06 TON 1 - Laboratoire des frondeurs

Transcription

06 TON 1 - 06-11-16 Nukualofa
Laboratoiredesfrondeurs.org
Note :
Nuku’alofa (capitale): 28 899 hbts.
Population totale TONGA (estimation juillet 2004) : 110 237 hbts. Densité de population: 141.9 hbts/km².
http://www.tonga-now.to/Article.aspx?ID=2059
Violence erupts in Nuku'alofa
16 November 2006, 2.30pm
Police and the Tonga Defence Services moved in on Pangai Si’i Park less than an hour ago when
today’s protestors clashed with pro-Government supporters who were also at the park under a
separate tent.
The latest report is that the mob has moved towards Cabinet, at the Prime Minister’s office, amidst
the scuffle. The noise is getting louder after a relatively peaceful march of about 800 people around
Pangai Si’i this morning.
They were led by Tongatapu No 1 People’s Representative ‘Akilisi Pohiva and a few other people’s
representatives. Finau Tutone of the Public Servants Association said they were marching in
support of the Political Reform Committee’s proposed new Government model, which was
submitted to Parliament on Monday, November 13.
The marchers made their way onto Pangai Si’i after the walk and settled under tents and on the
grass lawn listening to speakers while about 40 police officers and a handful of security guards
formed a tight line around the park. Messages are clearly angry, with speeches punctuated by swear
words which seemed to stir an already highly charged crowd. Banners bore slogans calling for
immediate reform, others attacked public figures, while another labeled the current structure a
“deadly virus”.
It was for this reason that security was tightened last Friday after another protest where people
called out threats and curses across to Parliament House on loudspeakers. Police kept a watchful
eye today and another 20 formed an unbroken line in front of Parliament House and its offices. A
tent was also erected for pro-Government supporters, but heated exchanges led to the brawl.
As the march entered Pangai Si’i this morning reporters were told the crowd planned to occupy the
road between the park and Parliament House for the 2pm session. However the crowd has spilled
onto Hala Taufa’ahau, and the crowd is shouting abusive language towards PMO where police
personnel, security guards, and Government drivers are standing guard. Updates coming up shortly.
http://www.matangitonga.to/article/tonganews/crime/riot161106.shtml
Rioting crowd leaves leaves trail of wreckage in Nuku'alofa
16 Nov 2006, 16:02
Nuku'alofa, Tonga:
Story and pictures by Mary Fonua, Linny Folau and Pesi Fonua
Overturned vehicles near Pangai Si'i
Shoreline Offices burn as staff run for their lives
A RIOTING CROWD has trashed property in central Nuku'alofa leaving the central supermarket
Molisi Tonga in a tangled mess of broken glass and the streets smelling of spilled beer as looters
joined rioters in a spree of destruction shortly after 3.30 pm today.
Shocked staff at Molisi Tonga opposite the central Talamahu Market were left surveying the
wreckage as police are now taking control of the area.
Shaking and shocked Molisi Tonga general manager, Maliana Sevele, the daughter of Tonga's
Prime Minister, said she and staff members had only seconds warning of the approaching rioters
and they feared for their lives, as they ran to take cover in offices at the rear of the supermarket. "I
was confronted by one man and I was nearly hurt," she said, but she was not aware of any injuries
to her staff other than cuts from fragments of glass from the smashed front windows. "I was trying
to find the boys to pull down the security rails when the crowd arrived and they came in so fast, we
ran to the back," she said.
Her staff surveyed the damage trembling with tears in their eyes, the stock thrown from the shelves
and the cash registers buried under overturned cabinets and shelves.
Molisi Tonga supermarket trashed by rioters this afternoon.
The sound of breaking glass also came from the Prime Minister's Office and the area around Pangai
Si'i where a political rally has been ongoing this week.
Windows were smashed in the Prime Minister's Office Parliament House, the Magistrates Court,the
Public Service Commission Office, the Ministry of Finance and three vehicles overturned and
government cars smashed in government parking lots.
Meanwhile, at Pangai Si'i rioters are still jumping and dancing to loud music and the park opposite
parliament is full of people. "It's scary," said Linny Folau who has just returned from the area
around the PM's Office.
Shocked, Malina Sevele and staff emerged from the back offices and struggle to walk through the
supermarket isle.
Molisi Tonga
Broken windows at Parliament House
Overturned vehicle outside from Prime Minister's Office
Shoreline Offices gutted
Molisi Tonga
Molisi Tonga's sole security guard Viliami Tevita Mafile'o
Looted beer wets the road outside Talamahu Market after a crowd rampaged through this afternoon.
Meanwhile, shortly after 4p.m. reports were coming in of fires set in the Shoreline Building and
also at the Pacific Royale Hotel. It has been confirmed that Shoreline offices are now gutted but the
situation at the Pacific Royale has yet to be confirmed.
Shoreline Offices gutted
Shoreline Building
Shoreline Building
Breaking news to continue.
http://www.tonga-broadcasting.com/artman/publish/printer_606.shtml
From tonga-broadcasting.com
POLITICS
Pro-democracy supporters and youth take to the streets of Nuku'alofa,
damaging and looting government and business offices
By Radio/TV Tonga News
Nov 16, 2006, 21:33
Widespread looting and destruction have been carried out in downtown Nuku'alofa, Tonga's
capital since about 3 this afternoon, as youth and pro-democracy supporters take the law into
their own hands.
Initial estimates of the damage would run into millions of Pa'anga.
The riot erupted when pro-democracy supporters have been gathering at Pangai-si'i square, opposite
Parliament House since this morning. Several representatives of the people to the Legislative
Assembly, last night over local media, urged their supporters and their family, to congregate at
Pangai-si'i today to show their support for the House to quicken the process of democratic reform.
A handful of people began marching to the Prime Minister's Office before a crowd of several
dozens youth began throwing stones to the office damaging windows.
Another group of people began damaging the nearby Treasury before rioters rampaged along
Taufa'ahau Road into Leiola Duty Free shop, Pacific Royale Hotel, before torching Tonfon
Headoffice, a block away from the hotel.
Some vehicles were also burnt along the road, including one of Tonfon's. Heavy lootings were also
reported from business houses. Fire and damage also affected nearby buildings and according to
reports, they include Star Cinemas and the Fund Management Building, as well as major stores.
According to eyewitnesses, rioters then spread and destroyed ANZ Bank premises and several
stores nearby, then Molisi Tonga store, Taumoepeau Building and another Asian store in the
vicinity.
But the rampage did not end there. They spread to the east of Nuku'alofa damaging, looting and
then torched the Fung Shing Company, which is situated one block away from the Tonga
Broadcasting Commission's (TBC) premises. As of 9.00 this evening, the skyline towards Fung
Shing is well lit with the inferno while youth, women, men and children continue looting the shop.
Rioters have threatened to include Tonga Broadcasting Commission (Radio & TV Tonga) in their
rampage, but so far, none has happened. Six soldiers are guarding TBC now and reinforcements are
being requested. The threat of the attack had earlier left all staff of TBC panic and they had left at
about 4 pm. It also disrupted Radio and TV Tonga's normal schedule. Radio Tonga One (AM) and
TV Tonga went off air at about 6 this evening. Only Radio Tonga Two (FM), whose transmission
covers Tongatapu and the nearby island of 'Eua, still stays on air with only five reporters. Many
people have called these staff from throughout the Kingdom wanting to know about the latest
development of the the situation in Nuku'alofa.
Virtually all of the Chinese stores in downtown Nuku'alofa and many areas of Tongatapu have been
torched after being looted.
International flights this evening are reportedly cancelled until further notice.
Meanwhile, five pro-democracy people's representatives - Tongatapu's three and one from Ha'apai
and the two Niuas, have made an emergency statement on Radio Tonga Two saying that cabinet has
approved that 21 MPs will be democratically elected while 9 will be elected by the nobles.
They also appealed to people, especially youth, to stay calm and do not take part in the attacks.
In the meantime, Radio Tonga is on stand-by for an official statement from the Hon. Prime
Minister, Dr. Feleti Sevele. Due to security reasons, the Prime Minister's speech will be recorded
over the phone from his office.
© Copyright by Tonga-broadcasting.com
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/bulletins/rnzi/200611161650/riots_erupt_in_tonga_after_government_refused_to_enact
_democratic_reforms
Riots erupt in Tonga after government refused to enact democratic reforms
Posted at 4:50pm on 16 Nov 2006
Riots have erupted in the Tongan capital, Nukualofa, after the government refused to approve
democratic reforms immediately.
The assembly repeatedly deferred its sitting today as thousands of pro-democracy supporters
demanded that a vote take place before the house rises for the year later today.
Our correspondent, Mateni Tapueluelu, says violence erupted after the government withdrew to the
cabinet offices.
"People throw stones at the prime minister's office, they also throw stones at the cabinet office.
They turned over police vehicles and vehicles of the prime minister's office. They have also done
the same to a supermarket owned by the prime minister and there are men marching to the villa
where the king is supposed to be residing."
Mateni Tapueluelu in Nukualofa
Copyright © 2006 Radio New Zealand International
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/CrisesArticle.aspx?storyId=SYD187067&WTmodLoc=World-R5-Alertnet-2
Political riots erupt in S.Pacific's Tonga
Thu 16 Nov 2006 4:52:03 GMT
SYDNEY, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Rioting erupted in the Tongan capital Nuku'alofa on Thursday in
protest at the lack of democratic reforms by the government of the South Pacific island nation,
Tongan and New Zealand media reported.
Rioting crowds overturned cars, looted a supermarket and threw stones at the prime minister's
office, Matangi Tonga news service reported on its Web site www.matangitonga.to
The news service also carried photographs of a burning building, upturned cars and the looted
supermarket. It said one building had been gutted, but could not confirm reports that a hotel was
also ablaze.
"It's scary," witness Linny Folau told Matangi Tonga, adding that rioters were jumping and dancing
to loud music in a park opposite parliament.
Radio New Zealand International said rioting started after the government deferred its sitting on
Thursday, as thousands of pro-democracy supporters demanded a vote on democratic reforms take
place before the house rises for the year.
"People throw stones at the prime minister's office, they also throw stones at the cabinet office.
They turned over police vehicles and vehicles of the prime minister's office," said RNZI
correspondent Mateni Tapueluelu.
"They have also done the same to a supermarket owned by the prime minister and there are men
marching to the villa where the king is supposed to be residing."
Tonga, a group of 170 coral and volcanic islands about 2,000 km (1,250 miles) north of New
Zealand, saw unprecedented protests in May 2005, when 10,000 people -- a tenth of the population
-- took to the streets demanding democracy and public ownership of key assets. In August 2005
public servants staged a six-week strike over pay that halted services at hospitals and schools.
In September, Tonga's new King George Tupou V signalled some democratic changes to the semifeudal political system of the South Pacific's last monarchy. Tupou V succeeded his father, King
Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, who died on Sept. 10 after a long illness.
The royal family said in a rare public statement in October this week that the Anglophile new king,
educated at Oxford University and the Sandhurst military academy, believed Tonga's political
system was not evolving quickly enough.
There are no universal elections in Tonga, where 10 of the 14 cabinet posts in government are
appointed by the monarchy for life. Two of the remaining four posts, chosen from elected members
of the Legislative Assembly, are reserved for "nobility".
http://www.french.xinhuanet.com/french/2006-11/16/content_347803.htm
Emeutes dans la capitale des îles Tonga
2006-11-16 14:09:26
WELLINGTON, 16 novembre (XINHUA) -- Des émeutes ont éclaté jeudi après-midi dans la
capitale tonguienne de Nuku'alofa, alors que le gouvernement tonguien a refusé de procéder
immédiatement à des réformes politiques, a-t-on appris de sources concordantes à Wellington
(Nouvelle-Zélande).
Peu après 15H30 (02H30 GMT), des émeutiers et des malfaiteurs ont pris d'assaut le supermarché
Molisi Tonga, situé dans le centre-ville de la capitale, qui a ensuite fait l'objet de pillages et d'actes
de vandalisme, a rapporté le service d'information Matangi Tonga, ajoutant que la police
tonguienne a déjà repris le contrôle des lieux où se sont déroulées les émeutes.
D'autres émeutiers ont jeté des pierres contre des bureaux gouvernementaux et renversé des
véhicules de la police et de membres du gouvernement, a indiqué la radio internationale néozélandaise.
Le refus par le gouvernement d'entamer des réformes immédiates aurait été à l'origine de ces
émeutes, a analysé la radio néo- zélandaise.
Le Parlement tonguien a reporté, à plusieurs reprises, l'ouverture de ses travaux, alors que des
milliers de personnes se sont rassemblés devant le siège du gouvernement pour demander un vote,
a ajouté la radio.
Aucune information n'est disponible sur l'arrestation ou l'évaluation des dommages provoqués par
les émeutes.
L'achipel des Tonga, situé dans l'océan Pacifique, compte 171 îles, réparties en trois groupes.
http://permanent.nouvelobs.com/etranger/20061116.REU48749.html?0933
Emeutes dans la capitale des Tonga
REUTERS | 16.11.06 | 09:28
NUKU'ALOFA (Reuters) - Des émeutes ont éclaté jeudi à Nuku'alofa, capitale des Tonga, face au
manque de réformes démocratiques entreprises par le gouvernement de cet archipel du Pacifique
Sud, rapportent des médias locaux et des témoins.
Des émeutiers ont retourné des voitures, pillé un supermarché et jeté des pierres sur les bureaux du
Premier ministre, rapporte l'agence de presse Matangi Tonga, sur son site internet
www.matangitonga.to.
L'agence diffuse aussi des photographies montrant un bâtiment en feu, des voitures renversées et le
supermarché pillé. Elle ajoute qu'un bâtiment a été totalement détruit, mais ne confirme pas des
informations selon lesquelles un hôtel serait aussi en flammes.
"C'est effrayant", a déclaré un témoin, Linny Folau, à Matangi Tonga, ajoutant que les émeutiers
sautaient et dansaient en écoutant de la musique dans un parc devant le parlement.
Une partie de la capitale est recouverte de nuages de fumée noire s'élevant de bâtiments en feu, dont
les locaux de l'entreprise Shoreline, que possède partiellement le roi des Tonga, a déclaré un témoin
à Reuters.
Des émeutiers ont aussi attaqué des commerces gérés par des Chinois.
"La police n'a pas l'air de contrôler la situation, et nous essayons d'aider ceux qui sont coincés dans
des bureaux à quitter la ville", a déclaré le témoin.
Selon Radio New Zealand International, les émeutes ont débuté quand le gouvernement a ajourné
jeudi une séance, alors que des milliers de personnes réclamaient la tenue, avant les vacances
parlementaires, d'un vote sur des réformes démocratiques.
L'archipel des Tonga, qui compte environ 170 îles coralliennes et volcaniques, est situé à environ
2.000 km au nord de la Nouvelle-Zélande.
Il a connu des manifestations sans précédent en mai 2005, quand 10.000 personnes, soit un dixième
de la population, étaient descendues dans les rues en réclamant davantage de démocratie et des
nationalisations.
En août 2005, les fonctionnaires avaient fait grève pendant six semaines pour appuyer des
revendications salariales, paralysant les hôpitaux et les écoles.
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/11/16/asia/AS_GEN_New_Zealand_Tonga_Riot.php
Rioting in Tongan capital as youths rampage over reforms
The Associated Press
Rioting broke out in Tonga's capital Thursday, with groups of young men smashing businesses and
a hotel and burning down a building belonging to the state-owned power company.
Journalist Mary Fonua told The Associated Press by phone that the Shoreline power company office
was burned to the ground, and that the Pacific Royale Hotel had been "trashed" by hundreds of
rampaging youths.
Smoke was reportedly seen rising in several parts of the city as the rioting continued and looters
moved in.
"It's a full-fledged riot by protesters," a reporter told New Zealand's National Radio.
The disturbance follows a meeting in the capital addressed by pro-democracy lawmakers, pressing
for democratic change in the near-feudal South Pacific kingdom.
Tonga radio and television said the youths were believed to be pro-democracy supporters, unhappy
about what they claim is the delay in implementing political reforms.
There was no immediate comment from the government.
Earlier, thousands of people met in the city, demanding that the nation's Parliament pass democratic
reforms before it end its session for the year on Thursday.
When the reforms weren't passed, windows were smashed in the Prime Minister's Office,
Parliament House, the Magistrates' Court, Public Service Commission Office and the Finance
Ministry.
Vehicles were overturned and torched on city streets, while government cars were smashed in
government parking lots.
Rioters forced their way into a mid-city supermarket owned by Prime Minister Fred Sevele, whose
daughter, Maliana Sevele, was managing the store at the time.
Shelves and cabinets were overturned and stripped of stock.
Maliana Sevele told the Matangi Tonga Web site that store staff only had seconds of warning before
the rioters arrived.
"I was trying to find the boys to pull down the security rails when the crowd arrived and they came
in so fast, we ran to the back," she told online news site Matangi Tonga. "I was confronted by one
man and I was nearly hurt."
Tongan police were reported to be trying to restore calm in the capital, Nuku'alofa, the PacNews
news agency reported from Fiji.
At the Pangai Si'i protest site in the city, rioters were jumping and dancing to loud music and the
park opposite parliament was reported to be full of people, Matangi Tonga said.
Reporter Martini Tapueloelo told National Radio that groups of men were attacking Chinese shops
in the area.
He said a letter read to protesters and allegedly from Prime Minister Sevele agreed to demands that
democratic change occur by the 2008, when 21 of the nation's lawmakers will be up for election.
Currently only nine lawmakers in the 32-seat Parliament are elected by popular vote — the rest are
appointed by the king and noble families.
"It's scary," said Linny Folau who has just returned from the area around the premier's office.
Fonua said the rioting appeared to be "mindless violence driven by mindless politics."
Tonga's King Siaosi Tupou V is believed to be at a royal villa outside the capital.
Telecommunication links into the island kingdom seemed to be affected, with many local
subscribers unable to make overseas calls and foreign callers unable to reach the island.
People's Reps say Govt. has agreed to 2008 elections
16 November 2006
At around 7pm today the Peoples Representatives went on radio to
announce that they have made an agreement with the Govt. to hold
elections in 2008 and that there will be 21 members of Parliament to be
fully elected by the people and 9 Nobles representatives to be elected by
the nobility. A total of 30 members – down from the current 34.
‘Akilisi Pohiva has announced that they have won the struggle and now
calling for the people and rioters to refrain from committing further damage. The No. 2 Peoples
representative ‘Isi Pulu also called for the looters and drunk rioters to be restrained from causing
further damage. Clive Edwards also voiced the same concerns.
The Peoples Reps are very pleased that the political debate is over and the
pathway forward has been set.
Right now it is 8pm and the looters are continuing to target the small
falekoloa. Nuku’alofa is like a warzone with overturned vehicles and
burnt shops.
Today we had “The World” floating apartments ship visit and the tourists
must be amazed at what they are seeing unfold in front of them.
Amazingly, no there has been no casualty yet but it is nighttime and some of the drunk looters are
still milling around. People from the outlying villages are also coming into town so traffic is
bumper to bumper.
The cost of the damage to the businesses is likely to be astronomical with some long-standing
businesses completely destroyed.
The Prime Minister has announced a proclamation that keeps the main city centre out of bounds –
this will help to ensure no further damage is committed. At the same time the Police will try to
maintain law and order and more importantly try and make sure no one is
seriously hurt.
The main part of the rioting is now over but there are always opportunists
looking for something to carry away so no doubt the Police will continue
to be out in force.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/mobs-run-riot-intonga/2006/11/16/1163266699776.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1
Mobs run riot in Tonga
November 16, 2006
The late King of Tonga, Taufa'ahau Tupou IV.
Photo: Reuters
Hundreds of pro-democracy protesters have rampaged through Nuku'alofa, attacking the prime
minister's office, trashing and torching buildings and overturning cars.
The violence broke out after thousands of Tongans rallied in the centre of Tonga's capital
demanding a vote today on proposed democratic reforms to the country's semi-feudal political
system.
When the vote did not happen before parliament went into recess for the year, scores of angry
youths, some fuelled by alcohol, began trashing the prime minister's office, the court house and
other public buildings.
