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Police release names in Vava‘u murder case

By
Kaniva Staff
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Police have released the names of the accused and victim in a murder case in Neiafu, Vava‘u where the victim was axed to death on June 18.

Superintendent Inspector Netane Falakiseni  identified the  accused as 27-year-old Sione Moa of Neiafu.  

The victim was 17-year-old Siale Tafa Vea'ila of 'Otea.

The accused remanded in police custody and is expected to appear at the Vava‘u magistrate court on July 14.

Police responded to a call at 6:00am on June 18 and found Mr Siale Tafa Vea'ila to have died in the scene after he fell down in a vain attempt to take away an axe from Sione Moa.
Sione Moa threatened to kill his own sister with the axe after she arrived home early in the morning.

The accused struck Vea’ila three times on his neck and allegedly killed him immediately.  

Correction: We corrected this article after removing the phrase “her sister” as it was mistakenly used.

Canada defeated – chances for Tonga & Fiji over PNC Title

By
Kaniva Staff
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The Canadians’ unbeaten run since PNC tournament began came to a shuddering halt against Japan at Nagoya Municipal Mizuho Park Rugby Ground today June 19.

It means the chances for who will take home the PNC title is now opened for either Fiji or Tonga, who will face each other on Sunday, June 23.

It was Japan's first win in the five-nation tournament after two defeats, leaving the title hopes to Canada on 12 points, Fiji on 11 points and Tonga on 10 points.

Japan’s full back Ayumu Goromaru scored all the points giving his team the 16-13 victory over Canada.

The scorers:

For Japan: Try: Goromaru, Con: Goromaru, Pens: Goromaru 3

For Canada: Try: Hearn, Con: Pritchard, Pens: Pritchard 2

Tongan nun admitted "it was me"

By
Kaniva Staff
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A Tongan nun, Leva-i-Fangalupe Fono  admitted “it was me” and the court heard that she “yelled at the girl, flicked her in the head and twisted her arm, breaking it, at Sunday School at St Patrick's, Panmure, in April last year”.

Sister Leva maintained her innocent saying she did not assault and intentionally injured the 9 year old girl.  

A Tongan – Otahuhu College teacher Kolotita Taimani, who  witnessed what had happened told the court she knew about the incident when she noticed the girl was crying in one of her Sunday school classes.

When she questioned the girl for what had actually happened,  Sr Leva said “it was me''.

The girl’s parents only knew of their daughter’s injury the following day.

The girlʻs mother said, “We all know when our children are taken to school or if someone is injured at school – whether a little girl or little boy – the parents must be told what happened.

“But when I went to pick up my children no one from the Sunday School came to me, either Sister Leva who caused my little girl to cry – none of them.''

The verdict will be delivered sometimes after the final hearing this Friday

Man axed to death in Vava‘u

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Police in Vava’u, Tonga Island confirmed a 17 year old has died this morning June 18 after he was axed to death by a 27 year old man.

The two men are cousins and according to Radio Tonga reports the 27 year old is a psychotic and was arrested and charged with murder.  

Police responded to a call at 6:00am and found the young man to have died in the scene after an argument between him and his sister who was just arrived home.

The accused, holding an axe in his hands confronted his sister. The sister called the victim for help and in his attempt to take away the axe from the accused he slipped and fell down. The accused immediately struck him three times on his neck and allegedly killed him immediately.  

The accused whose name was not released is in police custody  and appeared today at the Magistrate Court.

In April, Vava’u Police arrested a man in relation to  the death of a young man who died in a machete attack in a village hall in Vava'u. The alleged killer was said to be a psychotic.

Ikale Tahi: ‘Otai optimistic over PNC chances

By
Kaniva Staff
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Tonga’s National Rugby team’s win over USA Rugby Men's Eagles 18-9 on June 15 in Carson City puts ‘Ikale Tahi on second place in all five-team Pacific Nation Cup.

Canada’s team are in the lead as they still undefeated but Otai told Kaniva News the ‘Ikale Tahi’s performance so far was excellent especially its match against US Men’s Eagles .

“We knew they would hit us with everything they could  in the first half but the boys responded as planned,” adding that they look forward to wining the PNC tournament 2013 despite loss 27-37 to Canada.

