee at Feng but it did not hit her. Feng returned inside her store and Netane was shocked when Feng threw the boiling water at her.

Fang told Magistrate Mafi she had approached Netane and asked for her forgiveness and she had accepted it. She said she also had given Netane a gift of TP$200.

Magistrate Mafi said he considrerd the fact that Netane started the incident and that Feng had already sought her apology and also compensated her.

The police magistrate told Fang she would have to pay the money to government at the court office within one month or she would be jailed for a week.

Featured photo/ Kakalu 'o Tonga Newspaper

Support: Mixed reactions on officer assaulting teenager

By
Kalino Latu
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Evidence has emerged that the video showing a Tongan policeman beating a male teenager had been edited.

A new photo has surfaced online showing the teenage boy who was beaten by a Tongan police officer apparently standing, while a Tonga College student lies face down on the ground.

The video footage, which was uploaded to Facebook earlier this month, appears to have been cut to omit footage of the teenager hitting the student.

Read more:

It has been claimed the fight started over a relationship with a female student.

The police officer who was accused of hitting the teenage boy is shown in the photo heading to where the incident happened.

The teenage boy who was beaten by the Tongan police officer is standing, while a Tonga College student lies face down on the ground.

The teenage boy who was beaten by the Tongan police officer is standing, while a Tonga College student lies face down on the ground.

The incident occurred after a fight broke out at a rugby game.

Earlier reports said the officer could be seen punching the student before kicking him and finishing him off with a punch to the head.

Overdue officer in France

The police officer has left the country and is said to be with his family in France, where he had reportedly signed a contract with a rugby union club.

The officer was due to return on August 20.

Tonga’s Police Minister, Hon Sifa Tu’utafaiva, said claims on Facebook that the Ministry allowed the officer to go on leave to avoid charges being laid against him were false.

The new photo has divided the Tongan online community, with many users supporting the officer.

“If the police officer did not intervene the student might have been in serious trouble,” one comment said in Tongan.

“What would the Ministry of Police do to the teenage boy who hit the student?” another  Facebook user asked.

“Tongans can only learn when they are beaten”, one commentator said, referring to the Tongan adages Ko e Tonga ia ke taa’i pe or taa’i ke poto or ‘Ai ‘o taa’i or ‘hit him or her’ a common adage delivered when someone is thought to be behaving badly. 

However, another Facebook user said: “The Police officer should never ever hit someone like that no matter what. They should not take the law to their own hands. There is no law in Tonga that allows officers to hit someone.”

How long before violence stops?

Police said there was no immediate remedy for the violence within the police force.  

"We have taken a very, very, hard line, but I think as anybody realises you don't change the culture in an organisation in a few months or even a few years," Tonga’s Police Commissioner, Grant  O'Fee said.

"I'm the first to admit we have a long way to go,” he said.

Facebook users have asked whether Tongans have to wait for evolution to change police behaviour in 100 years or whether the Tongan authorities will be realistic and do something about the problem.

However, most comments on Facebook agree that beating in Tonga is customary and that has become traditional for Tongans to use beating as a disciplinary measure.

No formal complaint laid

A Police statement sent to Kaniva News said the officer accused of punching the teenage boy had left the kingdom on an ‘approved’ leave.

It said no further action could be taken until the officer returned to Tonga.

Some Tongans have claimed there have been instances in the past where officers were charged with violence, but allowed to go on leave to avoid facing court. The officers had not returned and the court cases had been  left unheard.

The Police Minister, Hon. Sifa Tu’utafaiva, told Parliament on Thursday last week no formal complaint had been laid against the officer for beating the teenager.

He said the police had enough evidence to charge the officer.

Hon. Tu’utafaiva said police had only become aware the officer had left the country when they investigated the video.

The main points

  • Evidence has emerged that the video showing a Tongan policeman beating a student had been edited.
  • A new photo has surfaced online showing the teenage boy who was beaten by a Tongan police officer apparently standing, while a Tonga College student lies face down on the ground.
  • The video footage, which was uploaded to Youtube earlier this month, appears to have been cut to omit footage of the teenager hitting the student.
  • Earlier reports said the officer could be seen punching the student before kicking him and finishing him off with a punch to the head.
  • The police officer has left the country and is said to be with his family in France, where he had reportedly signed a contract with a rugby union club.