The unrest follows unprecedented protests last year that saw 10,000 people - or 10 per cent of
Tonga's population - take to the streets demanding democracy and public ownership of key assets.
The government's own reform committee has said Tonga must adopt sweeping changes to its
political system and increase the number of directly elected members of parliament.
After today's riots, Australia and New Zealand hastily issued travel warnings saying its citizens in
Tonga were at risk of civil disorder and politically motivated violence.
Parts of the capital were shrouded in black smoke billowing from several fires, including the offices
of the Shoreline power company, partly owned by Tonga's king.
Rioters also forced their way into a supermarket owned by Prime Minister Fred Sevele, whose
daughter, Maliana Sevele, was managing the store at the time.
Maliana Sevele told the Matangi Tonga news service that staff had no time to flee.
"I was trying to find the boys to pull down the security rails when the crowd arrived and they came
in so fast, we ran to the back," she said.
"I was confronted by one man and I was nearly hurt."
Journalist Mary Fonua also told The Associated Press that the Pacific Royale Hotel had been
"trashed" by hundreds of rampaging youths.
Looters had moved in after the violence, she said.
Media reports quoted witnesses as saying there was a strong smell of alcohol in the streets.
Tongan police were trying to restore calm, the PacNews news agency reported.
At the site of today's protest rally, rioters were jumping and dancing to loud music and the park
opposite parliament was reported to be full of people, Matangi Tonga reported.
Another journalist Martini Tapueloelo told New Zealand's National Radio that groups of men were
attacking Chinese shops.
He said a letter read to protesters - allegedly from Prime Minister Sevele - agreed to demands that
democratic change occur by 2008, when 21 of the nation's MPs will be up for election.
Currently only nine lawmakers in the 32-seat parliament are elected by popular vote - the rest are
appointed by the king and noble families.
Tonga's King Siaosi Tupou V is believed to be at a royal villa outside the capital.
Tonga, a group of 170 islands about 2000 kilometres north of New Zealand, saw unprecedented
pro-democracy protests in May last year, when 10,000 people - a tenth of the population - marched
in the streets.
And in August last year public servants staged a six-week strike over pay that halted services at
hospitals and schools.
A month later, Tupou signalled some democratic changes to the semi-feudal political system of the
South Pacific's last monarchy.
Other witnesses told The Associated Press that at least a dozen fires were lit, with flames seen
shooting through the roofs of several three-storey buildings.
Local firefighters stood by helplessly as fires burned in the downtown area, turning the skies blackbrown, AP reported.
Police were helping to get people out of the area safely, and trying to protect property but were
making no effort to arrest rioters, journalist Mary Fonua said.
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters branded the rioting and arson "a disaster for Tonga"
and "a severe setback at a time when political reform is happening in Tonga".
A protest "had corroded into acts of arson ... but there is no way anybody interested in political
reforms will advance their cause by criminal actions," he told New Zealand's National Radio from
Vietnam where he is attending the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
He said New Zealand would offer assistance and expressed hope that those responsible would be
punished.
Agencies
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/bulletins/rnzi/200611162130/the_centre_of_tongas_capital_destroyed_by_rioters
The centre of Tonga's capital destroyed by rioters
Rampaging drunken youths attached to the Tonga pro-democracy movement have destroyed the
business district of the country's capital.
Fire is now spreading to outlying parts of the town.
The youths began rioting in the middle of this afternoon after the government had deferred todays
sitting, the last scheduled for this year.
The pro-democracy movement had been demanding an immediate vote vote on democratic reforms
rather than delaying it till next year as the government wants.
The Government eventually gave into these demands but our correspondent in Nuku'Alofa, Mateni
Tapueluelu, says that move came too late to save the city centre.
"The main shopping centre's already burned down, in blocks. It started first with the prime
minister's own shopping centre. The people looted that, they started drinking the beer, they looted
that shop and from there no one could control them. Fromt here they shifted to the Leiola Duty Free
shop and they started drinking some more alcohol in there, looted the money, distributed the money
to the people and from there the fire started spreading from blocks to blocks. I have just travelled
from the city centre to where I am speaking to you now - a distance of about three kilometres - and I
saw Chinese shops being looted and burning, so the looting and burning is spreading from the city
centre."
Copyright © 2006 Radio New Zealand International
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/latest/200611162241/fires_spread_in_tonga_as_democracy_supporters_continue_rampa
ge
Fires spread in Tonga as democracy supporters continue rampage
Hundreds of pro-democracy protesters have been rampaging through the business district of
the Tongan capital, Nukualofa, torching buildings and overturning cars.
The centre of the capital is shrouded in black smoke, with fires spreading to outlying parts of the
town on Thursday evening.
The police said on Thursday night there had been no injuries and no arrests.
The riots erupted on Thursday afternoon after the government refused to approve democratic
reforms immediately.
The legislative assembly repeatedly deferred its sitting today as thousands of pro-democracy
supporters demanded that a vote take place before the house rose for the year.
CBD alight
Radio New Zealand International correspondent, Mateni Tapueluelu, says the rioters are burning
the central business district, with almost three-quarters of it affected.
"It's spreading away from the central business district to other villages as well. The road is already
jammed with people in vehicles," he said about 9pm New Zealand time. "There was no police in
sight, no army, no security forces in sight; just the people taking their political destiny into their
own hands."
The riots began when a mob of drunken youths belonging to pro-democracy groups attacked the
office of Prime Minister Feleti Sevele and the court house and torched other buildings.
The rioting crowds overturned cars in the street, hurled rocks at windows and burned and looted a
supermarket owned by the prime minister.
Many buildings targeted
They also attacked other public buildings, including the Magistrate's Court, the Public Service
Commission Office and the Ministry of Finance.
The offices of the Shoreline power company, the ANZ bank, the Pacific Royale Hotel and
businesses belonging to the Chinese community were also attacked.
Protesters also marched to the villa where the King is believed to be residing. The Nuku'alofa Club
is also reported to have been burnt.
Mr Tapueluelu told Checkpoint that violence erupted after the government withdrew to the Cabinet
offices.
About 1,000 people were rioting and a further 3,000 protesting over democratic reform and the sale
of Shoreline, partly owned by the King. Shoreline runs the country's power, and a mobile phone
company.
New Zealand lines company and generator Northpower has been negotiating to buy Shoreline.
Call for calm
Tonga's Lord Chamberlain, the Honourable Filekepa, is calling for calm because reform is on the
way.
"Police did not appear to have control but were trying to help those trapped in offices to leave the
town," a witness said earlier.
"It's scary," Linny Folau told the Matangi Tonga news service website, adding that rioters were
jumping and dancing to loud music in a park opposite Parliament.
Mary Fonua, publisher of the website, said the situation in the capital was tense. "We've got rioters
around our office at the moment and we're not in a stable situation here. Most people are trapped in
their offices."
Need for faster change
The King of Tonga was briefed by the deputy commander of the armed forces and the Prime
Minister on the riots.
There has been new tension in Tonga as advocates of political change feel the government is not
moving fast enough on recommendations made by a report on democracy.
The Honourable Filekepa says the king has recognised the need for change but this may mean
things will have to move faster.
Mr Tapueluelu reports the Tongan government held an urgent Cabinet meeting approving the
people's demands that 21 Tongan MPs will be appointed democratically by 2008.
The government had proposed putting reform ideas to a subcommittee for it to consider next year,
but the pro-democracy activists want to ensure changes are in place for the next general election in
2008.
Anger over government's own ideas
Tongan academic Sitiveni Halapua says the rioters' anger was fostered by the government
producing its own ideas on political reform.
Dr Halapua, from Hawaii's East-West Centre, was vice-chairman of the Parliamentary National
Committee on Political Reform.
He took over as chair after Prince Tu'ipelehake died in a car crash in California this year.
Dr Halapua says the government encouraged those agitating for reform to wait until the report was
presented, which happened in early October.
Earlier protests
Tonga, a group of 170 islands about 2,000km north of New Zealand, experienced unprecedented
protests in May last year, when 10,000 people - a tenth of the population - took to the streets
demanding democracy and public ownership of key assets.
In August last year public servants staged a six-week strike over pay that halted services at hospitals
and schools.
A month later, Tonga's new king, George Tupou V, signalled some democratic changes. Tupou V
succeeded his father, King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, who died on September 10 after a long illness.
There are no universal elections in Tonga, where 10 of the 14 Cabinet posts are appointed by the
monarch for life. Two of the remaining four posts, chosen from elected members of the Legislative
Assembly, are reserved for "nobility".
Copyright © 2006 Radio New Zealand
http://www.abc.net.au/ra/francais/stories/s1790946.htm
ABC Radio Australie - 16 nov 2006
Le mouvement pro-démocratie crie victoire à Tonga
Dernière mise a jour: 17/11/2006 12:27:34 PM
Après une nuit d'émeutes et de pillages, les dirigeants pro-démocratie du royaume affirment que le
gouvernement a accepté la mise en place des réformes démocratiques.
Akilisi Pohiva, chef de file du mouvement, déclare que les élections de 2008 se dérouleront en
fonction d'un nouveau système politique où les députés du Parlement seront élus par le peuple.
Selon la monarchie constitutionnelle actuelle, neuf députés seulement sont élus par le peuple et les
autres nommés par le monarque.
Le Premier ministre tongien, Fred Sevele, indique lui que sa première priorité est de restaurer le
calme dans les rues de Nuku'alofa après les émeutes de la nuit dernière. Le gouvernement désire
aussi comprendre pourquoi la police et l'armée n'ont pas été en mesure de contenir les émeutiers qui
ont détruit une grande partie du centre-ville.
Les émeutes auraient été condamnées par de nombreux pays du Pacifique et Alexander Downer,
ministre australien des affaires étrangères, s'est entretenu avec le Premier ministre Fred Sevele. M.
Downer n'a pas pu confirmer si l'Australie a l'intention d'apporter son aide au royaume pour
restaurer la stabilité.
Pour le Premier ministre australien John Howard, les émeutes reflètent une fois de plus les
problèmes du Pacifique Sud : « Quand j'ai su ce qui s'est passé à Tonga, nous nous sommes mis en
rapport avec le Premier ministre et je suis tenu informé. Je sais qu'il y a eu beaucoup de dégâts et je
le regrette beaucoup. C'est vraiment une région difficile. »
http://www.abc.net.au/ra/francais/stories/s1790947.htm]
ABC Radio Australie - 16 nov 2006
Emeutes et pillages au royaume de Tonga
La situation est restée tendue pendant plusieurs jours et elle a explosé quand le gouvernement a
refusé d'approuver immédiatement les réformes démocratiques proposées.
Les militants pro-démocratie ont plusieurs fois indiqué que l'adoption des réformes devait se faire
impérativement avant le 16 novembre, date de la dernière séance parlementaire de l'année. Le
Parlement a plusieurs fois repoussé les débats. Pendant ce temps, plusieurs milliers de militants ont
maintenu la pression en campant dans un jardin public face au Parlement.
C'est hier, en apprenant que les membres du gouvernement avaient rejoint leur bureau que les
militants ont bombardé de pierres la façade du bureau du Premier ministre, du ministère des
finances, du tribunal et de plusieurs bâtiments administratifs. Il ne reste plus beaucoup de vitres
intactes au Parlement.
Les protestataires ont aussi renversé plusieurs voitures de police et des véhicules administratifs,
dont la voiture du Premier ministre Fred Sevele. La situation a ensuite dégénéré, des commerces ont
été attaqués, mis à sac et incendiés. Les scènes de pillage se sont multipliées et hier soir Nuku'alofa
était à feu et à flammes.
Le site Web, Tonga-Now, affirme que les autorités de Nuku'alofa ont maintenant décidé de tenir de
nouvelles élections en 2008 où la majorité des députés sera élue par le peuple. En fonction de la
monarchie constitutionnelle actuelle, les représentants de la noblesse et les députés nommés par la
famille royale sont toujours majoritaires à l'Assemblée.
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/news/local/16024564.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp
Posted on Thu, Nov. 16, 2006
Uneasy calm in Tonga capital after riots
PESI FONUA
Associated Press
NUKU'ALOFA, Tonga - Police and troops early Friday took control of Tonga's capital, where a
crowd of young people had gone on a rampage, setting fires, overturning cars and looting shops in
the South Pacific kingdom.
The violence erupted after crowds gathered in the capital, demanding that parliament pass
democratic reforms before it ended its annual session Thursday.
"There are number of burning buildings," including several housing businesses and the offices of
government ministries, said Tonga's Lord Chamberlain, the Honorable Filekepa. "Thankfully there
has been no injury or fatality."
The young Tongans, apparently angry at the lack of political reform in this semifeudal society,
targeted several businesses formerly connected with King Saiosi Tupou V and to Prime Minister
Fred Sevele. But many other businesses were damaged as well. Witnesses estimated more than half
the city's shopping district had been razed by the fires.
As troops filled the streets, Tonga's monarch was believed to be at a royal villa outside the capital.
Pro-democracy lawmaker 'Akalisi Pohiva Friday blamed the riot on the government's delay of
promised political reforms.
"The government made a big mistake" by delaying approval of expanded democratic elections in
2008 until the rioting began, Pohiva told New Zealand's National Radio. "They shouldn't have
waited until the country fell into this chaotic situation."
He said the prime minister waited until the end of the legislative session to sign a measure
authorizing elections that will give democratically-elected representatives a majority in parliament.
Earlier Thursday, the government had proposed referring the reform proposals to a subcommittee
for consideration next year.
The new elections will increase the number of democratically-elected representatives in the 32-seat
parliament from nine to 21, Pohiva said. The rest are appointed by the King.
Last month, a government committee recommended all lawmakers in Tonga be elected.
Officials in Australia and New Zealand, who dispatched a peacekeeping force in the Solomon
Islands after rioting there earlier this year, condemned the unrest.
Australian authorities said they would consider sending security forces to the Tonga if the
government requested it. Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said he spoke to Sevele by
telephone earlier Thursday and would be in touch again Friday.
"Whether we would need to provide additional security, we are not sure yet at this stage," said
Downer, who is attending the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Hanoi, Vietnam.
New Zealand's acting prime minister, Michael Cullen, said Friday his country would "seriously
consider" any Tongan requests for aid.
"Things are quiet on the streets ... but there's the possibility that things could deteriorate later," he
said.
Reform supporters complained that Sevele, who is appointed by the king, and the rest of the nation's
political establishment had supported delaying the reforms.
The recommendation was one of the most significant steps toward reform of Tonga's political
system since the September death of King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, who was in power for more than
40 years.
Tonga, located halfway between Australia and Tahiti, has a population of around 108,000 and an
economy dependent on pumpkin and vanilla exports, fishing, foreign aid and remittances from
Tongans abroad.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/tongas-capital-burns-as-protesters-rampage/2006/11/16/1163266712701.html
Tonga's capital burns as protesters rampage
NUKU'ALOFA: Hundreds of pro-democracy protesters have rampaged through the Tongan capital,
attacking the Prime Minister's office, ransacking and setting fire to buildings and overturning cars.
The ANZ Bank's Tonga branch was among the buildings burnt down. "No staff were hurt. ANZ
was not targeted in the violence but was next door to a building that was and unfortunately …
caught fire as well," said an ANZ spokesman, Paul Edwards.
The violence broke out after thousands of Tongans rallied in central Nuku'alofa yesterday,
demanding a vote on proposed democratic reforms to the nation's semi-feudal political system.
When the vote did not happen before Parliament went into recess, scores of angry youths, some
fuelled by alcohol, began ransacking the Prime Minister's office and other public buildings.
Mary Fonua, a journalist, said police were helping to get people out of the area safely and trying to
protect property, but were making no effort to arrest rioters.
The New Zealand Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, said the rioting was "a disaster" and "a severe
setback at a time when political reform is happening in Tonga".
Parts of Nuku'alofa were shrouded in black smoke billowing from several fires, including the
offices of the Shoreline power company, partly owned by Tonga's king.
The unrest follows unprecedented protests last year that saw 10,000 people, 10 per cent of Tonga's
population, take to the streets demanding democracy and public ownership of key assets.
The Government's reform committee has said Tonga must adopt sweeping changes to its political
system and increase the number of directly elected MPs.
After yesterday's riots, Australia and New Zealand issued travel warnings, saying their citizens in
Tonga were at risk of civil disorder and politically motivated violence.
"Several buildings and shops have been set on fire," the Department of Foreign Affairs advised.
Rioters also forced their way into a supermarket owned by the Prime Minister, Fred Sevele, whose
daughter, Maliana, was managing the store at the time.
Ms Sevele told the Matangi Tonga news service that staff had no time to flee. "I was trying to find
the boys to pull down the security rails when the crowd arrived and they came in so fast, we ran to
the back," she said.
Ms Fonua said the Pacific Royale Hotel had been "trashed" by hundreds of rampaging youths and
looters had moved in after the violence.
Witnesses said there was a strong smell of alcohol in the streets. Tongan police were trying to
restore calm.
At the site of the protest rally, rioters were jumping and dancing to loud music and the park
opposite the Parliament was said to be full of people, Matangi Tonga reported.
Another journalist, Martini Tapueloelo, said a letter read to protesters - allegedly from the Mr
Sevele - agreed to demands that democratic change occur by 2008, when 21 of the nation's MPs
will be up for election.
King Siaosi Tupou V was believed to be at a royal villa outside the capital.
Groups of men were reportedly attacking Chinese shops.
The Chinese embassy told the Xinhua news agency that it had received calls from a store owner
complaining of looters.
There are about 500 Chinese living in Nuku'alofa.
Agence France-Presse, Reuters, Australian Associated Press
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/latest/200611162045/capital_burns_in_riots_over_slowness_of_tongan_reforms
Capital burns in riots over slowness of Tongan reforms
Parts of the Tongan capital Nuku'alofa are shrouded in black smoke from burning buildings
as riots erupted after the government refused to approve democratic reforms immediately.
The Legislative Assembly repeatedly deferred its sitting on Thursday as thousands of prodemocracy supporters demanded that a vote take place before the House rose for the year.
A mob of drunken youths belonging to pro-democracy groups rampaged through the capital,
attacking the office of Prime Minister Feleti Sevele, the court house and torching other buildings.
Rioting crowds overturned cars in the street, looted a supermarket and hurled rocks at the prime
minister's office, smashing windows.
They also attacked other public buildings, including the Magistrate's Court, the Public Service
Commission Office and the Ministry of Finance.
The offices of the Shoreline power company, the ANZ bank, the Pacific Royale Hotel and
businesses belonging to the Chinese community were also attacked.
Fires unattended
A number of fires were burning but Radio New Zealand International's correspondent, Mateni
Tapueluelu, says under-resourced fire fighting services were unable to attend many of them.
The police said on Thursday night there had been no injuries and no arrests.
Mr Tapueluelu told Checkpoint that violence erupted after the government withdrew to the Cabinet
offices.
About 1,000 people were rioting and a further 3,000 protesting over democratic reform and the sale
of power company Shoreline.
They also burned a supermarket owned by the prime minister and marched to the villa where the
king is believed to be residing.
Call for calm
Tonga's Lord Chamberlain, the honourable Filekepa, says there were burning buildings including
the Shoreline Group office, partly owned by the king, which runs the power and a mobile phone
company. He says the Nuku'alofa Club has also been burnt and is calling for calm because reform is
on the way.
"Police did not appear to have control but were trying to help those trapped in offices to leave the
town," a witness said.
"It's scary," Linny Folau told the Matangi Tonga news service website, adding that rioters were
jumping and dancing to loud music in a park opposite Parliament.
Mary Fonua, publisher of the website, said the situation in the capital was tense. "We've got rioters
around our office at the moment and we're not in a stable situation here. Most people are trapped in
their offices."
Need for faster change
The king of Tonga was briefed by the deputy commander of the armed forces and the prime
minister on the riots.
There has been new tension in Tonga as advocates of political change feel the government is not
moving fast enough on recommendations made by a report on democracy.
The honourable Filekepa says the king has recognised the need for change but this may mean things
will have to move faster.
Mr Tapueluelu reports the Tongan government held an urgent Cabinet meeting approving the
people's demands that 21Tongan MPs will be appointed democratically by 2008.