Otai thanked all the supports given to the team by Tongans in US and still ask for the same efforts and supports while the team is in Japan to take on Fiji  Sunday, June 23 at the Chichibunomiya Memorial, Tokyo.

Ikale Tahi vs US. Tonga scores:  18 (Sione Piukala 2 tries; Viliami Hakalo conversion, penalty, Nili Latu penalty).

United States scores: 9 (Chris Wyles 3 penalties)

Family of Fungavaka killed by police sues Tonga government

By
Kalino Latu
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UPDATED: The family of the New Zealand Police Officer who died following arrest and bash by Tongan police officers in Nuku’alofa Central Police Station is filing a civil-rights and wrongful-death lawsuit against the government of Tonga, 3 News reported.  

Kali Fungavaka was in Tonga for a funeral of his grandfather, Kepueli Fungavaka  on August 2012 where he was one of the ball bearers.

On the night of August 17 he was in one of the restaurant bars in Nuku’alofa where he was arrested and allegedly being bashed to death by police officers.

"We are seeking compensation, redress and at least an apology from the Tongan government, and in particular the Tongan police," barrister Kahungunu Barron-Adeaki, SC told 3 News.

According to the News,  “Mr Barron-Afeaki is heading the case on behalf of Mr Fungavaka's children. This morning he phoned the Tongan Police Minister to inform him of the legal action against the police.

“He says the case will focus on emotional harm to Mr Fungavaka's children and loss of income to his family, as a result of his death.

"Changes must be made," says Mr Barron-Adeaki. "A man beaten to death in custody is inexcusable."

Mr Fungavaka’s former partner and their 5 children approached Mr Afeaki wanting to seek compensation from the Tonga government.

"We haven't had an apology from the Tongan police or government as to why their father died in those circumstances, and now I'm left with five children to support, their education, and carry on with life," mother Cally Letalu-Ruahe told 3 News.

"I've had to endure lots of nights where my children have cried endlessly. I've had to be a rock for my children in their time of need now that their father has gone."

An appeal hearing set for June 24 for the Supreme Court to  review a lower court decision discharging three policemen Constable Fatai Faletau, Constable Tevita Vakalahi and Constable Manu Tu’ivai who were previously charged in connection with Fungavaka's death.

Three accused including an inspector and a civilian are to appear in Supreme Court to be tried for the killing of Mr Fungavaka.

Tonga's first wind turbine goes live

By
Kaniva Staff
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The Nakolo Wind Turbine, the first of its kind in Tonga, was officially commissioned in a livening ceremony at Nakolo village on Friday, June 14th 2013.

The event marked the completion of the construction of the 11kW wind turbine. The project was made possible with funding from Tonga Power and the collective wind expertise from Gaia Wind, Craig Jones and Jim Cairns who came from Scotland and England.

Tonga currently generates electricity from costly imported diesel fuel. As the country‟s second renewable project now operational, the Nakolo wind turbine project is another step towards the Tongan Government‟s renewable energy targets. This project has developed skills that can be used to build further renewable energy facilities in the island.

The Wind Turbine Project Manager Setitaia Chen said, “Craig Jones and Jim Cairns who provided engineering support, acknowledged that this was the smoothest installation they have been involved in and they noted the professionalism and competence of the Project team that was shown during installation.”

He said this also achieved one of the goals of the project to build capacity to learn, be exposed to a new experience and maintain a new technology.

“Today marks a milestone for Tonga Power in the development of wind generation in the Kingdom. The only way to go now is forward with the wind”.

The construction on the project started in April 2013 and finished on-time and under-budget. The 11 kW Nakolo Wind Turbine began harnessing the energy from wind and produced electricity over the last month since its completed installation in May. The wind turbine will generate approximately 27, 000 kW hrs of electricity, enough to generate power to 23 homes.

Tonga Power is currently waiting for a proposal from Gaia Wind to secure low interest funding through the UK government to install another 4 turbines in Tonga.

Attending the event was Prime Minister Lord Tu‟ivakano, Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Samiu Vaipulu, Minister for Public Enterprises Hon. Fe‟aomoeata Vakata, estate holder Lord Luani, TERM CEO „Inoke Vala, Carl Saft chairman of the Tonga Power Board of Directors,Tonga Power Ltd CEO John van Brink and guests.