Apifo’ou College wins First XV rugby union Championship

By
Kaniva Pacific
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One of Tonga’s leading rugby schools, ‘Apifo’ou College, has won the 2014 inter-college rugby union competition at Teufaiva stadium park yesterday.
 
The 21-15 victory against Tupou College ended the rugby season peacefully after Police stepped up to the plate and make sure there was no violence during the rugby final matches.
 
Tupou College (Toloa)  won rugby grades 1,2 and 3 while Tonga College (‘Atele) won grade 4 and 5.
 
Last week the schools rugby tournament was under threat after police had to intervene in a brawl between supporters of two teams. It followed by a meeting of Tonga's Secondary Schools' Principals Association to discuss whether to cancel this year's season.
 
At one stage, in 2013, spectators were not allowed to attend the competition in a bit to prevent school fights.

 

Featured photos / Paula Moimoi Latu

Three missing Tongan fishermen welcomed in Suva

By
Kaniva Pacific
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Vakai ki lalo ki he fakamatala faka-Tonga

A Tongan formal reception was held this afternoon in Suva to mark the handing over of three Tongan fishermen who went missing on July 30.

‘Elone  Taulafo, his son Sione Taulafo and  his son-in-law Sofele Folau were found alive at Oneata island in the Lau group in Fiji on August 6 after their return was overdue.

Fiji authorities said divers from the island found the trio swimming near Oneata.

Since then they had been staying on the island waiting to be transported to Lakeba Island where a Fiji police rescue team took them to Suva this morning.

Read more:

The Secretary for the Tongan community in Suva, ‘Eleni Tevi, told Kaniva News this afternoon she has met the three fishermen.

“I went this morning to the wharf with the head steward of ApiTonga, Kisione Finau to receive them, but the Oneata community asked if they can have a formal traditional handover of the three men to the Tongan community,” Tevi said.

She said they acknowledged the Oneata community by presenting kava to their chiefs in a faikava (kava ceremony) attended by the Tongan community in Suva.

Tevi was thankful and said people of Oneata have taken good care of the men  for more than three weeks and accompanied them to Suva on the MV Sandy.

Fiji Foreign Affairs and Immigration are in the process of making arrangement for the return of the men to Tonga.

Serial rapist dies before sentencing

By
Kaniva Pacific
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Vakai ki lalo ki he fakamatala faka-Tonga

Uili Falamoe, Tonga’s notorious serial rapist has died early this month at the Hu'atolitoli prison, a family member has confirmed this to Kaniva News.

Falamoe was due to appear in court on Monday 18, for sentencing, after he was found guilty in June for multiple counts of carnal knowledge and sexual assault of two underage girls at Fonongahina.

He was remanded in custody at Hu’atolitoli for sentencing but died after he allegedly suffered a heart attack.

Afa manslaughter accused to appear in court next month

By
Kaniva Pacific
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Vakai ki lalo ki he fakamatala faka-Tonga

Three accused from Afa have been charged with manslaughter, after they allegedly assaulted a 49 year-old man who later died.  

Monalisa Manumuʻa, Semisi Lolohea and Lolesio Valu have been remanded in custody after they appeared at the Mu’a magistrate court on August 6.

The accused had been charged in relation to the death of ‘Aisea Tu’ineau Latu of Afa, who died while he was rushed to Vaiola Hospital on Wednesday July 27, after he was allegedly hit with a blunt object.  

The court was told the trio were drinking alcohol with the victim’s son, Lotu Latu and a woman. At one stage the three accused felt the woman liked Latu and they assaulted him.

Mr Tu’ineau, after returning from a kava-Tonga club, learnt his son had been beaten by the accused and he took with him a machete to find the men. When he found them, he started by striking Lolohea injuring his leg.

He went on to stab Lolesio and Valu but Mr Tu’ineau was allegedly hit by a log and he fell to the ground.

Magistrate Pita Soakimi ordered the accused to reappear in court on September 8.  

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