The government had proposed putting reform ideas to a subcommittee for it to consider next year,
but the pro-democracy activists want to ensure changes are in place for the next general election in
2008.
Anger over government's own ideas
Tongan academic Sitiveni Halapua says the rioters' anger was fostered by the government
producing its own ideas on political reform.
Dr Halapua, from Hawaii's East-West Center, was vice-chairman of the Parliamentary National
Committee on Political Reform.
He took over as chair after Prince Tu'ipelehake died in a car crash in California this year.
Dr Halapua says the government encouraged those agitating for reform to wait until the report was
presented, which happened in early October.
Severe setback for Tonga - Peters
Foreign Minister Winston Peters says the riots in Nuku'alofa are a disaster for Tonga.
He says it is a severe setback at a time when there is political reform happening in Tonga.
Mr Peters says New Zealand will offer assistance, but at the moment it's a domestic matter.
Travel advisory
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is advising New Zealanders to avoid the downtown area of
Nuku'alofa especially areas around government buildings.
Visitors are also advised to avoid demonstrations and large gatherings as the situation is
unpredictable and violence could break out with little warning.
It says telecommunications in the kingdom also appear to have been disrupted during the unrest.
The Australian government has also warned travellers to Tonga to be alert to their own security.
Earlier protests
Tonga, a group of 170 islands about 2,000km north of New Zealand, experienced unprecedented
protests in May last year, when 10,000 people - a tenth of the population - took to the streets
demanding democracy and public ownership of key assets.
In August last year public servants staged a six-week strike over pay that halted services at hospitals
and schools.
A month later, Tonga's new king, George Tupou V, signalled some democratic changes. Tupou V
succeeded his father, King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, who died on September 10 after a long illness.
There are no universal elections in Tonga, where 10 of the 14 Cabinet posts are appointed by the
monarch for life. Two of the remaining four posts, chosen from elected members of the Legislative
Assembly, are reserved for "nobility".
Nuku'alofa up in smoke
17 November 2005, 1am
The night is black, but Nuku’alofa was black long before the sun decided to set on what has become
a town gone wild. Standing before Taufa’ahau Road from Mala’e Kula crossroads at 9pm, one only
encountered the blindingly white light of waves of fire falling onto the road from Tungi Arcade,
Ramanlal Hotel, and other stores completely engulfed in flames. In the midst of it, silhouettes of
teenagers and young children in marked contrast carried, with uncannily white smiles, boxes and
sacks of goods from the stores. It was a scene Tongans had only witnessed on television via the LA
riots, only this time, it was a tiny island, with a burning town, and a confused crowed only too
happy to stand in awe as they watched the flames engulf the entire business district of Nuku’alofa.
There were no police personnel around. The looting continued and people scrambled by freely with
sacks like a Christmas give-away bonanza come early.
Parallel to this scene, crowds stood in stunned silence, immovable, watching embers deteriorate of
what was once Narottam Store, a Chinese store opposite, following from earlier reports that Leiola
Duty Free Shop and other businesses had met the same fate.
Nuku’alofa is at an inferno. Shoreline headquarters is gone, the Leiola Duty Free Store, Cowley’s,
Pacifica Royale, and major Chinese outlets are up in smoke. All flights into and out of the Kingdom
have been cancelled. Since late in the evening, the Prime Minister Hon Feleti Sevele’s message
urging people for peace and order has gone practically unnoticed by the rioters. Only Tonganowned stores in the Kingdom are open.
On the road, traffic looks like an 8am Monday morning, it is difficult to access any place. From
town to Tofoa (as far as RIO went), the Chinese shops are completely looted. Even at 7pm all
Chinese stores were shut tight. RIO visited town at 9pm and from town to Tofoa (where we ended)
Chinese stores were smashed and empty, save for angry mobs carrying booty of everything from
toilet paper to boxes of chicken.
We found one Chinese store open manned by the Tongan owners of the land it was upon. Only a
Tongan woman was at the store with her family. She said all Chinese ethnics, including the ones
who ran her store, had escaped to the Chinese embassy. Even as we stood making purchases,
vehicles dashing by shouted out to close the store. Old and young customers at the store said they
had no idea the violence would escalate to such a point and said they were highly disappointed by
what was happening.
We go by one Chinese Store. It is crowded as 150 people are grabbing goods from about 5
containers on the premises. One man, his face covered with cloth, brandishes an axe and asks me
why we are taking photos. He is informed that we are from a popular newpaper. The crowd goes
wild pose for their photo to be taken with their booty. A group of four armed masked men
also pose. The scene unfolding is unreal as women, children, young men - all carrying boxes, plastic
bags of goods and then someone decides to take the store’s distribution vehicle. Their obvious
adrenaline rush and excitement is beyond comprehension.
All Tongan-owned retail stores remained open, obviously confident they would not be harmed. We
stopped at one and about five customers there said they hated what was going on. They said the
violence was accelerated with youth, and that the leaders were ordering young students from the
high schools to incite disturbances that would result in distruction.
From Tofoa, we can hear gun shots, and in daylight we could see the thick black smoke from town.
As I write, the town is burning to the ground the feeling of insecurity is new to anyone who has
grown up in Tonga. The question is then: is this the democracy that people wanted. If so, there is no
sense in being a part of it.
http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=51798
Fijians live in fear as Tonga burns
REIJELI KIKAU
Friday, November 17, 2006
About 200 Fijians working and living in Tonga are in fear as rioters continued their rampage of
burning buildings on Taufa'ahau Road in Nukualofa, last night, to change the government.
Speaking from Nukua'lofa last night, Fiji resident Lavenia Taufa who has worked in Tonga since
2001 said there was mass destruction, burning and demonstration by these young rioters.
It was frightening, she said.
She said most Fijians living on Nukua'lofa worked as housekeepers for businessmen and diplomats
there.
"The rioters damaged the power house so there is no light and we are trying to look for family
members," she said.
"Everyone is frightened. We never expected the demonstrators to be so violent. It's just
unbelievable," she said.
She said strong winds caused the fire to spread quickly. The real cause of the unrest is not known
but it is believed the demonstrators want a change in government.
Tongan journalist Nanise Fifita said rioting started at 3.30pm yesterday when a group of about 200
youths stoned the Prime Minister, Dr Fred Sevele's office, before burning down the Tonfon
Building on Taufa' ahau Road.
"The building occupies offices owned by his majesty King Siaosi Tupou that includes Shoreline
company and also houses a television company," she said.
She said police could not control the rioters and asked for the military's assistance.
Ms Fifita said there were six soldiers guarding their building, which was a block away from Dr
Sevele's home.
"This is the first time ever for something like this to happen and we are just frightened and do not
know what to expect.We believe the riot will continue into the night.
"The rioters burned down the Pacific Royale Hotel which is owned by the Raman Lal brothers," she
said.
Black Friday
17 November 2006, 9pm
Nuku'alo
Nuku'alofa is dotted with the shells of burnt down, gutted buildings. Phone lines are not affected but
connection is often difficult between Tonfon and Ucall numbers. His Majesty King George V drove
through town this morning, his expression sullen. Shoreline has made a public announcement that
electricity will now be rationed, and power will only be on from 7am-10am and 7pm -10pm daily.
How yesterday's violence has affected the outer islands is not clear. Around Tongatapu, there was
an initial reaction of stunned silence and while shock remains, this morning some activities returned
to normal - this is more obvious with Tongan-owned businesses. OSB store, and markets along
Fanga were in full operation. Tongans are shopkeeping at a majority of the Chinese stores that have
reopened. One store near the Hospital was giving away any goods for as little as $1 or $2. By the
time the word spread and crowds gathered there, the goods were given freely by the Tongans
within. The presence of soldiers is stronger - entries into the main business district - of which 80%
has been destroyed - are manned by armed forces, many now in full combat gear. Before 9am this
morning, a fighting mob gathered at Poutaha, where a Chinese store stood burning from an attack in
the early hours of the morning. A policeman said he and five other officers were attacked by the
crowd and were saved by the arrival of soldiers with machine guns. Last night, we saw a man
pulling away a brand new fridge. At the Chinese embassy, crowds of Chinese ethnics who have
escaped from their stores and homes fill the grounds within the gates which are firmly locked with
the sign "No entry without authorisation". Around town this evening, youth in bunches are
everywhere. In the midst of the violence, it is obvious there are Tongans friendly to the Chinese in
their area. At many Chinese-owned stores, groups of young men have gathered - some say to deter
anyone from attacking. RIO spoke with one Chinese shopkeeper who remained operating his shop.
He said he had a group of boys he's relying on as protection. We went looking for gas, around 3pm
nearly all gas stations in the immediate vicinity around town had run out of diesel. Later in the
afternoon more gas stations had closed when benzene had run out as well. Town continues to
smoke, and rubble and rubbish litter the areas smashed during the night. It is difficult to put a finger
on the mood, other than that rumours are rife about shootings and more looting, and an unsettling
feeling of unpredictability remains. The radio is full of messages from church leaders calling for an
end to any more violence. We have about 40 minutes left of electricity. Apologies we are unable to
load more photos because of time. More updates soon.
http://www.lemonde.fr/web/depeches/texte/0,14-0,39-28845660,0.html
Six morts dans des violences à Tonga (presse)
AFP 17.11.06 | 05h34
Les émeutes dans l'archipel de Tonga (Pacifique Sud) aurait fait six morts, dont les corps ont été
retrouvés dans les décombres de bâtiments détruits, ont rapporté vendredi les médias locaux, citant
la police.
Plusieurs centaines de jeunes, réclamant plus de démocratie dans le pays, ont saccagé et incendié
jeudi des voitures et des bâtiments dans la capitale, Nuku'alofa, selon la même source.
Le commandant de police, Sinilau Kolokihakaufisi, a indiqué que ses agents avaient découverts les
corps alors qu'ils nettoyaient les débris dans des entreprises vandalisées.
Un porte-parole de l'hôpital a pour sa part indiqué que les victimes étaient sans doute des jeunes
ayant participé aux saccages, dans la mesure où aucun membre du personnel de ces sociétés n'avait
été porté disparu.
Vendredi, le calme semblait être revenu après une réunion du gouvernement qui s'est résolu à ce
que la majorité des membres du Parlement soit élue par la population, lors des prochaines élections
en 2008.
"Un semblant de paix est revenu dans le centre de Nuku'alofa. Ca tient", a déclaré vendredi à l'AFP,
Lopeti Senituli, porte-parole du Premier ministre, Fred Sevele.
Il a indiqué que le gouvernement et les membres du Parlement étaient tombé d'accord pour que
désormais 21 députés sur 30 soient élus par le peuple. Dans le précédent système, les députés
étaient désignés par le roi et un collège de nobles, majoritaires.
L'Australie et la Nouvelle-Zélande ont indiqué être prêtes à envoyer des moyens pour rétablir
l'ordre, si cela était jugé nécessaire par les autorités tonguiennes.
Les émeutes ont éclaté à l'occasion de la dernière réunion de l'année du Parlement, qui laissait
présager l'abandon de toute nouvelle démocratisation du régime.
Tonga est le théâtre depuis plus d'un an d'une fronde démocratique, réclamant la fin du système
semi-féodal en vigueur dans l'archipel.
Après la mort à 87 ans du vieux roi Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, en septembre dernier, son fils Siaosi
Tupou V, qui lui a succédé, avait promis "des changements appropriés", excluant cependant toute
réforme de fond.
L'archipel de Tonga compte 100.000 habitants et est situé au nord-est de la Nouvelle-Zélande.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SYD234149.htm
Up to six killed in Tonga riots -Australia's Downer
17 Nov 2006 01:48:17 GMT
Source: Reuters
CANBERRA, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Up to six people may have been killed in violent prodemocracy riots in Tonga, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said on Friday.
"Five or possibly six people appear to have been killed," Downer told Australian
Broadcasting Corp. radio from Vietnam, where he is attending the Asia Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) meeting.
Downer said the situation was serious, and Australia and New Zealand had troops and
police on standby to fly to Tonga, but Tongan authorities have said they can control the
situation. He said one report from Australia's High Commission in Tonga estimated 80
percent of businesses in the central business district in Nuku'alofa had been destroyed.
Le roi de Tonga promet de restaurer la loi et l'ordre social
2006-11-17 15:28:41
WELLINGTON, 17 novembre (XINHUA) -- Le roi de Tonga a exprimé vendredi dans un
communiqué sa détermination de contrôler la situation après les émeutes de jeudi à Nukualofa,
capitale des îles Tonga.
Selon le communiqué publié par le grand chambellan, le roi George Tupou V "est désolé de voir
qu'un élément criminel petit mais dangereux a causé des morts, des blessés et des dégâts
matériels".
Le roi a annoncé que le gouvernement tonguien était en train de prendre des actions décisives en
vue de restaurer la loi et l'ordre social au royaume, ajoutant que chaque mesure de la loi serait
respectée pour arrêter et poursuivre en justice les auteurs et les organisateurs des émeutes.
Le communiqué a été diffusé à plusieures reprises par la radio nation de ce pays insulaire qui
compte 100 000 d'habitants.
Le bureau du Premier ministre, le bâtiment du ministère des Finances ainsi que les bâtiments
d'autres institutions ont été touchés dans les émeutes. Pour l'instant, huit corps ont été découverts à
Nukualofa après les émeutes.
Les émeutes ont eu lieu jeudi alors que les émeutiers ont renversé des voitures, saccagé et incendié
des magasins et des bureaux dans la capitale, en protestant contre le progrès lent de la réforme
démocratique.
Le cabinet tonguien a tenu une réunion d'urgence vendredi soir et le Premier ministre devrait
prononcer une déclaration en vue de demander l'aide des gouvernements australien et néozélandais.
Selon des informations, un couvre-feu a été imposé vendredi matin à Nukualofa.
Tonga :le gouvernement annonce des limitations de déplacements dans la
capitale
CANBERRA, 17 novembre (XINHUA) -- Le gouvernement tonguien a limité vendredi les
mouvements dans la capitale Nukualofa à la suite des émeutes de jeudi.
Le Premier ministre tonguien Fred Sevele a proclamé que la majorité de la ville était une "zone
placée" sous l'Acte de préservation de l'ordre public du pays, "dans lequel tout mouvement est
sévèrement restreint", a affirmé Lopeti Senituli, le porte-parole du gouvernement.
"On ne se trouve pas encore dans l'état d'urgence au niveau national", a-t-il estimé, cité par
l'Australian Associated Press ( AAP).
Cette action est intervenue à cause des tensions après que des émeutiers aient renversé des voitures,
saccagé et incendié des magasins et des bureaux.
Aucune victime n'a été signalée, et la police n'a arrêté personne après que la plupart du district
commercial du centre ville de la capitale ait été incendiée par des émeutiers, dont des jeunes sous
l'emprise de l'alcool.
Ils ont visé les bâtiments et les affaires gérés par la famille royale tonguienne, de proches associés,
ainsi que la communauté chinoise.
http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/news/breaking_news/16032223.htm
Posted on Fri, Nov. 17, 2006
Aussies, N. Zealand send troops to Tonga
PESI FONUA
Associated Press
NUKU'ALOFA, Tonga - Australia and New Zealand agreed Friday to send troops to Tonga, where
mobs demanding democratic reforms destroyed much of the capital in unprecedented rioting that
left at least eight people dead.
Thursday's rampage by angry youths, who overturned cars, attacked government officials and
looted shops and offices before setting them ablaze, was unprecedented in the tiny and
impoverished kingdom. Officials said about 80 percent of the capital's business district was
destroyed.
The trigger for the violence was anger that parliament might finish its session for the year without
settling plans to give elected lawmakers a majority in parliament over royally appointed legislators.
Six bodies were found in the burned-out offices of a power company. They were believed to be
looters or rioters because the company's staff was accounted for, said Tonga's Lord Chamberlain,
Hon. Fielakepa, who acts as spokesman for the king, and like many Tongan nobles uses just one
name.
Government officials later confirmed two more bodies were discovered Friday in a second burned
building.
The rioters had targeted several businesses formerly connected with King Saiosi Tupou V and
Prime Minister Fred Sevele, but many other businesses were damaged as well. There was no further
violence Friday.
Lopeti Senituli, a spokesman for Sevele, said the government had given its approval for 150 troops
and police from Australia and New Zealand to fly to Tonga to help ensure security.
New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark and Australian counterpart John Howard announced the
deployment plan at a joint news conference in Hanoi, Vietnam, where they are attending the Asia
Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
The request for troops came "as a result of some serious rioting which has left 80 percent of the
central business district of the capital destroyed," Howard said.
Senituli said foreign forces were "an acknowledgment our security apparatus is ... short of
manpower."
Australia and New Zealand also supplied the bulk of a peacekeeping force sent to another Pacific
island nation, the Solomon Islands, to quell unrest and rioting there in April.
Sevele on Friday declared most of Nuku'alofa off-limits, and the country's small army restricted
movement around town, Senituli said.
"The priority is to secure peace so that people can feel secure in their own homes and
neighborhoods," Senituli said. "Most of the fires have died down but the damage has been
widespread and major."
Tonga's king said "every measure of the law will be followed to track down and prosecute the
perpetrators and those who incited and agitated this mindless criminal destruction," said the
statement issued by the Lord Chamberlain.
Tonga, halfway between Australia and Tahiti, has a population of about 108,000. Its economy
depends on pumpkin and vanilla exports, fishing, foreign aid and remittances from Tongans abroad.
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411749/894458
Tonga issues call for help
Nov 17, 2006
Tonga has requested Australia and New Zealand send police and troops to help ensure calm in the
capital Nuku'alofa following violent pro-democracy riots, a Tongan government spokesman said on
Friday.
The request came after a meeting of Tonga's cabinet and as the death toll from Thursday's riots
reached eight.
Lopeti Senituli, a spokesman for Tonga's Prime Minister Fred Sevele, told Reuters Tonga had asked
Australia and New Zealand for about 150 troops and police, and said they were due to arrive in
Tonga late Friday.
"They are to back up the civil defence services and the Tonga police force," he said, adding about
20 troops from New Zealand would be sent to secure Nuku'alofa's airport, while 40 specialist police
and 90 troops from Australia would also arrive on Friday.
An Air Force Hercules has been put on standby in case it is needed.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters says the tragedy has the ability to destabilise the region.
A spokesman for Australia's Defence Minister Brendan Nelson said no decision had been made to
send Australian forces to Tonga, although plans were in place if Tonga made a formal request for
help.
There is a total lockdown in central Nuku'alofa.
High Commissioner Michael McBryde says it is hoped the rioting was a one-off mighty explosion
of outrage, but it has destroyed up to 80% of Nuku'alofa's business district.
The violence broke out after thousands of Tongans rallied in the centre of the capital Nuku'alofa.
The demonstration degenerated into a riot, which saw drunken youths target shops and government
buildings, resulting in millions of dollars worth of damage.
McBryde, says the atmosphere remains very tense and unpredictable in the capital.
He says Tonga has virtually no experience of such violence and the outbreak has caught everyone
by surprise.
McBryde says the 300 to 400 New Zealanders living in Tonga are being contacted by the High
Commission.
The local Tongan Methodist Church plans to call a meeting in response to riots in the capital.
Reverend Taufa-filiai from the Auckland-based Tongan Methodist Church says once people have
got over the initial shock a meeting will be organised.
He says that meeting will decide what kind of response the church offers to the people of Tonga.
Air New Zealand remains too worried about the situation in Tonga to fly there.
The airline has not only cancelled Friday's flight to Tonga from Auckland, it has also cancelled
Saturday and Sunday's as well.
It is not confident of the safety at Nuku'alofa airport for its passengers, air crew and plane.
The airline says it will make a decision on Sunday evening when to resume services.
Air New Zealand flies to Tonga five times a week from Auckland.
Source: Reuters/Newstalk ZB
http://english.people.com.cn/200611/17/eng20061117_322437.html
Home >> China
UPDATED: 08:59, November 17, 2006
Feature: Chinese stores looted in Tonga riots
Around 30 Chinese-owned stores in Nuku'alofa, Tonga capital, were trashed over the last some 20
hours, and the Chinese Embassy is trying to protect the Chinese living there.