The oldest man in the world dies at 116

By
Kaniva Staff
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Japan's Jiroemon Kimura who was recognised in December 2012  by the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest man in the history of mankind,  died at the age of 116. He was born in 1897.

He died in hospital early Wednesday morning after being hospitalised with  pneumonia in early May, an official in Kyoto’s Kyotango city said in a statement.

Kimura had seven children, 14 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren and 13 great-great-grandchildren.

Japan has about 40 centenarians ( persons who are 100 years old or more)  per 100,000 people and has the world's highest proportion of elderly. Life expectancy is roughly 83, a figure that is expected to exceed 90 for women by 2050.

Kimura held the Guinness Records after French woman Jeanne Calment,  died in 1997 at the age of 122.

Chinese baby removed from toilet pipe

By
Kaniva Staff
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A baby was removed by fire fighters from a sewer pipe after nextdoor neighbours heard him crying.

A 22-year old mother admitted the baby was hers and a search found in her rented room toys and blood-stained toilet paper, the Chinese state news agency reported.

The two-day-old, 5lb boy has been temporarily named Baby 59 – the number of the incubator in which he lies with a fractured skull and severe bruising, Daily Mail reported.

Baby 59’s condition was said to be stable and he should recover. But the incident has succeeded in outraging a country in which brutal acts against youngsters are a common occurrence.

According to reports, Police initially treated the case as an attempted homicide.

A police officer reportedly said the woman tried to hide his pregnancy and claimed the baby failed “into the lavatory after she unexpectedly gave birth".

 


 

‘Ikale Tahi team “have done exceedingly well”

By
Kaniva Staff
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by 'Emeline Tuita, CEO Tonga Rugby Union

On the win today (18-9) against the USA, I would like to congratulate Captain Nili Latu and his team for a great performance on field. I know it was a disappointment for the USA as the host, but from the support from the Tongan Community in the US, it would also have seemed like the 'Ikaletahi was playing in a home game also.

On the performance of the 'Ikaletahi so far on the 2013 PNC Tournament, I would have to say that under the circumstances they have done exceedingly well. Their opening of the PNC wth the win in the match against Japan lifted spirits very high and on this note they arrived in San Francisco to a very warm "homecoming" thanks to the efforts in particular of the TUSF and Tongans in the Bay Area and from around the USA.

The overall USA part of the tournament was a success both on-field and off-field although it is regretted that there was an injury at the SFGG game on June 3rd. The Canada game which Tonga yielded to Canada was disappointing from the view that it could perhaps have had a different outcome, rather than the team having to bear the consequences of undisciplined play on-field which saw three players sit out the USA game.

As you know also, as part of acting responsibly to the press and in respect to the standards that have been set for making statements to the press, the 'Ikaletahi Coach has publicly apologised to the International Rugby Board and the Officiating Match Officials. The President of the TRU, 'Epeli Taione and the Tonga Rugby Union have also publicly apologised for any adverse impact that the statement may have. Hopefully as the team moves on to Japan for their final game against Fiji, we can take some of the hard lessons of the tour so far and use it to provide the global Tongan community with a finale performance in Japan.

I am well aware that it is a rather difficult period that the Tonga Rugby Union is going through at present and this has not made preparations for this PNC Tour easy for the 'Ikaletahi Team. As things stand at present, the governance issues are likely to be resolved late next week, which means that it is remarkable that the 'Ikaletahi Team has been able to maintain their composure in the manner they have. And I must say that without the support of the Tongans in the United States who expressed their keenness to help back in March, the success of the 'Ikaletahi would not have been so pronounced.

Thank you also for the positive coverage that Kaniva has made to following the PNC Tour because it has been important to the morale of the 'Ikaletahi Team so that matters on the home front, which sometime can take a bit longer to resolve do not adversely affect performance on field. The TRU Staff in Tonga and the President have over the past weeks been working tirelessly toward implementing strategies that can create financial stability for the Union and allow TRU to focus going forward on providing the necessary support for a consistent high performance at the international level by the 'Ikaletahi. A key Tour is the November Tour when the 'Ikaletahi is scheduled to play against France and Wales, and the PNC Tour this year had made participation in the 'Ikaletahi Team so much more meaningful.

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