"More than 25 percent of Chinese stores were looted or burned yesterday, causing big losses to the
owners," said Hu Yeshun, Chinese Ambassador to Tonga, who's got no chance of sleep all night
arranging protection and aid measures.
"We've received over 150 people, whose houses or stores were destroyed by the mobs," Mr. Hu told
Xinhua, adding the Embassy staff are trying to contact with all Chinese residents to make sure they
are alright.
Witnesses said the protestors Thursday set fire to buildings, overturned cars, looted a supermarket,
and threw stones at the Prime Minister's office, in an dispute with the Cabinet over reform issues in
the South Pacific island monarchy nation of 10, 000 people.
The rioting started after the government deferred its final sitting day for the year, as thousands of
protestors demanded that a vote on the reforms take place before the house rose.
Reporter from the local news agency, Tonga Now, described looting to Chinese stores earlier.
"Nuku'alofa is at an inferno. Shoreline headquarters is gone, the Leiola Duty Free Store, Pacifica
Royale (hotel), and major Chinese outlets are up in smoke..."
"Chinese stores were smashed and empty, save for mobs to carry booty of everything from toilet
paper to boxes of chicken," said Tonga Now reporter.
Huang Yuguo, official from trade department, Chinese Embassy to Tonga, drove around the city
Friday morning, seeing some Chinese stores burned down and all the others shut doors tightly.
"It's disastrous for many Chinese living here for generations," said Mr. Huang.
Running stores has been traditional trade for Chinese since the earlier immigrants came to the South
Pacific island. The hard- working owners usually preferred to expand number and space of their
stores with money they have saved. And now the Chinese-owned account for a major proportion of
stores in Nuku'alofa, which were subject to looting in the riots.
Over 500 Chinese live in Nuku'alofa, many of them have taken Tonga for their only homes. Mr. Hu
said so far the Chinese Embassy has not received any report of Chinese being seriously hurt.
"We are making utmost efforts to avoid any further looting to the Chinese residents here," said Mr.
Hu, adding he has repeatedly urged Tongan security departments and the Police to tighten measures
and protect Chinese people who have contributed a lot to the island country and their property.
He said Tongan army and the Police Friday enforced martial law in some areas and beefed up
traffic checks in the city to rein in the situation.
Mr. Hu said emergency plan was worked out by the Chinese Embassy for further riots, including
withdrawing the Chinese if unfortunately the situation is out of control.
"And we see it seems to be getting better now," said Mr. Hu.
Source: Xinhua
http://www.tahitipresse.pf/index.cfm?snav=see&presse=18115
Pacifique : 17/11/2006 à 08:51
Six morts à Tonga: un terrible prix pour arracher des concessions au
gouvernement
(Tahitipresse) - Confronté à des scènes de violence sans précédent qui ont fait au moins six morts et
anéanti une grande partie de la capitale, Nuku'alofa, qui n'est plus qu'un vaste champ de ruines
calcinées, le gouvernement tongien a accepté hier d'accélérer le processus de démocratisation des
institutions politiques de cet archipel d'environ 120.000 habitants.
Ce faisant, il a accédé aux exigences du mouvement local Pro-Démocratie, qui réclamait depuis
longtemps une révision complète des principes de sélection et de composition de l'assemblée
législative du royaume polynésien.
La nouvelle assemblée sera à majorité "populaire"
Jusqu'à présent, cette assemblée législative comptait 30 membres, à savoir neuf députés élus par le
peuple au suffrage universel, et 21 nobles choisis par le roi au sein des 33 familles aristocratiques
du royaume. Militant acharné d'une abolition de tels privilèges dont il n'a cessé de dénoncer
l'injustice au prétexte qu'ils étouffaient dans l'oeuf les aspirations légitimes des "petites gens", le
président du mouvement Pro-Démocratie, Akilisi Pohiva - lui-même un "élu du peuple" - a fini par
obtenir satisfaction.
Le porte-parole du gouvernement, Lopeti Senituli, a en effet annoncé que lors d'une réunion
d'urgence du cabinet du premier ministre Feleti Sevele à laquelle assistait également "les
représentants des nobles et les représentants du peuple", un accord a été conclu au terme duquel
l'assemblée législative issue des élections générales de 2008 sera composée "de 21 élus du peuple et
de neuf nobles", une formule qui est donc très exactement à l'inverse de celle qui existait
jusqu'alors.
Lopeti Senituli a également réaffirmé la volonté du pouvoir d'accélérer le processus de
démocratisation des institutions politiques du royaume. En réponse, Akilisi Pohiva s'est empressé,
au nom du peuple, de crier victoire, mais cette victoire a été obtenue à un terrible prix.
Le centre ville détruit à 80%.
Le bilan des émeutes qui ont permis à Pohiva d'imposer ses conditions au pouvoir et à lui arracher
de telles concessions est très lourd : le centre ville de Nuku'alofa a en effet été détruit à 80%, à tel
point que l'armée et la police en interdisent désormais l'accès au public. On n'y compte plus les
immeubles saccagés, pillés et incendiés. Les émeutiers - pour la plupart des adolescents dont
certains s'étaient enivrés avant de se lancer dans leur folie destructrice - ont en effet attaqué le
bureau du premier ministre, le parlement, le palais de justice et le ministère des finances, dont les
fenêtres ont été brisées par des jets de pierres.
Le supermarché de Nuku'alofa et des magasins tenus par des commerçants asiatiques ont également
été pillés et incendiés, tout comme l'ont été une banque, un grand hôtel et plusieurs immeubles de
bureaux, dont ceux d'une société de téléphonie mobile (Tonfon) et d'une compagnie d'alimentation
d'électricité (Shoreline) dans lesquelles le nouveau roi George Tupou V est l'actionnaire majoritaire.
Six morts dans les ruines d'un bâtiment calciné
C'est en fait dans l'immeuble "Shoreline" qu'ont été découverts les corps carbonisés d'au moins six
personnes. Selon le directeur de la police, Sinilau Kolokihakaufisi, il s'agirait vraisemblablement de
jeunes pillards qui ont été bloqués par les flammes et n'ont pu sortir à temps du bâtiment. Le bilan
de huit morts annoncé la nuit dernière par Radio New Zealand n'a toutefois pas été confirmé par les
autorités tongiennes.
Etat d'urgence et couvre-feu
Le grand chambellan du royaume, le noble Filekepi, a par ailleurs indiqué que le couvre-feu a été
décrété tant dans Nuku'alofa que dans toute l'île principale de Tongatapu. Après avoir consulté la
direction de la police et l'état-major des forces de défense du pays, Tupou V a pour sa part annoncé
avoir décrété l'état d'urgence dans le royaume pour une période initiale de 30 jours.
Le roi exprime sa douleur
Dans un communiqué officiel, le souverain s'est également déclaré "peiné qu'un petit mais
dangereux élément criminel ait causé des morts, des blessures et des dégâts considérables à
Tongatapu." Le monarque a "offert sa profonde sympathie aux familles de ceux qui ont été tués ou
blessés, et aux nombreux hommes d'affaires qui ont été atteints par ces activités criminelles." Le roi
a enfin affirmé que son gouvernement "a pris des mesures décisives afin de rétablir la loi et l'ordre
dans le Royaume" et a promis de "traquer, capturer et traduire en justice les auteurs de cette
destruction criminelle insensée."
L'Australie et la Nouvelle-Zélande à la rescousse
Tard hier soir, le gouvernement tongien a convenu d'appeler Canberra et Wellington à la rescousse.
Selon Lopeti Senituli, l'assistance australienne sera forte de 90 soldats et 40 policiers, tandis que 20
militaires néo-zélandais recevront pour mission "de sécuriser l'aéroport." "Ce déploiement", a-t-il
expliqué, "va assurer paix et stabilité", et constitue "une admission que notre appareil sécuritaire
manque d'effectifs."
De la capitale vietnamienne, Hanoi, où ils assistent au sommet de l'APEC, les premiers ministres
australien et néo-zélandais, John Howard et Helen Clark, viennent toutefois de préciser que les
effectifs engagés seront en fait composés de 50 soldats et 35 policiers australiens, et de 60 militaires
néo-zélandais.
L'Australie et la Nouvelle-Zélande avaient annoncé quelques heures auparavant qu'elles se tenaient
prêtes à dépêcher soldats et policiers à Nuku'alofa en vue d'y rétablir l'ordre et d'y maintenir ensuite
la paix, mais à la condition expresse que le gouvernement tongien en fasse d'abord la demande.
Dernière heure: le bilan officiel est de huit morts.
JPZ
http://permanent.nouvelobs.com/etranger/20061117.FAP4923.html?2146
Huit morts après des émeutes à Tonga (Pacifique sud)
AP | 17.11.06 | 21:39
NUK101-1116060844
NUKU'ALOFA, Tonga (AP) -- Huit corps carbonisés ont été retrouvés dans les décombres de
bâtiments détruits jeudi lors d'émeutes à Nuku'Alofa, capitale de l'archipel de Tonga (Pacifique
sud), ont annoncé vendredi les autorités locales selon lesquelles le calme est revenu.
Des jeunes réclamant plus de démocratie dans le pays ont renversé des voitures, attaqué des
bâtiments officiels et saccagé magasins et bureaux avant de les incendier, une violence sans
précédent dans ce petit royaume du Pacifique sud.
Les violences ont éclaté à l'occasion de la dernière session parlementaire de l'année, les émeutiers
redoutant un abandon des réformes prévoyant de rendre majoritaires les députés élus par le peuple
et non plus ceux désignés par le roi. AP
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/print/0,1478,3863305a6408,00.html
Death toll mounts in Tonga
FRIDAY , 17 NOVEMBER 2006
By NZPA, MICHAEL FIELD,TOM CARDY and Reuters
The death toll from riots yesterday in Tonga reportedly climbed to eight tonight as the
country's King expressed his distress at the situation in his Pacific island nation.
A statement by the King's Lord Chamberlain said King George Tupou V was greatly distressed that
a small but dangerous criminal element had caused deaths, injuries and extensive property damage
on Tongatapu, the main island.
"The King extends his deepest sympathy to the families of those who have died or been injured and
to the many business people who have been affected by these criminal activities," the statement
said.
"His Majesty's government is taking decisive action to restore law and order to the kingdom. Every
measure of the law will be followed to track down and prosecute the perpetrators and those who
incited and agitated this mindless criminal destruction."
The statement said the King was determined that his government would provide the leadership and
initiatives to overcome the immeasurable damage that had been caused to the economy and
minimise the impact on the people.
The King's statement came as Radio New Zealand reported that two bodies had been found in the
rubble of the supermarket belonging to Prime Minister Felketi Sevele -- one of the first buildings
razed by the rioters.
Rioters destroyed a large part of the capital yesterday.
Authorities say six bodies were found inside the debris of the headquarters of electricity and
telephone companies, Shoreline and Tonfon. Both are currently owned by the king, although
Shoreline is shortly to be sold to Whangarei's Northpower.
Police commander Sinilau Kolokihakaufisi told Tonga Broadcasting, police found the bodies while
they were cleaning up the area.
Dr 'Akanesi Makakaufaki of Vaiola Hospital said the bodies are presumed to be of those who were
involved in destroying and torching the premises, as no Tonfon staff has so far reported any missing
colleagues.
They were believed to be looters trapped when an LPG tank exploded.
Meanwhile, in a proclamation, King George said emergency powers were to be imposed for 30
days.
The Tongan Police and the Tonga Defence Services were given the right to regulate, restrict,
control or prohibit the use of any road.
Meetings or assemblies of any more than five people were banned and the authorities were given
the right to "use such force as necessary."
Authorities can declare curfews and arrest and hold any person for up to 48 hours.
Prime Minister Feleti Sevele used the order to declare most of downtown Nuku'alofa off limits.
"And this Proclaimed Area shall be controlled and maintained by the Tonga Police Force for the
sole purpose of maintaining public order for all people of the country," the proclamation says.
Pacific Islands Forum chairman Laisenia Qarase - the Fijian Prime Minister - said the forum was
deeply concerned about the disturbances in Tonga as stability there was important for the whole
region.
"We are all shocked by the acts of violence which have taken place," Mr Qarase said.
"We hope they are now at an end. We very much hope that those involved in the political reform
process currently underway will be able to resume a peaceful and productive dialogue."
The Tongan government has agreed to step up the pace of political reforms in the wake of the
rioting.
There have been no reports of more flare-ups today, with a decision for a majority of MPs to be
elected by the public in 2008 seeming to ease tensions
"A semblance of peace has returned to the central business district of Nuku'alofa. That is holding,"
Lopeti Senituli, the adviser and spokesman for Prime Minister Fred Sevele was quoted as saying by
the AFP news agency.
"There was a meeting in the prime minister's office of cabinet ministers, peoples' representatives
and representatives of the nobles and they reached an agreement which was relayed to the prodemocracy movement.
"Under that agreement there will be 21 people's representatives and nine nobles representatives in
the next election. Thirty members down from 34."
Under the current system most of the parliament are nobles or appointed MPs and the riots were
sparked after the royal-controlled Legislative Assembly met for its last session of the year.
When it became likely that it would adjourn for the year without making a decision on greater
democracy, protesters who had gathered outside began their rampage.
The Legislative Assembly had been debating the so called 'Tu'ipelehake Committee' report on
democracy, named after Prince Tu'ipelehake who was killed, along with his wife, in an auto
accident in California in July.
The report called for greater democracy but the assembly appeared to get bogged down in
discussion over the kind of models that would be best for Tonga.
Unelected Prime Minister Feleti Saveli accepted a request for a delay in any decision.
Large parts of Nuku'alofa were set ablaze yesterday after drunken youths set alight key parts of the
town that were linked to the new administration of King George V and Saveli.
Bystanders cowered in offices and shops, as parts of the capital were shrouded in black smoke as
the rioters clashed with police.
One witness said officers did not appear to be in control of the situation but had tried to help those
trapped in offices.
"They're going crazy," said journalist Mary Lyn Fonua, who saw about 100 "very drunk" youths
attacking buildings and overturning cars during some of the worst attacks yesterday afternoon.
"The main shopping centre is burned out in blocks, including the prime minister's own shopping
centre, they looted that, started drinking the beer and from there no one could control them," Radio
New Zealand International correspondent Mateni Tapueluelu reported.
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said his country was considering whether to send in
security forces to restore order.
Within hours the riots had prompted New Zealand's Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry to warn
New Zealanders to stay away from Nuku'alofa's downtown area.
"The situation is unpredictable and violence could break out with little warning," the advisory
warned.
About 400 New Zealanders are living in Tonga, the ministry said.
Calls to the New Zealand High Commission in Nuku'alofa today went unanswered.
A Defence Force spokeswoman said officials were monitoring the situation and liaising with the
ministry. There were no plans to evacuate New Zealanders last night.
The fires were clearly visible from the New Zealand high commission in Nuku'alofa.
"We could see the fires quite close ... a whole city block has been destroyed," said high
commissioner Michael McBryde, who with other staff drove to safety at their residential compound
about a kilometre out of the city.
The rioters smashed glass at the prime minister's office and other buildings nearby. Parliament
House, the Magistrates Court, the Public Service Commission Office and the Finance Ministry were
targeted, as well as some Chinese-owned businesses.
Shop workers and customers were terrified when rioters surrounded a supermarket owned by the
daughter of Tongan Prime Minister Fred Sevele.
"Someone screamed to run. I turned and looked towards the road and youths were surging forward,
throwing rocks and coconuts at the glass front," Tongan journalist Taina Taimi Enoka said.
"All the workers and customers ran to the back and I could hear the glass being smashed."
Mr Enoka said the rioters were forcing their way in and only fled when police arrived. He could see
cars and other government vehicles on fire.
Offices set alight included the state-owned power company part-owned by Tonga's king.
Tonga Advisory Council chairman Melino Maka, speaking from Auckland, said the pro-democracy
movement was impatient with the slow progress in implementing change to give more seats in the
Tongan parliament to the citizens.
"Change is coming but these people are not willing to respect the process."
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said New Zealand, which has long-standing links
with Tonga and a large expatriate Tongan community, would help the island nation to recover from
the violence and damage, but for now the issue was a domestic matter and the rioters had to be
stopped.
"Resorting to violence and arson in the name of democratic reform cannot be tolerated," he said in a
statement. "It is straight-out criminality."
Air New Zealand cancelled a flight from Auckland to Nuku'alofa and said it would fly Friday.
Australian Foreign Minister Downer, speaking in Hanoi where he is attending an Asia-Pacific
forum meeting, said he had been in touch with Tongan authorities during the day and continued to
watch developments.
"I had a conversation during the afternoon with the prime minister of Tonga and he would like us to
keep a close eye on the situation there, and we'll speak again tomorrow," said Downer.
"Whether we will need to provide the Tongans with any additional security in this environment
we're not sure at this stage, we're just having a look at that," he added.
"We'll have a look at what the situation is like tomorrow and talk to the New Zealanders and talk to
the Tongans again."
Tonga, a group of 170 coral and volcanic islands about 2,000 km north of New Zealand, saw
unprecedented protests in May 2005, when 10,000 people - a tenth of the population - took to the
streets demanding democracy and public ownership of key assets. In August 2005 public servants
staged a six-week strike over pay that halted services at hospitals and schools.
When he succeeded his late father in September, King Tupou V signalled some democratic changes.
The royal family said in a rare public statement in October that the Anglophile new king, educated
at Oxford University and the Sandhurst military academy, believed Tonga's political system was not
evolving quickly enough.
There are no universal elections in Tonga, where 10 of the 14 cabinet posts in government are
appointed by the monarchy for life. Two of the remaining four posts, chosen from elected members
of the Legislative Assembly, are reserved for "nobility".
http://www.news.com.au/sundayheraldsun/story/0,,20774282-5005961,00.html
Ships sent to Fiji could go to Tonga
November 17, 2006 04:51pm
THE Australian warships which were dispatched to Fiji when it appeared the military was set
to overthrow the Government might now be diverted to help restore order in Tonga.
A spokeswoman for the Defence department has said three ships - HMAS Success, HMAS Kanimbla
and HMAS Newcastle - are sailing in the south-west Pacific.
"They were deployed earlier this month in light of the possible unrest in Fiji," she has said.
"They are still in international waters but we can't discuss the details of the troops that are
deployed."
This afternoon a senior Tongan official said Tonga would shortly ask Australia and New Zealand
for up to 200 troops to help ensure security for key national infrastructure.
"We are now working on the details of an agreement to allow (military) personnel from New
Zealand and Australia to secure the (main) airport,'' and key infrastructure, spokesman Lopeti
Senituli was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.
The three Australian ships, carrying probably several hundred personnel, departed Australia earlier
this month when it appeared the Fijian military would stage a coup against the elected government.
Had that occurred and the security situation deteriorated, the ships would have facilitated
evacuation of Australian and other nationals.
Success and Kanimbla are both transport ships equipped with helicopters while Newcastle is a
frigate.
"We are in close consultation with other government agencies with regard to the situation in
Tonga," the defence spokeswoman has said.
"Prudent planning is taking place to ensure we are positioned to assist if requested by the Australian
government."
Angry pro-democracy youths yesterday rampaged through Tonga's capital Nuku'alofa, destroying
buildings and looting shops.
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has said from Hanoi that the latest reports indicate five or six
people were killed.
A report from Australia's High Commission indicates about 80 per cent of the central business
district of Nuku'alofa has been destroyed.
Mr Downer has said Australian and New Zealand forces could be deployed very quickly, although
the Tongan government believed it had the situation under control.
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/488120/894764
Clark walks into Tonga questions
Nov 17, 2006
Prime Minister Helen Clark arrived in Hanoi for APEC on Friday night and immediately walked
into questions about the deadly riots in Tonga.
Rescue workers have confirmed at least six bodies have been found in a burnt out building in
Tonga's riot-torn capital.
Other buildings torched during the violent rampage are still being searched.
Clark says she caught up on the Tongan situation on a plane from Rome.
She says it is an issue which will be the cause for reflection from the 21 leaders gathered for the
summit in Hanoi.
Clark says she has had to unfortunately tell the Euopean leaders she has been meeting over the past
week, that the Pacific is not the tranquil place it used to be.
New Zealand's High Commissioner in Nuku'alofa Michael McBryde says Tongan Defence
personnel have locked down Nuku'alofa's ruined centre and an artificial calm has descended.
He says the hope is that the violence was a one-off explosion of outrage and the rioters now have a
sense of disbelief about what they had done.
The Chairman of the Tongan Advisory Council in Auckland, Melino Maka, says it's a sad time in
Tonga - and an anxious and difficult time for people here trying to contact relatives back home.
Source: Newstalk ZB
http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2006/s1790981.htm
Curfew imposed as Tongan violence worsens
The World Today - Friday, 17 November , 2006 12:10:00
Reporter: Lisa Millar
PETER CAVE: With the confirmation that five people have been killed in Tonga, it's feared that
another Pacific country may well be slipping into anarchy.
A curfew has been imposed on the capital after the worst rioting the country has seen.
Supporters of Tonga's pro-democracy movement went on a drunken rampage in the capital
Nuku'aLofa, setting fire to Government buildings and destroying about 80 per cent of the city
centre.
The rioting began after Parliament went into recess for the year, after voting on proposals for
sweeping democratic reforms to Tonga's semi-feudal system of government.
Lisa Millar reports.
(Sound of fire)
LISA MILLAR: Businesses are still burning on the streets of the capital, Nuku'aLofa after a
frightening 24 hours.
The rioting began after Parliament went into recess for the year without voting on proposals for
sweeping democratic reforms.
The protests quickly turned violent. Angry crowds overturning cars, looting and setting fire to shops
and offices, and stoning government buildings including the Prime Minister's office.
The protest moved outside the capital where Chinese-owned shops were being targeted and the
police had been powerless to help.
The Prime Minister's adviser, Lopeti Senituli speaking to NewsRadio's Marius Benson says the
situation has settled this morning.
LOPETI SENITULI: Right now there's some semblance of peace has been restored in the central
business district of Nuku'aLofa, which was the main area that suffered the most from the looting
and the arson yesterday.
It didn't help that there was a vicious northeasterly that fanned the flames from the buildings that
were specifically targeted and spread to neighbouring businesses and homes.
LISA MILLAR: Flights into the country are being cancelled and Australia has upgraded its travel
advisory three times. The latest, urging people to exercise a high degree of caution, to stay indoors
and avoid all government buildings.
Tonga sits 2000 kilometres to the north of New Zealand, a nation that revolves around its Royal
family.
10 of the 14 Cabinet posts in government are appointed by the monarchy for life.
The new King, though, who began his reign last September, signalled democratic changes, but they
hasn't come fast enough for many.
There are fears Tonga could end up like the Solomon Islands, and New Zealand and Australia are
reportedly considering sending in security forces.
For now though, martial law is in place, and there is an uneasy calm across the nation.
The Government has proclaimed the CBD a restricted area. Police and defence forces are enforcing
the ban.
LOPETI SENITULI: We are praying that it won't, but at the same time we're taking the best
precautions we can. The Prime Minister used his emergency powers under the public order
preservation act to declare the Central Business District a prohibited area last night.
LISA MILLAR: Lopeti Senituli broke down as he explained the Government hasn't been in such a
situation for more than 200 years.
LOPETI SENITULI: We are also going to make an approach to the traditional leaders, the church
leaders of the country to help us in… finding that community bond.
PETER CAVE: The Tongan Prime Minister's adviser Lopeti Senituli ending that report from Lisa
Millar.
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-1117T135127Z_01_WEL174099_RTRUKOC_0_US-TONGARIOTS.xml&WTmodLoc=IntNewsHome_C2_worldNews-4
Foreign troops head to Tonga, 8 dead in riots
Fri Nov 17, 2006 8:53 AM ET
NUKU'ALOFA (Reuters) - The death toll from violent riots in the Tongan capital rose to eight on
Friday and Australia and New Zealand agreed to a government request to send in a joint force to
protect the airport and boost security.
Australian media said Australian Prime Minister John Howard and his New Zealand counterpart,
Helen Clark, announced the move in Hanoi, where they are attending an Asia-Pacific summit.
The joint force would comprise more than 100 troops and about 50 police officers under New
Zealand command, Australian Associated Press (AAP) reported.
Earlier, a spokesman for Tongan Prime Minister Fred Sevele said Nuku'alofa was calm on Friday a
day after pro-democracy protesters torched and looted up to 80 percent of the buildings in the city's
business district.
Soldiers and police cordoned off streets in the centre of the capital as the government enacted
emergency powers to secure government offices, oil depots, shops and the hospital.
"We're in control of the situation," spokesman Lopeti Senituli said. "Thankfully, nothing serious has
happened today. It's all calm."
Rescue workers found two more bodies late on Friday, believed to be members of a mob that
attacked a supermarket. Firefighters had earlier recovered six badly burned bodies from a building.
In its request for help, the government urged Australia and New Zealand to contribute troops and
police to back up the island nation's civil defense services and the Tonga police force.
AAP said Howard told reporters Australia and New Zealand, as the biggest countries in the region,
had a responsibility to help.
STABILITY OF REGION
"It's a very necessary responsibility," he said. "It's too important to the stability of the whole region
for us to be less than willing to respond to a request ... to a country that looks to Australia and New
Zealand in its hour of need."
Among the buildings damaged on Thursday were the prime minister's office, the financial
department, offices of power company Shoreline, which is partly owned by King George Tupou V,
the town's only bank and Chinese-owned shops and businesses.
The rioting in Tonga began after parliament went into recess for the year without voting on
proposals for sweeping democratic reforms to Tonga's semi-feudal system.
Late on Thursday, the government bowed to the protesters and agreed to new elections in 2008 in
which a majority of the parliament would be directly elected by popular vote. At present, nobles and
appointed MPs outnumber elected representatives.
New Zealand and Australia have condemned the violence and warned their nationals in Tonga to
stay away from large gatherings.
Air New Zealand said it had cancelled flights to Tonga for a second day on Friday, and would
cancel flights scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.
-- took to the streets demanding democracy and public ownership of key assets.
[url manquant]
Actu internationale / Asie -Pacifique
Tonga
Tonga : La capitale à feu et à sang
Des centaines d’émeutiers affiliés au mouvement pour la démocratie ont saccagé, pillé et brûlé les
magasins et les bureaux du centre-ville de la capitale Nuku’alofa, jeudi soir. Six personnes sont
mortes au cours des émeutes. Un couvre-feu est en vigueur.
Les émeutes ont commencé, jeudi en fin d’après-midi, dans les rues de la capitale. Dans un premier
temps, ce sont les commerces et entreprises du Premier ministre et du roi Tupou V qui ont été visés.
Puis le pillage s’est étendu à l’ensemble des commerces et des bureaux du centre-ville. Dans la
soirée, le gouvernement a cédé aux demandes des manifestants. Mais trop tard pour faire cesser le
pillage. Au moins six personnes sont mortes au cours des émeutes dans des conditions qu’il reste à
éclaircir.
Couvre-feu sur la ville
Une centaine de commerçants chinois ont dû chercher refuge au sein de leur ambassade. Le couvrefeu a été déclaré, jeudi dans la nuit. Et un calme relatif est revenu hier matin, à Nuku’alofa
Les émeutiers font partie des plusieurs milliers de manifestants du mouvement pro-démocratie. Des
manifestants, qui étaient venus devant le Parlement, jeudi, pour exiger un vote immédiat de
réformes institutionnelles. Le gouvernement avait indiqué qu’il préférait que ces réformes soient
votées, lors de la prochaine session parlementaire, l’année prochaine. La révolte a éclaté lorsque la
session parlementaire s’est terminée, sans que le vote ait eu lieu. Les leaders du mouvement prodémocratie ont tenté d’empêcher le pillage. En vain !
Un pillage alimenté par l’alcool
« Les jeunes ont d’abord pillé le supermarché de Fred Sevele, le Premier ministre, témoigne Mateni
Tapueluelu, le correspondant de Radio Nouvelle-Zélande internationale à Tonga. Ils ont commencé
à boire, puis ils ont pillé un second magasin, et là ils ont continué à s’enivrer. A partir de ce moment
là, plus personne ne pouvait les contrôler. Ils ont distribué l’argent des tiroirs caisses, et ils ont
procédé au pillage en règle de tous les magasins, pâté de maisons par pâté de maisons. Ils ont
incendié la plupart des commerces et des entreprises du centre-ville, dont les bureaux de la
compagnie d’électricité, et le Pacific Royal hôtel qui appartiennent au roi Tupou V. La police et les
pompiers ont été complètement débordés par les événements et n’ont pu qu’accompagner les
émeutiers en tentant de mimiter les dégâts. »
Le gouvernement cède
Fred Sevele s’est rendu à la radio de Tonga et a tenté en vain d’appeler les manifestants au calme.
Finalement, le gouvernement a tenu un conseil des ministres de crise. L’exécutif tonguien a
finalement décidé d’accéder aux demandes des manifestants pro-démocratie. Vingt et un des trente-
deux membres du Parlement tonguien seront élus par le peuple à partir de 2008. Aujourd’hui
seulement neuf membres du Parlement sont élus par le peuple.
Mais cette décision a été prise trop tard pour empêcher les émeutes. Et elle n’a jamais pu être
communiquée aux émeutiers jeudi soir.
Bref, hier matin, 80 % du centre-ville de la capitale étaient partis en fumée. Mais un calme relatif
était revenu à Nuku’alofa.
Jérôme Gavelle
Rien n’a été épargné pendant cette nuit de violences.
Des Tonguiens coincés à Auckland
Plusieurs dizaines de Tonguiens, vivant en Nouvelle-Zélande, et qui devaient retourner à
Nuku’alofa hier, n’ont pu décoller d’Auckland. Pacific Blue et Air New-Zealand, les deux seules
compagnies aériennes qui desservent Tonga au départ de Nouvelle-Zélande ont annulé tous leurs
vols « jusqu’à ce que la sécurité et l’ordre soient rétablis à Nuku’alofa », selon les termes d’un
communiqué des compagnies. « Je voudrais pouvoir partir au plus vite car je suis très inquiète pour
ma famille », confiait une passagère tonguienne bloquée à l’aéroport d’Auckland, hier après-midi.
L’Australie et la Nouvelle-Zélande prêtes à intervenir
Winston Peters, le ministre néo-zélandais des Affaires étrangères et son homologue australien,
Alexander Downer, sont à Hanoï, au Vietnam, pour participer au sommet annuel de l’Apec
(coopération économique Asie-Pacifique). Ils ont chacun déclaré suivre les événements de Tonga
avec attention, et être prêts à venir en aide au gouvernement tonguien si celui-ci en faisait la
demande. Une demande d’aide formulée par le Premier ministre Fred Sevele, dès hier matin, mais
dont le contenu n’était pas encore connu hier après-midi.
« J’ai parlé aux autorités de Tonga hier, a confié Alexander Downer. Elles m’ont demandé de ne
pas quitter des yeux la situation à Nuku’alofa. »
De son côté, Winston Peters a déclaré : « Nous sommes choqués par ce qui vient de se passer à
Tonga. C’est désastreux pour la réputation du pays, pour son économie et pour son peuple. »
Laisenia Qarase, Premier ministre de Fidji et président du Forum du Pacifique, a également réagi
aux événements de Nuku’alofa par communiqué :
« Nous espérons que les responsables politiques impliqués dans le processus de réformes
institutionnelles en cours à Tonga pourront rapidement reprendre un dialogue serein et productif. »
Enfin, Akilisi Pohiva, un des leaders du mouvement pro-démocratie a appelé au calme hier :
« Nous avons gagné notre combat. Les émeutiers doivent maintenant cesser le vandalisme et le
pillage. »
18 November 2006
Day Two after Riot - Update
Ad hoc reports indicate riots were premeditated
Eye witness reports say that a Pangai Si’i supporter of the political reforms is in custody for alleged
involvement in supplying fuel to the riots which set fire to buildings in Nuku’alofa’s central
business district. The witness says that the ‘supporter’ orchestrated refuelling of petrol to rioting
youth who used it as bombs. The ‘supporter’ was also
seen at some of the arson sites.
A report from Fanga says that one of the riot ringleaders
escaped attack when he walked up to a group of men
asking for the arsons, unknowing the group he was
addressing were not pro-demo supporters.
Evident in villages outside of the Proclaimed Areas is the
show of community support for the Chinese. In an
encouraging beacon of compassion, community watch
groups have been informally established to secure Chinese shops from further arson attacks.
Repeated attempts on remaining shops have gone awry due to neighbours alerting authorities early.
[Right: Fires still burning at AirNZ Cargo behind Tungi Arcade on Day Two]
An estimated 200 Chinese nationals are seeking refuge in the People’s Republic of China Embassy
in Nuku’alofa.
Prime Minister pledges Government role
The Prime Minister, Hon. Feleti Sevele made a statement today pledging Government’s
enforcement of the law and work towards restoring public order. At the same time he expressed his
disappointment at destruction of the Nuku’alofa area. “The unlawful acts of a few in just a short
time have ruined the tireless endeavours of generations,” he said.
He called on Tongans to cooperate with the Police and Defence Servicemen who are trying to
restore order.
Restoring order
The roadblocks established with yesterdays Emergency Regulations are still in full force. Arrival
of the Defence and Police reinforcements from New Zealand and Australia will accelerate the return
to order.
Arriving today were 60 soldiers from New Zealand’s Defence. Two Australian Royal Air Force
planes brought 50 soldiers and 35 policemen. The role of the New Zealand and Australian soldiers
and policemen are to assist the Tonga Defence Services and Police.
A battalion of 40-strong Tonga Defence Servicemen who were in New Caledonia also arrived
today. This battalion was in New Caledonia for military training before the crisis broke out.
A French Military Attache` is also in Tonga to assess if French troop reinforcements will be
required.
http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/newsdetail1.asp?storyID=107698
Nuku'alofa calm
18/11/2006 17:12:03
The streets of Nuku'alofa are calm this afternoon, as 62 New Zealand defence force personnel touch
down in the troubled Tongan capital.
Ninety Australian troops are joining them to boost security after violent riots this week in which
eight people died. Two more shops were set ablaze on the outskirts of the town overnight, but
authorities say otherwise things are quiet. The central district remains closed to civilians.
Prime Minister Helen Clark says the New Zealand contingent, which includes 10 police officers,
will focus on providing security at Tonga's international airport. Air New Zealand has cancelled its
flights to the Pacific country since the trouble began, but intends to resume service on Monday.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/riot-deaths-tonga-seekstroops/2006/11/17/1163266755140.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1
Riot deaths: Tonga seeks troops
Tonga's government offices burn in Nuku'alofa.
Photo: AP/Matangi
Connie Levett
November 17, 2006
Australia is ready to send troops to the troubled South Pacific nation of Tonga according to Foreign
Minister Alexander Downer after six people died as a result of the violence.
Mr Downer said Australia would commit 60 to 120 troops, as part of a New Zealand led
intervention, if requested by Tonga's government.
"We are hopeful, but not certain, the worst rioting is over,'' Mr Downer said after speaking with the
Tongan prime minister Fred Sevele by phone this morning.
"The Tongans believe they have the situation under control. If they can do it without outside
assistance they would prefer that.
"If they feel the riots would flare up again they might ask for assistance.''
Mr Downer said Australia would provide reconstruction assistance to help get power back on in the
capital, Nuku'alofa, and the New Zealanders would provide immediate logistical support to help in
reopening the airport.
The Tongan Cabinet was meeting today to assess the situation.
Geoff Spencer and agencies report: Specifics of the request for troops are due to be decided at a
Cabinet meeting later today, with the first troops likely to arrive in the South Pacific nation by early
tomorrow, a spokesman for Prime Minister Fred Sevele said.
"We are now working on the details of an agreement to allow (military) personnel from New
Zealand and Australia to secure the (main) airport" and key infrastructure, spokesman Lopeti
Senituli said.
The six charred bodies were discovered in the ruins of the nation's Shoreline power company office
in the central business district by firefighters clearing the area, Tonga's Lord Chamberlain,
Honourable Filekepi, told The Associated Press.
The dead were believed to be looters or rioters, as staff of the power company were all accounted
for after the building was torched by rampaging youth during yesterday's riot, he said.
Doctor Akanesi Makakaufaki, of Vaiola Hospital, said the remains of the six were in the morgue.
Makakaufaki said the victims were presumed to have been among those involved in starting the fire.
The revelation came after police in flak jackets and troops toting automatic weapons sealed off the
wrecked and burnt-out centre of Tonga's capital today after pro-democracy protesters went on a
drunken rampage.
"The police and military are out on the streets today," said Sydney man Adam Rorris, who was
caught up in yesterday's chaos in Nuku'alofa. "There are checkpoints guarded by armed soldiers
with helmets. No one can get into the centre of town.
"From what I saw, most of it has been looted or burned. There are overturned cars and lots of
broken windows. People were throwing rocks, coconuts and steel bars."
Many of the damaged buildings were state-owned or linked to Tonga's royal family and other
aristocrats who control the nation's political system and most of its tiny economy. An ANZ Bank
building was also targeted.
Today Prime Minister Fred Sevele restricted public movement in much of Nuku'alofa under the
country's Public Order Preservation Act. But a spokesman says it's not yet a state of national
emergency.
Associated Press earlier reported witnesses and officials saying there were no major injuries or
deaths despite the unprecedented extent of the damage that has shocked this normally placid island
kingdom.
Witnesses estimated more than half the city's central shopping area had been razed by fastspreading fires.
There has been no comment from King Siaosi Tupou V.
He ascended the throne in September after the death of his father, Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, a revered
monarch who used his prestige among his subjects to resist demands for constitutional change for
decades.
The new king, a bachelor in his 50s, is regarded by many as a ruler who has not inherited the
respect enjoyed by his father.
The unrest erupted after thousands of people met in the capital, demanding that parliament pass
democratic reforms before it ended its annual session.
Mr Rorris was in the Treasury building near Nuku'alofa's seafront when the situation escalated out
of control.
"A protest had been going on for several hours outside. It had been peaceful, but then somebody
started throwing things. Windows were smashing around us. It wasn't long before there were fires
and looting. Lots of cars were turned over," he said from his hotel room today.
"It was mostly young men. The organisers seemed to lose control."
"It's strange to see this happening in little sleepy Tonga. I think this morning many people here are
shocked by the destruction. It's calm but confused."
Other witnesses said many of the rioters appeared to have been drunk after raiding beer and liquor
supplies.
"Lots of things were looted. Crowds went into supermarkets and took away everything. The duty
free shop also," Mr Rorris said.
"At its height it was almost like a carnival. A lot of young people here have never seen anything
like this. It was violence against property, not people."
Veteran pro-democracy parliamentarian 'Akilisi Pohiva blamed delays to political reforms by the
government of Prime Minister Sevele for the unprecedented violence.
"The government made a big mistake," he told New Zealand's National Radio. "They shouldn't have
waited until the country fell into this chaotic situation" to approve democratic changes.
He charged that the government "had never listened" to the Tongan people "for 20 years".
"The government yesterday was forced at the last minute to accept our proposal," Pohiva said,
adding that as the riots began the cabinet agreed at an urgent meeting to broad democratic elections
in 2008.
"The agreement was signed by the Prime Minister. That was the final decision" of the meeting, he
said.
The 2008 election would see "21 representatives of the people" elected by popular vote, he added.
Currently just nine members of the 32-seat parliament are elected by ordinary voters under the
Tongan constitution - the rest are appointed by the king.
Australia and New Zealand currently have peacekeepers in the Solomon Islands after rioting there
earlier this year. Both countries have condemned the unrest in Tonga and warned their own citizens
not to travel there.
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Australia would consider sending security forces to Tonga
if the government requested it.
"Whether we would need to provide additional security, we are not sure yet at this stage," said
Downer, who is at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Vietnam.
-with agencies
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20061117/CPACTUALITES/611171750/5024/CPDMINUTE
Violences à Tonga: l'Australie et la Nouvelle-Zélande envoient des troupes
Agence France-Presse
NUKU'ALOFA
Plus de 150 soldats et policiers australiens et néo-zélandais ont été dépêchés samedi dans l'archipel
des Tonga (Pacifique Sud) pour prévenir de nouveaux heurts après des violences à caractère
politique qui ont fait au moins huit morts, a-t-on appris de source officielle.
"Après avoir reçu une demande (d'assistance) de la part du gouvernement de Tonga vendredi soir,
l'Australie, en collaboration avec la Nouvelle-Zélande, a déployé des personnels militaires et
policiers pour contribuer à rétablir la stabilité", a déclaré un porte-parole des Forces australiennes de
défense (ADF).
"La durée de leur mission sera ajustée en fonction de l'évolution de la situation sur place dans les
prochains jours", a-t-il ajouté.
Le Premier ministre néo-zélandais, Helen Clark, et son homologue australien John Howard ont
annoncé la création de cette force conjointe à Hanoï où ils participent au sommet des pays d'AsiePacifique.
La Nouvelle-Zélande prendra le commandement des troupes attendues samedi après-midi dans la
capitale de Tonga, Nuku'alofa, où ils doivent sécuriser l'aéroport et prêter main forte aux autorités
tonguiennes.
L'état d'urgence a été décrété vendredi soir dans l'archipel au lendemain de violences qui ont secoué
la capitale où plusieurs centaines de jeunes gens ivres réclamant plus de démocratie dans le pays ont
saccagé et incendié des voitures et des bâtiments.
Huit corps carbonisés ont été retrouvés dans les décombres de deux édifices livrés aux flammes
dans le quartier central des affaires saccagé à 80%, selon des diplomates étrangers.
Les émeutes ont éclaté à l'occasion de la dernière session annuelle du Parlement qui laissait
présager l'abandon de toute nouvelle démocratisation du régime. Le petit archipel est le théâtre
depuis plus d'un an d'une fronde démocratique, réclamant la fin du système semi-féodal en vigueur
dans l'archipel.
Toutefois, le calme semblait être rétabli vendredi après que le gouvernement et les membres du
Parlement furent tombés d'accord pour que désormais 21 députés sur 30 soient élus par le peuple.
Dans le précédent système, les députés étaient désignés par le roi et un collège de nobles,
majoritaires.
Après la mort à 87 ans du vieux roi Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, en septembre dernier, son fils Siaosi
Tupou V, qui lui a succédé, avait promis "des changements appropriés", excluant cependant toute
réforme de fond.
L'archipel de Tonga compte 100.000 habitants et est situé au nord-est de la Nouvelle-Zélande.
cf/cc/fp/mpd
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-1118T020945Z_01_WEL212992_RTRUKOC_0_US-TONGA-RIOTS.xml&WTmodLoc=NewsArt-C2-NextArticle-1
Foreign troops due to arrive in riot-torn Tonga
Fri Nov 17, 2006 9:09 PM ET
NUKU'ALOFA (Reuters) - About 150 Australian and New Zealand soldiers and police are due to
arrive in Tonga later on Saturday to boost security in the South Pacific island kingdom after violent
riots in which eight people died.
Police said the streets of the capital, Nuku'alofa, remained fairly calm following Thursday's riots
although two more shops on the outskirts of the city had been set alight overnight. Most of the dead
were believed to have been trapped in burning buildings.
"The situation is relatively calm and law and order seem to be restored," police commander Sinilau
Kolokihakaufisi told Reuters, adding that the central district remained closed to civilians.
Tonga on Friday asked Australia and New Zealand for assistance after pro-democracy protesters
destroyed most of the buildings in central Nuku'alofa.
Australia has already deployed troops and police to South Pacific trouble-spots including the
Solomon Islands and East Timor. It also sent three naval ships to Fiji in case its nationals needed to
be evacuated during a recent coup threat.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard said late on Friday at a joint news conference with New
Zealand counterpart Helen Clark that Australia was committed to maintaining stability in the
region.
"Being the largest and wealthiest countries in the region, part of our responsibility is to help,"
Howard said from Hanoi, where he is attended the Asia-Pacific summit.
Clark said the 62 New Zealand troops would focus on providing security at Tonga's Fau'amotu
International Airport. Air New Zealand has cancelled its flights to Tonga until Sunday.
The rioting began after parliament went into recess for the year without voting on proposals for
sweeping democratic reforms to Tonga's semi-feudal system.
Late on Thursday, the government bowed to the protesters and agreed to new elections in 2008 in
which a majority of the parliament would be directly elected by popular vote. At present, nobles and
appointed MPs outnumber elected representatives.
New Zealand and Australia have condemned the violence and warned their nationals in Tonga to
stay away from large gatherings.
Kolokihakaufisi said six badly burnt bodies had been recovered so far, although a spokesman for
Tongan Prime Minister Fred Sevele told Reuters on Friday that eight bodies had been found.
Among the buildings damaged on Thursday were the prime minister's office, the financial
department, the offices of power company Shoreline, which is partly owned by King George Tupou
V, the town's only bank and Chinese-owned shops and businesses.
-- took to the streets demanding democracy and public ownership of key assets.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6160552.stm
Published: 2006/11/18 05:38:38 GMT
Overseas troops arrive in Tonga
About 150 soldiers and police officers from Australia and New Zealand have arrived in Tonga
following an appeal for help to restore order after riots.
At least eight people died when crowds ransacked much of the centre of the Pacific nation's capital,
Nuku'alofa.
The city is now said to be calm but a state of emergency has been declared. The unrest was sparked
by concern about the slow pace of democratic reform.
The government has now announced major changes ahead of elections in 2008.
Australia has sent about 85 of the troops and police officers deployed, with New Zealand providing
the remainder.
Australia's Prime Minister John Howard and his New Zealand counterpart Helen Clark announced
the mission at a joint press conference in Vietnam, where they are attending a regional summit.
"Being the largest and wealthiest countries in the region, part of our responsibility is to help," said
Mr Howard.
Soothe tensions
Many buildings in Nuku'alofa have been destroyed in the rioting, including the government and
prime minister's offices, the power company, Nuku'alofa's only bank and a number of Chineseowned shops.
The trouble has been blamed on gangs with links to pro-democracy groups, says the BBC's Phil
Mercer in Sydney.
They have been agitating for political reform in a country where the king wields enormous power.
The embattled government of Prime Minister Fred Sevele has now announced sweeping reforms,
which it is hoped will soothe tensions in Nuku'alofa, our correspondent says.
The intervention by Australia follows similar action in the Solomon Islands and comes amid fears
of a military coup in Fiji, our correspondent adds.
Australia is concerned that trouble in the region could be exploited by extremists or drug traffickers.
Reform plans
The rioting began after the government assembly failed to pass democratic reforms before it went
into recess.
The Tongan king appoints 10 of the 14 cabinet members to their posts for life, with the other four
reserved for "nobility".
Hereditary noblemen hold the majority of seats in the country's parliament.
After the death of King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV in September, a government committee recommended
that all lawmakers be elected by the public.
King Tupou IV reigned for 41 years and was opposed to reforms.
His son and heir, Siaosi Tupou V, is thought to be more in favour of change.
© BBC MMVI
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/aussie-and-nz-troops-in-show-offorce/2006/11/17/1163266786012.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1
Aussie and NZ troops in show of force
Lane Nichols and Colin Espiner in Wellington
November 18, 2006
AUSTRALIAN and New Zealand troops are poised to enter the Tongan capital Nuku'alofa in a
show of force today after riots left eight dead and businesses destroyed.
The Prime Minister, John Howard, said last night the Government had reports that 80 per cent of
the central business district in the capital had been destroyed.
Responding to a request from Tonga, 50 Australian Defence Force personnel and 35 federal police
officers would fly to the country today as part of a joint operation with New Zealand, which was
sending 60 defence force personnel.
Mr Howard, who was speaking in Hanoi, said the operation would have a New Zealand
commander.
A spokesman for Tonga's Prime Minister, Fred Sevele, said earlier that the Government's request
for help from Australia and New Zealand would "ensure peace and security" and was "an
acknowledgement our security apparatus is … short of manpower".
Earlier, the Foreign Affairs Minister, Alexander Downer, spoke by phone with Dr Sevele, and said
the Tongans believed they had the situation under control.
Three Australian warships, dispatched to Fiji when it appeared that country's military was set to
overthrow the Government, might now be diverted to Tonga, a defence spokeswoman said.
New Zealand's Prime Minister, Helen Clark, also in Hanoi for the APEC summit, described the
situation in Tonga as "very grave and distressing".
In Nuku'alofa yesterday King George Tupou V announced a state of emergency and imposed
martial law. Armed soldiers patrolled the streets - with emergency powers to search anyone - as the
full horror of Thursday's riots by pro-democracy protesters became clear.
The king also released a statement extending his condolences to those affected by the violence.
"The king extends his deepest sympathy to the families of those who have died or been injured and
to the many business people who have been affected by these criminal activities," he said.
Late on Thursday the Government bowed to the protesters and agreed to new elections in 2008 in
which a majority of the Parliament would be directly elected by popular vote. Under the current
system nobles and appointed MPs outnumber the elected representatives.
Gangs of drunken youths continued to loot shops as smoke billowed over the city yesterday.
Tongan media reported six died in the offices of the Shoreline power company, which was torched
during the rampage.
The dead were believed to be looters or rioters, as power company staff were all safely accounted
for. Two more were found later.
An Australian man living in Nuku'alofa since last year said he was forced to run for safety when a
mob of about 40 men smashed their way into the Pacific Royale Hotel on Thursday.
Rioters had roamed the city centre, attacking businesses and setting buildings alight. Overwhelmed
police were powerless to intervene, the man said. Children risked their lives to loot a burning
building as the roof began to cave in.
"It was disgusting. The young boys think they had the best night. It's a good opportunity for free
alcohol for a lot of people.
"It was scary. People had to run out of buildings because they were getting smashed and torched.
There was excitement. If it was a big building that had lots of glass, that was a valid target. It was
chaos."
Air New Zealand cancelled yesterday's flight to Tonga, citing security fears at the airport - and
within hours all further weekend flights were cancelled.
A travel centre operated by the airline in Nuku'alofa was torched and a cargo warehouse looted.
New Zealand's high commissioner in Tonga, Michael McBryde, said up to 75 per cent of the
capital's buildings had been destroyed by fire. Buildings just across the road from the New Zealand
High Commission had been targeted in the riot but an "eerie calm" had descended when armed
soldiers arrived.
The Dominion Post, The Press, agencies
http://www.news.com.au/sundayheraldsun/story/0,,20779043-5005961,00.html
Diggers fly out to Tonga
November 18, 2006 08:50am
Article from: AAP
AUSTRALIAN soldiers and police are today flying to Tonga to help restore order after prodemocracy riots left at least eight dead.
The 50 Townsville-based military personnel, from the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment,
and 35 Australian Federal Police officers will leave Australia this morning.
New Zealand is also sending 60 military personnel with 10 police officers to Tonga.
Prime Minister John Howard and his New Zealand counterpart, Helen Clark, announced the peace
mission at a joint appearance in Hanoi, where they are attending the APEC leaders meeting.
Three Australian warships are already deployed to the region, having been dispatched to Fiji last
month when it appeared the military was set to overthrow the government.
The ships – HMAS Success, HMAS Kanimbla and HMAS Newcastle – will remain in international
waters in the south-west Pacific on standby in case they are needed in Tonga.
The Tongan government requested security assistance late yesterday, a day after riots erupted when
the legislature looked likely to adjourn for the year without making a decision on expanding
democracy.
Eight bodies have since been found in the ruins of two burned-out buildings in the capital
Nuku'alofa's main business district as armed police and soldiers sealed off the area that foreign
diplomats said had been 80 per cent destroyed.
"We are reasonably hopeful that the situation has calmed down but they have very small police
numbers, they have a very small defence force," Mr Howard said.
The trouble in Tonga follows destructive riots in the Solomon Islands capital Honiara in April,
ongoing gang violence in East Timor and the recent coup threats in Fiji, heightening concerns about
failed states in the Pacific region.
Mr Howard said Australia and New Zealand, as the biggest countries in the region, had a
responsibility to help.
"It's a very necessary responsibility," he said.
"It's too important to the stability of the whole region for us to be less than willing to respond to a
request ... to a country that looks to Australia and New Zealand in its hour of need."
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/troops-to-arrive-in-calm-tonga/2006/11/18/1163266816820.html
Aussie troops start patrols
Torched … a building in the capital, Nuku'alofa.
Photo: AAP
November 18, 2006 - 7:26PM
Australian troops have begun patrolling Tonga's international airport in an effort to restore calm, as
dozens of Australians prepare to flee the strife-torn South Pacific nation.
About 50 Townsville-based troops of 1RAR and 34 Australian Federal Police (AFP) today joined a
deployment of 60 military personnel and 10 police officers from New Zealand.
The troops will initially work to secure Fua'amotu International Airport, with the New Zealand
command to decide on any further action such as street patrols.
The airport has been closed to commercial flights since Thursday, when rioting destroyed 80 per
cent of the central business district and left at least eight people dead.
The deployment also will be on standby to evacuate about 300 Australians estimated to be in
Tonga.
A defence spokesman today said a RAAF 707 jet carrying the troops had touched down about
7.15pm local time (5.15pm AEDT), shortly after a C-130 flight carrying the AFP officers.
Prime Minister John Howard and his New Zealand counterpart, Helen Clark, announced the peace
mission late last night following a request from the Tongan government.
Three Australian warships are already in the region, having been sent to Fiji last month when it
appeared the military was set to overthrow the government.
The riots erupted after Tonga's parliament went into recess for the year without voting on proposed
democratic reforms to dramatically boost the proportion of elected MPs, and slash those appointed
by the king.
The prime minister's office and other public buildings were attacked, shops were looted and cars
overturned as hundreds of youths rampaged.
"The latest advice that we have is the situation has calmed to an extent and we hope that through
this deployment we will assist in bringing even a greater sense of reassurance to the people of
Tonga," Defence spokesman Brigadier Gus Gilmore told reporters in Canberra today.
"Of course it's a serious situation and I don't think the government of Tonga would have called for
our assistance had it not been."
AFP Assistant Commissioner Paul Jevtovic says his officers will primarily be relieving and
supporting exhausted local authorities.
"The Tongan police have obviously been working extensively long hours and our role will be to
support them and hopefully give them advice and share some of our experiences with them," he told
reporters.
It was not yet known how long the deployment would stay.
Asked if the Australian defence force was becoming over-stretched in its overseas missions,
Brigadier Gilmore highlighted the rapid deployment to Tonga.
"I think we've met this deployment quite comfortably and we still have a bit of fuel in the tank
should that be required," he said.
DFAT said officials had been in touch with about 120 Australians registered with the consulate, and
none had reported being caught up in the violence or injured.
Australians, Canadians and their immediate families are being offered seats on a returning defence
force aircraft, with 34 people taking up the offer by 4pm (AEDT) today.
The flight is due to leave Tonga in the early afternoon tomorrow, bound for Sydney, although
DFAT said unforseen changes may affect its departure.
The trouble in Tonga follows destructive riots in the Solomon Islands capital Honiara in April,
continuing gang violence in East Timor and the recent coup threats in Fiji, heightening concerns
about failed states in the Pacific region.
Mr Howard last night said Australia and New Zealand, as the biggest countries in the region, had a
responsibility to help.
"It's too important to the stability of the whole region for us to be less than willing to respond to a
request ... to a country that looks to Australia and New Zealand in its hour of need."
Labor today said it was supporting the short-term deployment, but it was no substitute for Australia
encouraging progress on the underlying issues of conflict including the need for democratic reform.
AAP
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/6158720.stm
Last Updated: Saturday, 18 November 2006, 05:30 GMT
In pictures: Tonga riots aftermath
The government of Tonga has declared a state of emergency, following riots in the capital,
Nuku'alofa, that left eight people dead.
The violence broke out when the Pacific kingdom's parliament failed to vote on democratic reforms
on Thursday. Small protests continued on Friday.
Protesters torched and looted buildings and shops and set cars on fire in the city's main business
district.
Some 80% of the buildings in the area had been destroyed, officials said. Eight bodies were found
in the debris.
The government later agreed to hold elections in 2008 in which a majority of lawmakers would be
directly elected. Currently, nobles and appointees outnumber elected MPs.
The government has asked Australia and New Zealand to send in troops to help restore order.
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispo/news/world/16041854.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp
Posted on Sat, Nov. 18, 2006
Foreign forces land in Tonga after riots
PESI FONUA
Associated Press
NUKU'ALOFA, Tonga - Forces from New Zealand and Australia arrived Saturday in Tonga to
help restore order after riots killed at least eight people and ravaged most of the capital's business
district.
Sixty troops and 10 police flew in from New Zealand to secure the Pacific island nation's only
international airport after foreign airlines refused to use it due to a lack of security, said Tongan
Defense Services spokesman Maj. Veehala, who like many Tongans uses a single name.
Another 50 troops and 35 police from Australia, including forensic experts to identify the bodies of
those who died in fires during the riots, arrived later Saturday.
The troops will secure infrastructure including the airport, power stations, broadcasting systems and
key government buildings.
Two Chinese shops in Tonga were torched in attacks overnight, two days after rioting destroyed
much of the capital, Nuku'alofa, but the city was "reasonably calm" on Saturday, Police
Commander Sinilau Kolokihakaufisi told The Associated Press.
He said that no one was in the shops during the attacks Friday night, and that up to 200 ethnic
Chinese - one-fifth the number living in Tonga - have sought refuge after about 30 Chinese-owned
stores and businesses were torched during Thursday's riot.
Government spokesman Lopeti Senituli said about 20 young men were arrested overnight for
breaking and entering.
Angry youths on Thursday had overturned cars, attacked officials and looted shops and offices
before setting them ablaze in the tiny, impoverished kingdom. Officials said about 80 percent of the
capital was destroyed.
As in many South Pacific countries, ethnic Chinese traders have a large chunk of the economy in
Tonga's capital, and are sometimes resented by locals who perceive them as outsiders, although
many Chinese families have been there for generations.
China's Ambassador to Tonga, Hu Yeshun, said the embassy had "received over 150 people, whose
houses or stores were destroyed by the mobs."
Kolokihakaufisi said the violence had displaced about 200 Chinese, many of them Tongan citizens,
who are staying at the Police College and a village outside the city.
"They're guarded by people in the village," he said.
The violence was triggered by anger that parliament might finish this year's session without settling
plans to give democratically elected lawmakers a parliamentary majority over royally appointed
legislators.
The government had agreed Tuesday to a plan ensuring that 21 lawmakers in the 30-seat Parliament
will be elected starting in 2008 - but it came too late to prevent the rioting.
Tonga, halfway between Australia and Tahiti, has about 108,000 people. Its economy depends on
pumpkin and vanilla exports, fishing, foreign aid and remittances from Tongans abroad.
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/16048643.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp
Posted on Sat, Nov. 18, 2006
Foreign forces secure airport in Tonga
PESI FONUA
Associated Press
NUKU'ALOFA, Tonga - International troops secured the airport in riot-scarred Tonga and
commercial flights were to begin evacuating frightened foreigners from the island on Sunday,
Australia's foreign minister said.
Police and soldiers from Australia and New Zealand arrived on the impoverished Pacific island on
Saturday following street violence Thursday that killed at least eight people and destroyed most of
the capital's business district.
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer predicted the airport would reopen on Sunday,
allowing frightened foreign residents to leave.
"The situation in Tonga is quiet at the moment, fortunately, and has been since the riots took place
the other night," he told Australian Broadcasting Corp. television late Saturday. "Hopefully, there
won't be any more problems and we'll be able to withdraw fairly soon."
Sixty troops and 10 police from New Zealand and 85 Australian soldiers and police arrived in the
kingdom's capital on Saturday.
The troops will secure infrastructure, including the airport, power stations, broadcasting systems
and key government buildings.
Downer said any of the 300 Australians in Tonga could be evacuated if they wished.
"That's up to them. Some of them feel a bit nervous depending on who they work for ... and others
feel perfectly safe," he said.
The violence was triggered by anger that Parliament might finish this year's session without settling
plans to introduce reforms that would give democratically elected lawmakers a parliamentary
majority over royally appointed legislators.
Tonga, halfway between Australia and Tahiti, has about 108,000 people. Its economy depends on
pumpkin and vanilla exports, fishing, foreign aid and remittances from Tongans abroad.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/latest/200611191054/king_vows_to_put_down_criminal_destruction
King vows to put down 'criminal destruction'
Posted at 10:54am on 19 Nov 2006
In Tonga, the King says his government is taking decisive action to restore law and order.
In an unusual move, King Tupou V released a statement saying he is greatly distressed by the riots
and extends his deepest sympathy to all those affected.
The King says every measure of the law will be followed to track down the perpetrators of what he
calls mindless criminal destruction.
He also says the government will provide leadership and initiatives to overcome the damage caused
to Tonga's economy and minimise its impact on the people.
'Natural consequence'
A pro-democracy leader in Tonga says the violence that erupted in Tonga on Thursday was a
natural consequence of many years of fighting for democracy.
Akilisi Pohiva says the arrival of outside troops there is indicative of the vulnerability of the
monarchy, which is no longer able to rule the country.
NZ Tongans shocked, sad
New Zealand-based Tongans are describing the civil unrest in their home country as shocking,
frightening and sad.
Will Ilolahia from Auckland City's Pacific Advisory Council says he is hurt and shocked at the state
of his homeland.
He says the older generation in Tonga are questioning the political reform, saying the fight for
democracy has brought the scenes of destruction.
Infrastructure destroyed
The Tongan Advisory Group says rioters in the Pacific nation are destroying the infrastructure their
life depends on.
The head of the Tongan Advisory Group in New Zealand, Melino Maka, says he has been in close
contact with family in Tonga since the chaos began.
Mr Maka says the government is also to blame for the riots, as it has not communicated properly
with the people.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/latest/200611191054/anzac_troops_on_the_ground_in_tonga_with_jail_filled_to_capac
ity
ANZAC troops on the ground in Tonga with jail filled to capacity
New Zealand's High Commissioner to Tonga says arrests from last Thursday's riot in
Nuklu'olofa have filled the country's jail to capacity.
Michael McBryde says more than 100 people are in custody after the pro-democracy violence led to
riots, which destroyed much of the capital Nuku'alofa.
The official death toll from the riots stands at six, with police saying they have yet to confirm
reports of two more deaths.
ANZAC troops on the ground
The New Zealand joint defence force contingent has secured Tonga's international airport.
The commander of the New Zealand and Australian deployment says his troops have the power to
shoot, and Tonga is under martial law, following this week's rioting.
Two Hercules and a Boeing aircraft flew out of Ohakea and Christchurch on Saturday loaded with
police, soldiers, government officials and equipment.
New Zealand has sent 60 soldiers and a lieutenant colonel, who will command the joint New
Zealand-Australia force. Australia is sending 50 soldiers and 35 police, including forensic experts
who will help identify bodies of those killed.
Tongans flee unrest
The Tongan Prime minister's daughter was among 11 people who flew into Auckland's Whenuapai
airbase from Tonga late Saturday night to escape the unrest.
The group was on a military plane returning from dropping off New Zealand troops in Nukualofa.
Maliana Sevele, the daughter of the Tongan Prime minister, arrived with several children. She had
been managing a family owned supermarket which was trashed by the rioters on Thursday.
Ms Sevele did not want to talk, but a relative said the family feared it was being targeted so the
safest thing was fly to New Zealand until the situation calms down.
Another woman who returned with her five year old daughter, says it was relief to leave Tonga as
there is a feeling of unease.
Thousands stranded
Nearly a thousand people remain stranded across the Pacific this morning unable to get in or out of
Tonga.
International airlines have refused to land at the capital's airport since rioting in Nuku'alofa last
week.
A spokesperson for Pacific Blue, Amanda Bolger, says at the height of the violence last Thursday,
her airline diverted a Sydney to Nuku'alofa flight to Auckland.
She says Pacific Blue is talking to with Air New Zealand about when it will be safe to resume
flights.
Both airlines have flights scheduled for Tonga on Monday morning.
MFAT warning
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade says any travellers going to Tonga should ensure they
have appropriate insurance cover.
It is also warning travellers to continue to avoid the downtown area of the capital Nuku'alofa,
especially around government buildings.
It says violence could break out with little warning and though foreigners have not been targetted, it
is possible for travellers to get caught up in the unrest
New Zealand's High Commissioner to Tonga says his staff have now contacted most New
Zealanders in the country, and only a few want to leave in the wake of last week's violence.
Michael McBryde says his staff have rung several hundred people since the unrest began.
Aust PM sees long haul ahead
Australian Prime Minister John Howard says his country and New Zealand are likely to have to
help out troubled South Pacific nations for many years to come.
Mr Howard says deploying police and troops to Tonga is unlikely to be the last time the two
countries have to help in such a way.
He says he has concerns about the stability of the South Pacific and that part of the trouble is that
some countries are simply not big enough to be sustainable.
However, Mr Howard says he does not expect the troops and police being sent to Tonga will stay
there long. He says he is not expecting the deployment to be dangerous.
http://www.fijitimes.com/print.aspx?id=51924
Rioters target Asians
FREDERICA ELBOURNE (Sunday, November 19, 2006)
TWO more buildings went up in flames in Nuku'alofa as Tongan police and military try to restore
law and order in the island kingdom.
Tongan police commissioner Sinilau Kolokihakaufisi told The Sunday Times yesterday the removal
of Chinese retailers, and not democracy, was one of the reasons behind the looting and burning of
the capital.
"There was a struggle against the Chinese presence. They were not wanted and that's not
democracy. Our investigations will include claims that there were other motives other than
democracy behind the riot," he said.
"This is getting us nowhere. We will find the criminal elements who have taken the law into their
own hands."
More than 20 people were arrested yesterday for looting in the town and the setting on fire of two
Asian businesses took to 16 the number of buildings destroyed since Thursday afternoon. Some of
the looters were found drunk when they were hauled in by police yesterday morning, said Mr
Kolokihakaufisi.
Police are waiting for forensic experts from New Zealand and Australia to ascertain the identity of
six people whose bodies were charred beyond recognition in a fire. Police believe the bodies were
those of looters because all the workers have been accounted for. Mr Kolokihakaufisi said only six
were dead and not eight as reported by the foreign media.
"I've been to the mortuary and counted only six bodies. I don't know where the other two bodies are
supposed to be," he said.
He said there was an adequate supply of food and that shops outside the town were still operating.
A state of emergency has not been declared because essential services like electricity are being
provided.
Power is supplied at 7am-10am and 7pm-10pm by State-owned generators.
There is no curfew but the CBD has now become a restricted zone.
"Things have died down and the situation has improved a little as we expect the first flights in and
out of Tonga to commence at 8pm this evening," Mr Kolokiha-kaufisi said yesterday.
He said forensic officers from Australia and New Zealand were expected to arrive yesterday
afternoon on a chartered flight to assist in investigations and determine the cause of fire in the
banned part of town.
Tonga Broadcasting editor Sione Vikilani said the buildings that were torched included the ANZ
Bank's head office, Shoreline Group of Companies, which housed offices of the country's mobile
phone service and electricity and the Air New Zealand office.
He said security measures were beefed up after five villages took turns guarding the remaining
buildings which were spared during the riot.
The prime minister's clan known as the Sevele clan had also joined in the fight to keep looters at
bay at night, he said.
"They take turns sitting outside shops all night, sometimes drinking grog. Just last night, they
chased a number of looters away after they tried to break into a shop," Mr Vikilani said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/print/0,1478,3866302a12,00.html
NZ troops 'taking wrong side'
SUNDAY , 19 NOVEMBER 2006
By MICHAEL FIELD
New Zealand and Australian forces in Tonga are propping up a discredited government
which is directly responsible for the rioting that has destroyed the capital Nuku'alofa in
recent days, according to a leading observer.
Dr Sitiveni Halapua, co-author of an official report on political change in the kingdom, warned in
January that the kingdom was slipping into violence. In Auckland yesterday he told the Sunday
Star-Times "very serious problems lie ahead", and called for Prime Minister Fred Sevele to stand
down.
A joint contingent of New Zealand and Australian troops flew into Tonga yesterday at Sevele's
request. It includes 62 New Zealand Defence Force personnel plus police and other government
staff.
Halapua said Tonga was proud of never having been colonised, and that Sevele, who is royally
appointed, had made a serious mistake by inviting foreign forces in.
"That says a lot about him and his government. He knows very well that people don't have
confidence in him any more. In other different governments, they would step down," he said.
"If Australia and New Zealand police and army are there to prop up the government, they are
propping the government up against everybody else. It's not just the pro-democracy (protesters)."
Halapua said there was a belief among some some people in Nuku'alofa that the New Zealand and
Australian forces were coming "to make people afraid and to support the government".
Instead, said Halapua, the government should step down so the foreign forces could work with a
new leadership.
The chaos in Tonga, which by yesterday had left eight dead from riots in Nuku'alofa, is the latest in
a series of fast- moving political collapses in the Pacific, hinting at a severe diplomatic difficulties
looming for New Zealand and Australia.
Papua New Guinea and the Solomons are sliding into crisis and there were strong signs this week
that the stand-off between Fiji's military and government still contains a lot of heat (see box, right).
Halapua's word carries weight in Tonga. He is one of kingdom's best known expatriates. Respected
by royals and the pro-democracy movement alike, he has led the consultative process to bring about
political change.
He was a member of a New Zealand co- funded group led by Prince Tu'ipelehake which talked
widely to Tongans in the country and around the world to devise a new model of government.
When the prince was killed in a car crash in California in June, Halapua took over the writing of the
report and its presentation.
Following a bitter public service strike last year Sevele had been urging people to wait for the
Tu'ipelehake report. But when it was tabled in the legislative assembly in October, Sevele switched
from supporting its pro-democratic recommendations and came out with a rival proposal.
"That was really bad timing," said Halapua. "For the first time, people had felt good about
something and then he poured cold water on it."
Halapua would not speculate on why the prime minister changed but several sources point to a
recent ambiguous statement from the new Tongan king - a close friend of Sevele - which hinted that
the consultation might be ignored.
Tonga observers have long believed the kingdom was calm only because of widely held respect for
the aging King Taufa'ahau, who died in September.
The mourning period ended shortly before rioting broke out last week.
It was widely believed trouble would follow the succession of Taufa'ahau's eccentric son King
George, who with his sister Princess Pilolevu, has taken personal control of most of the state's
assets.
Rioters hit buildings closely associated with the King and his business partners, the so-called
"Indian Princes" Sefo and Soane Ramanlal.
Halapua said he did not believe this hinted at conspiracy behind the riot, noting that Nuku'alofa was
a small place and even the average rioter would have known who supported the government and
who did not.
Halapua is not a member of parliament but he told the Assembly that the Tu'ipelehake report
offered the only prospect for peaceful change.
He said: "If you want to do it in a peaceful way this is the only way to go. If you do it any other way
it will lead to violence."
Pacifique : 19/11/2006 à 13:14
Le calme est revenu à Tonga, où la priorité va être la reconstruction de la
capitale, Nuku'alofa
(Tahitipresse) - Aucun incident majeur n'a été signalé ce week-end à Nuku'alofa, la capitale du
royaume de Tonga où le centre ville a été détruit à 80% en courant de semaine dernière après que
des supporters du mouvement Pro-Démocratie en aient saccagé, pillé et incendié la plupart des
magasins et immeubles de bureaux.
Huit émeutiers ont péri carbonisés lors de ces violents incidents, lesquels ont éclaté après qu'un
millier de manifestants aient marché sur le parlement en vue d'y réclamer l'introduction immédiate
des réformes institutionnelles que les députés tardaient à adopter dans un pays où les nobles,
conformément à la constitution du royaume, sont très largement majoritaires au sein de l'assemblée
législative.
Des troupes australiennes et néo-zélandaises à pied d'oeuvre
A la requête expresse du premier ministre tongien Feleti Sevele, Canberra et Wellington ont
dépêché un corps expéditionnaire de modeste taille à Nuku'alofa en vue d'y stabiliser la situation et
d'y maintenir la paix. C'est ainsi que l'aéroport international de Fua'amotu, où les vols commerciaux
ont repris aujourd'hui, a été sécurisé par 60 soldats néo-zélandais, tandis que 10 policiers kiwis ont
été chargés de protéger leur ambassade.
50 militaires australiens ont pour leur part reçu pour mission majeure d'assurer la sécurité de
plusieurs "infrastructures vitales" de Nuku'alofa telles que les différents bureaux du gouvernement,
le siège du parlement, les dépôts de carburants, la radio nationale, l'hôpital général et les rares
magasins à ne pas avoir été détruits par les pillards. 35 policiers australiens ont de leur côté
commencé à assister leurs collègues locaux dans la recherche des fauteurs de troubles, dont une
centaine ont déjà été arrêtés. Y compris un supporter du mouvement Pro-Démocratie qui, lors des
émeutes, aurait organisé "l'approvisionnement" en carburant des pillards qui incendiaient la ville, où
le couvre-feu et l'état d'urgence sont désormais en vigueur.
Des évacués attristés
Les appareils militaires qui avaient procédé au déploiement à Nuku'alofa du corps expéditionnaire
australo-kiwi ont en retour évacué bon nombre d'expatriés. 14 d'entre eux sont arrivés hier soir à
Auckland, y compris la fille de Feleti Sevele, dont le supermarché a été saccagé par les émeutiers.
"Je suis choquée et profondément attristée par ce qui s'est produit", s'est-elle contentée de déclarer à
sa descente d'avion. 49 autres, dont 36 australiens, ont pour leur part atterri tard la nuit dernière à
Sydney, où ils ont tous exprimé le même sentiment de tristesse. "C'est triste, c'est vraiment triste", a
déclaré Esa Kava, une résidente australienne de Nuku'alofa. "C'était un pays pacifique", a-t-elle
poursuivi, "mais ces casseurs ont tout détruit." "Tonga était une petite économie", a-t-elle conclu
avant de prédire que la remise sur les rails de cette économie "sera difficile".
Le gouvernement en accusation
N'affichant aucun remords quant aux conséquences catastrophiques - tant sur le plan humain
qu'économique - des événements imputables à ses supporters, le président du mouvement ProDémocratie, Akilisi Pohiva, a condamné le déploiement à Nuku'alofa de forces étrangères. "Cette
intervention", a-t-il dit, "constitue une preuve supplémentaire de l'échec du premier ministre Feleti
Sevele et de son gouvernement très largement non-élu." Celui-ci est en effet composé en majorité
de nobles auxquels le roi attribuait jusqu'à présent les portefeuilles selon son bon vouloir, une
pratique qui prendra fin avec les réformes institutionnelles que Sevele à accepté d'introduire en
réponse "aux appels du peuple."
"Le gouvernement", a poursuivi Pohiva, "n'a pas été à même de tenir compte des alarmants signes
de frustration exprimés par le peuple tongien, et son appareil sécuritaire n'a pas été à même de
maintenir l'ordre et la loi lorsque les troubles ont éclaté dans les rues de Nuku'alofa." Il a ajouté que
les morts et les destructions qui ont accompagné ces émeutes sont "un aspect regrettable du
processus de changement démocratique en train de balayer le pays."
Pohiva a enfin demandé du roi George Tupou V qu'il dissolve le parlement et nomme une
administration intérimaire qui expédiera les affaires courantes en attendant l'organisation d'élections
générales anticipées.
Priorité à la reconstruction
La mise en demeure de Pohiva a cependant été rejetée sans appel par Sevele, lequel a indiqué que sa
priorité va être de rebâtir Nuku'alofa. Son cabinet vient d'ailleurs d'établir un "comité de
reconstruction" dont la responsabilité a été confiée au ministre des finances, Siosiua T T
'Utoikamanu. "Je veux me consacrer à la reconstruction de notre économie et de notre réputation
internationale", a insisté Sevele, lequel s'est également juré de "traquer" les responsables des
émeutes de jeudi dernier.
"Jamais je n'ai pensé qu'un jour je verrais des Tongiens descendre dans la rue de cette façon", a-t-il
également confessé, "c'est un jour de honte pour tous les Tongiens." Sevele a enfin réaffirmé qu'au
plus fort des troubles, "il importait d'en minimiser les dégâts et de rétablir l'ordre et la loi, et c'est la
raison j'ai demandé à l'Australie et à la Nouvelle-Zélande de nous prêter assistance."
Reste désormais à voir quel degré de coopération il recevra de Pohiva, que beaucoup accusent
aujourd'hui d'être directement responsable de la destruction de Nuku'alofa et, partant, de l'économie
tongienne.
JPZ
Diaporama lié à l'article
Radio Australia - 24H dans le Pacifique -
Huit morts pour les émeutes de Tonga
[This is the print version of story http://www.abc.net.au/ra/francais/stories/s1792529.htm]
Huit morts pour les émeutes de Tonga
Dernière mise a jour: 20/11/2006 11:31:50 AM
50 militaires et 35 policiers australiens ainsi que 60 soldats néo-zélandais sont arrivés dans le
royaume.
Une manifestation du mouvement pro-démocratie a dégénéré et tourné à l'émeute jeudi dernier
quand le gouvernement a repoussé à plusieurs reprises l'adoption des réformes politiques
recommandées. Peu à peu, des groupes de jeunes, ivres pour la plupart, ont saccagé le centre-ville
de la capitale Nuku'alofa. Des magasins ont été mis à sac et brûlés. 80% du quartier commercial est
en ruine.
Les corps de six personnes ont été découverts dans les débris d'un bâtiment administratif incendié et
deux autres dans un supermarché. Le contingent australien comprend une équipe médico-légale
chargée d'identifier les huit victimes.
Le mouvement pro-démocratie a vivement condamné l'intervention de l'Australie et de la NouvelleZélande.
La loi martiale est en vigueur et un cordon a été établi autour du centre-ville de la capitale. Des
attaques sporadiques ont eu lieu ce week-end, notamment dans la nuit de samedi où deux
commerces chinois ont été incendiés.
Plus de cent personnes ont été interpellées par la police pour incendie criminel, vandalisme, pillage
et ivresse sur la voie publique.
Un premier lot de onze personnes a été évacué à bord d'un appareil de l'armée de l'air néozélandaise, dont la fille du Premier ministre tongien, Fred Sevele. 49 personnes sont également
arrivées hier soir Sydney bord d'un vol organisé par le gouvernement australien.
Radio Australia - 24H dans le Pacifique
Le Premier ministre tongien accuse
Le Premier ministre tongien accuse
Fred Sevele estime que les émeutes de la semaine dernière ont été organisées et préméditées par ses
opposants politiques et ajoute que les responsables seront pourchassés et sanctionnés.
Le mouvement pro-démocratie continue de faire appel au roi Tupou V pour obtenir la révocation du
gouvernement et la tenue d'élections démocratiques.
M. Sevele a immédiatement fait savoir son refus de démissionner et que son intention est de
reconstruire le pays, son économie et la réputation du royaume à l'étranger.
Le Premier ministre du Samoa, Tuila'epa Sa'ilele a lancé un appel à tous les dirigeants du
mouvement pro-démocratie pour qu'ils fassent preuve de retenue et oeuvrent pour la paix et la
réconciliation.
Les vols commerciaux ont repris aujourd'hui et des centaines d'Australiens et de Néo-zélandais sur
place, qui se sont pour la plupart réfugiés dans des missions diplomatiques ou des églises, vont
probablement plier bagages et attraper le premier vol disponible.
Des Tongiens de Nouvelle-Zélande ont aussi quitté Auckland ce matin pour rejoindre le royaume et
prendre des nouvelles de leur famille ou de leurs affaires.
70% du centre-ville de Nuku'alofa, la capitale, ont été détruits. La population se retrouve confrontée
à des coupures d'électricité et aux rayons vides des supermarchés qui ont été pillés.
Les troupes australiennes et néo-zélandaises continuent de patrouiller les rues de la capitale et
d'assurer la sécurité de l'aéroport sur l'île principale de Tongatapu.
Les travaux de reconstruction anticipés sont énormes et la Nouvelle-Zélande s'est déjà engagée à
verser une aide de plus de huit millions de dollars au royaume de Tonga
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/print.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10411753
New Zealander Mike Jones had blamed the riots on competitive businessmen. Picture / Reuters
Reasons for Tonga riots unclear, Clark says
UPDATED 12.10pm Tuesday November 21, 2006
The exact factors behind Tonga's devastating riots will not be known until a full investigation is
completed, Prime Minister Helen Clark says.
New Zealander Mike Jones, whose companies employ 250 people in the island kingdom, today said
the riots were engineered by business people trying to wipe out their competition.
Last week's riots left eight dead and Nuku'alofa's business district in flames.
But Lieutenant Colonel Darren Beck, New Zealand commander of the joint military force sent to
Tonga, today said reports the riots were commercially motivated were unsubstantiated.
And Miss Clark said she had not heard of the claims in briefings or in her discussions with Tonga's
leaders.
"My impression has been more that what began as peaceful protest had other elements come in and
take over," she said on National Radio.
"Whether their motivation was just sheer destruction, whether there was alcohol and other
influences at work, who knows, that will come out in the full investigation."
Tongan Prime Minister Fred Sevele's main adviser Lopeti Senituli also said today was the first he
had heard of Mr Jones' claim that protesters were paid by businesses to riot.
He said two weeks before the riots the Tongan Business Group had presented a petition to the
King's office calling for the sacking of the Prime Minister.
"They are part of the list of people that are being investigated."
Mr Senituli said it would take the country at least five years to rebuild the city centre, after rioters
caused about $106 million worth of damage.
Miss Clark said New Zealand was assessing what development assistance it could offer.
Because most of the damage was to the private sector that assistance was likely to come in the form
of small grant or credit facilities.
New Zealand had strongly upped its aid to the Pacific in recent years, she said.
Meanwhile, Cabinet will today discuss widening the mandate of New Zealand troops in Tonga
beyond guarding the airport in Nuku'alofa.
The soldiers secured the airport on Saturday after rioting by pro-democracy demonstrators.
Lt Col Beck said the joint forces were now planning for wider security role.
There had been reports more trouble was planned, but as yet they were unsubstantiated.
Lt Col Beck said the soldiers would use lethal force to defend themselves if necessary.
"We're approved to use force to sort out a security situation where the lives of New Zealand soldiers
and property they have to protect is put at risk and that includes up to and including lethal force," he
said on National Radio.
Lt Col Beck said the troops continued to maintain security at Fau'amotu Airport in conjunction with
Tongan Defence Service personnel.
"Monday's achievement was securing the airport, which is now fully functioning and operational for
commercial flights."
He said there was frequent liaisons between the army and Tongan officials.
"The Task Force is present to provide assistance to Tonga, to allow them to work towards restoring
calm."
Lt Col Beck said the task force would remain in Tonga at the request of the Tongan Government for
the interim.
The focus was now on consultation, planning and preparation for future tasks that may arise, he
said.
New Zealand has 70 soldiers and seven police in Tonga as part of a 150 strong force with Australia.
Eleven more New Zealand police will soon join them.
Up to 80 per cent of businesses were destroyed in the riots, and Tongan police were treating them as
crime scenes.
Entry to Nuku'alofa's central business district remained tightly restricted as Tongans returned to
work.
- NZPA
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,20796709-23109,00.html#
Aussie troops 'suppressing democracy'
By Peter Williams in Nuku'alofa
November 21, 2006 04:08pm
Article from: AAP
TONGA'S pro-democracy leaders have called for the immediate withdrawal of Australian
and New Zealand forces, saying their presence is associated with the suppression of
democracy.
But they want the two Pacific powers to broker talks between Tongan Prime Minister Feleti
Sevele's Government and the opposition so the riot-torn Pacific kingdom can become a fully
democratic nation.
Pro-democracy leader 'Akilisi Pohiva today said Australian and New Zealand troops, called in by
Tonga's Government to restore security after Thursday's devastating riots, must leave.
"They should be neutral. They don't have to appear as if they are here to support Fred Sevele," Mr
Pohiva said.p> "I think they have (had) enough time to see what is going on now. They should go
home now."
His comments back those of another pro-democracy leader Finau Tutone, who yesterday said the
foreign troops were seen as supporting the existing semi-feudal system under which the king
appoints most MPs.
Last week's violence has been blamed on members of pro-democracy groups, angered by the slow
pace of reforms that would see a majority of MPs elected by popular vote.
However, some business owners today blamed rivalry between Tongan and Chinese businessmen
for the riots, which a Tongan Government official today said would take five years and up to $97.5
million to fix.
Clive Edwards, who like Mr Pohiva is one of Tonga's popularly elected MPs, today said a state of
martial law imposed after the riots was suppressing and delaying the democratic process in Tonga.
"New Zealand and Australia are now, regrettably, associated with that suppression," Mr Edwards
said.
The MPs want the two countries, through their high commissioners and the Commonwealth, to
facilitate talks to resolve the dispute between democracy activists and the monarchy.
They also want Mr Sevele and his Government to resign in favour of an interim administration
ahead of democratic elections.
Only nine of the 30 MPs in Tonga's Parliament are elected by commoners, and King George Tupou
V appoints the Government.
Reformists have refused to accept the blame for the riots which devastated 80 per cent of the CBD,
instead holding the government responsible for resisting change and imposing fresh economic
burdens on the Tongan people.
"Utter nonsense. We didn't provoke it," Mr Edwards said.
"Government, who's responsible for the present state of affairs, are just sitting there smugly and not
taking the responsibility.
"In any other country, they would resign. They caused this."
Mr Sevele has not so far met demands from popularly elected MPs to meet with them in the wake
of the riots.
He has instead focused on security and reconstruction plans.
The joint Australian-New Zealand force remained focused on the international airport today as
Tongan police insisted the death toll from the riots was six, not eight as widely reported.
Tongan police deputy commander Taniela Faletau said that six bodies were found in the
smouldering remains of the Shoreline power company, once owned by the king. The reports of
eight deaths were incorrect, he said.
"There is no other two, it's only six," Faletau said.
The victims were believed to be looters trapped when the Shoreline building was torched. They
have not been identified.
Mr Faletau said there was a missing persons list but could not say how many names were on it, nor
how many riot suspects were in custody.
New Zealand police operations commander Superintendent Bill England said Australian colleagues
had told him the damage from the Nuku'alofa riots was worse than what occurred in the Solomon
Islands capital Honiara when violence broke out in April.
Despite that, a New Zealand Defence Force spokeswoman said: "The feeling is still that this will be
a short-duration mission".
Journalist Mary Fonua, whose publishing company was destroyed in last week's unrest, today said
business rivalry and not pro-democracy activists were to blame for the devastation.
"It's business rivalry, involving people who are likely to be rival candidates in the next election and
also between Tongan and Chinese businessmen," Mr Fonua said.
Many stores owned by ethnic Chinese traders, who held a large slice of commerce in Tonga, were
destroyed in the violence. Rioters also targeted government offices and businesses associated with
the king and prime minister.
Mike Jones, a New Zealander who runs a business in Tonga, alleged some of the rioters were paid
"five dollars a day" to cause trouble by unscrupulous business operators.
"It wasn't a riot as such. It was an organised attempt to cut out all of the Chinese, and whatever
businesses were in opposition" to the unscrupulous traders, Jones told New Zealand's National
Radio.
He offered no evidence of the claim.
New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark said the claims had not been raised in her discussions
with Tonga's leaders.
"What began as peaceful protest had other elements come in and take over," she said.
"Whether their motivation was just sheer destruction, whether there was alcohol and other
influences at work, who knows. That will come out in the full investigation."
Tonga's royal family broke its silence over the unrest today, with a cousin of the king denouncing
the criminals and thugs responsible.
"They don't want change for the good of the country or the good of the people, they want change for
themselves, they want the power, they want to be king," Kololiana Naufahu told Australia's ABC.
http://www.tahitipresse.pf/print.cfm?presse=18164
Pacifique : 21/11/2006 à 10:44
Tonga: priorité au sauvetage de l'économie tandis que le mouvement prodémocratie, sur la sellette, ne désarme pas
(Tahitipresse) - Le gouvernement tongien attribue au mouvement pro-démocratie la responsabilité
des violentes émeutes de jeudi dernier, qui ont transformé la capitale en champ de ruines, et veut se
consacrer à la reconstruction. Mais l'opposition maintien sa pression politique et demande que l'aide
australienne et néo-zélandaise soit économique plutôt que militaire.
Un courant de colère et de ressentiment est en train de sourdre contre le mouvement pro-démocratie
dans les rues de Nuku'alofa. Les émeutes, qui ont fait au moins huit morts, se sont soldées par la
destruction quasi totale du centre ville, dont 80% des magasins et bureaux ont été saccagés, pillés et
incendiés.
Ces émeutes ayant été consécutives à la lenteur apportée par l'assemblée législative à voter des
textes de loi réformateurs visant à donner plus de voix au peuple au détriment des nobles qui
contrôlaient jusqu'à présent l'exécutif politique - une lenteur que le président du mouvement prodémocratie, Akilisi Pohiva, ne cessait de dénoncer avec vigueur – le gouvernement et la famille
royale en attribuent la responsabilité à ce dernier.
L'économie au point mort
Plutôt que de céder aux exigences de Pohiva, qui réclamait sa démission, le gouvernement du
Premier ministre Feleti Sevele a créé un "comité de reconstruction" de Nuku'alofa qui s'est
immédiatement mis au travail. Mais la tâche qui l'attend est gigantesque. Les dégâts causés par les
émeutiers ont en effet été évalués à environ 75 millions de dollars américains, ou 58 millions
d'euros.
Conséquence inévitable de ces destructions: l'économie tongienne a soudain cessé de fonctionner et
des centaines, voire des milliers de salariés ont perdu leur emploi, ce qui va avoir un impact durable
sur bon nombre de foyers. Les activités, dans le centre des affaires, n'ont pas repris, et la plupart des
sociétés offrant des prestations de services sont toujours dans l'impossibilité d'opérer. Ceci alors que
le gouvernement venait de prendre des initiatives visant à faciliter la croissance économique par la
mise en place d'un environnement fiscal principalement destiné à encourager l'essor du secteur
commercial. Lequel est aujourd'hui en ruines, tout comme risque de l'être celui du tourisme.
Une longue et coûteuse reconstruction
La situation est telle que certains économistes ont prédit qu'entre 10 et 15 ans seront nécessaires
pour permettre à l'économie de se remettre pleinement de cette catastrophe, la confiance,
notamment au niveau des investisseurs, étant tombée à son niveau le plus bas.
Le porte-parole du gouvernement, Lopeti Senituli, a avancé quant à lui que la seule reconstruction
du centre ville coûtera environ 75 millions de dollars US au royaume. "Notre actuelle estimation du
montant des dégâts oscille entre 60 et 75 millions de dollars américains", a-t-il déclaré sur les ondes
de Radio New Zealand avant de prédire que de rebâtir Nuku'alofa "prendra au moins cinq ans."
La famille royale réagit
La famille royale est quant à elle sortie de son mutisme pour qualifier de "criminels" et de "voyous"
les responsables des destructions de la semaine dernière. S'exprimant au nom de la couronne, la
cousine du roi, Kololiana Naufahu, a publiquement dénoncé "ceux qui ont orchestré ces émeutes."
Sans toutefois incriminer implicitement les supporters de pro-démocratie, elle a déclaré que ceux
qui ont incendié Nuku'alofa "ne veulent pas de changements pour le bien du pays ou pour le bien du
peuple; ils veulent ces changements pour eux-mêmes, ils veulent le pouvoir, ils veulent être roi."
Kololiana Naufahu a également estimé que les fauteurs de troubles "ne méritent rien d'autre que
l'application de la loi dans toute sa rigueur."
Le mouvement pro-démocratie sur la sellette
Au lendemain des émeutes, Akilisi Pohiva en avait rejeté la responsabilité sur le gouvernement, et
avait affirmé que les morts et les destructions qui les avaient accompagnées étaient "un aspect
regrettable du processus de changement démocratique en train de balayer le pays."
Par le biais de son site Internet, le gouvernement vient de réagir en affirmant que nombre de
Tongiens se posent des questions quant aux véritables origines de ce désastre, et attendent des
explications de pro-démocratie. "Pourquoi les protestataires sont-ils devenus violents?", s'interroget-il, "qui a causé ces violences, qui est à blâmer?"
Le gouvernement a également averti que "le mouvement pro-démocratie va devoir regarder la
situation bien en face" et que "quelqu'un va devoir répondre de ce qui s'est produit car le sang a
coulé, des vies humaines ont été perdues, le gagne-pain de beaucoup de gens leur a été ôté, et notre
sens de sécurité et de liberté n'existe plus."
Pohiva persiste et signe
Rejetant une nouvelle fois les accusations dont il fait l'objet, Pohiva a choisi quant à lui de repartir à
l'attaque. "Le roi et son élite dirigeante sont simplement à la recherche d'un bouc émissaire
accommodant après des années de frustrantes réformes démocratiques", a-t-il déclaré à la presse
étrangère avant d'affirmer que les troubles de la semaine dernière étaient "tragiques mais
inévitables." Ces émeutes, à l'en croire, "sont le résultat d'une longue période de frustration, une
longue période de lutte, la conséquence d'un régime dictatorial qui a dirigé le pays pendant des
années."
Un autr militant pro-démocratie et ancien ministre de l'intérieur, Clive Edwards, a affirmé de son
côté que l'imposition de la loi martiale à Nuku'alofa était destinée à "ralentir et supprimer le
processus démocratique à Tonga", avant d'ajouter qu'en y déployant des troupes, l'Australie et la
Nouvelle-Zélande "se sont associées à cette suppression."
Pohiva, Edwards et un autre responsable du mouvement, Finau Tutone, ont à nouveau réclamé le
départ immédiat des troupes étrangères, la démission du gouvernement Sevele et son remplacement
par une administration intérimaire, indiquant ainsi que le mouvement pro-démocratie a décidé de
maintenir le cap qu'il s'est fixé.
JPZ
ATP - JPZ
Un avion charter va rapatrier les Chinois vivant à Tonga secoué par des émeutes
2006-11-22 16:25:11
BEIJING, 22 novembre (XINHUA) -- Un avion charter est sur le point d'être envoyé dans l'archipel
des Tonga pour y chercher les Chinois qui y vivent et qui désirent être rapatriés, a informé
mercredi Wang Yongsheng, porte-parole d'Air China.
L'avion quittera Beijing à 17h00 mercredi pour les îles Fidji, voisine de Tonga.
Wang a indiqué que cette mesure répondait à une demande du ministère chinois des Affaires
étrangères.
Air China n'ayant pas de vols commerciaux vers cette destination, cette demande a compliqué la
coordination avec l'aviation civile chinoise.
Des émeutes à caractère politique ont explosé à l'occasion de la dernière session annuelle du
parlement dans la capitale tonguienne Nuku'Alofa jeudi dernier. Huit personnes y ont trouvé la
mort.
Environ 30 magasins chinois auraient été saccagés ou brûlés pendant les violences.
Radio Australia - 24H dans le Pacifique
L'Australie et la Nouvelle-Zélande accusées de complicité
L'Australie et la Nouvelle-Zélande accusées de complicité
Les dirigeants du mouvement pro-démocratie du royaume de Tonga ont réclamé la médiation de
Don MacKinnon, Secrétaire-Général du Commonwealth, pour entamer dès que possible des
pourparlers de paix avec le gouvernement.
En début de semaine dernière, les partisans de la démocratie se sont réunis autour du Parlement
pour réclamer l'adoption de réformes politiques avant la fin de la dernière séance parlementaire de
l'année. Les députés ont repoussé les débats à plusieurs reprises pour aboutir aux émeutes de
vendredi dernier. Emeutes qui ont fait huit morts et laissé en ruines 70% du quartier commercial de
la capitale Nuku'alofa.
Les dirigeants du mouvement pro-démocratie ont aussi condamné l'intervention des forces de
sécurité australiennes et néo-zélandaises. Des militaires et policiers australiens et kiwis ont
effectivement été déployés pour restaurer le calme et assurer la sécurité de l'aéroport.
Pour le mouvement pro-démocratie, ces militaires ne font que soutenir un régime oppressif et
doivent quitter le royaume ou faciliter le dialogue des deux côtés de l'arène politique tongienne.
Canberra et Wellington ont été accusées de complicité dans la suppression de protestations
légitimes en faveur de la démocratie.
Si des centaines de personnes ont fui Nuku'alofa dès la reprise des liaisons aériennes, les émeutes et
la tension régnante n'ont pas réussi à décourager des touristes qui continuent d'arriver dans le
royaume, notamment un couple d'Australiens. Dennis et Marie McCready sont arrivés lundi dans la
capitale tongienne après avoir été bloqués pendant quatre jours à Auckland pour cause d'émeutes.
Tout ce que nous voulons, a déclaré Dennis, c'est faire un peu de surf et un peu de plongée.
http://www.matangitonga.to/article/tonganews/crime/detain231106.shtml
TONGA NEWS : CRIME
Last Updated: 27 Nov 2006 - 06:55 GMT+1300
Tonga police detain 42 suspects
23 Nov 2006, 18:43
Nuku'alofa, Tonga:
?AS of yesterday November 22, the Tonga Police had detained 16 more suspects in relation to the
crimes committed on November 16, bringing the total number of detainees to 42.
The Commander of the Tonga Police, Sinilau Kolokihakaufisi, confirmed that on Tuesday
November 21 the Nuku'alofa Police station held in custody 26 suspects and 16 were again arrested
yesterday morning.
Sinilau said that he anticipated that more arrests will be made in the days to come as they are
continuing their investigations in regards to the criminals who committed the burning and damaging
of buildings, and thefts. Police are confiscating stolen items.
There had been no more deaths found up to yesterday, confirmed the Police Commander.
Le Roi tongien s'exprimera au Parlement
Le Roi tongien s'exprimera au Parlement
TUPOU V devrait intervenir lors de la cérémonie de clôture officielle du Parlement pour l'année
2006. A cette occasion, le monarque devrait annoncer un calendrier sur la mise en place des
changements constitutionnels réclamés par le mouvement pro-démocratie.
C'est la suspension du Parlement la semaine dernière qui est à l'origine des émeutes qui ont fait
plusieurs morts et détruit partiellement la capitale Nuku'alofa.
Des militaires australiens lourdement armés patrouillent les rues de la capitale pour faire respecter
l'Etat de droit. Pendant ce temps, une équipe australienne d'experts en criminalistique tente
d'identifier les victimes des émeutes et aide la police tongienne à la préparation d'un dossier
d'enquête sur les éventuels responsables.
Les commerces et commerçants chinois de Tonga ont été ciblés par les émeutiers qui ont saccagé
une cinquantaine de bâtiments.
De nombreux entrepreneurs chinois se sont réfugiés à leur ambassade et les autorités de Beijing ont
décidé d'affréter un avion pour les évacuer. 200 ressortissants chinois ont maintenant quitté le
royaume de Tonga, mais la communauté chinoise représente environ 4000 personnes qui auraient
décidé de rester sur place.
http://www1.tonga-now.to/Article.aspx?ID=2178
Thieves caught on camera
Updates on 24 November 2006 -
Thieves caught on camera
Stories are coming in about the perpetrators being caught on camera. With chaos in Nuku’alofa last
Thursday, the major shops were looted by thieves before being set fire. Those thieves did not
realise that hidden security cameras have them recorded in the act. Security footage have been
handed into Police for further investigation. Some perpetrators are guilt-driven to hand in the goods
themselves to the main Police station. These perpetrators are being charged.
Some stories floating around include respectable individuals holding good jobs also took advantage
of the riots to loot luxury items from the shops. Unfortunately, they too must now face the
consequences of prosecution in court and quite possibly jail. This is justice and must be served on
all those that were responsible for causing the devastation last week.
Prices start to rise
The fires last week gutted most of the major supermarkets including two TCF supermarkets, Molisi
Tonga, Fung Shing, and 50 Chinese-owned businesses. Some supermarkets have increased their
prices due to the significant decrease in competitors. Consumers are complaining because of the
difficult times. At the same time retailers believe that it is justified due to the high level of demand.
200 arrested so far
Reportedly around 200 people have been arrested and charged so far who were involved with last
week’s disturbances. Some people have started returning stolen goods themselves to the Police.
The Police have installed an information hotline “923” for the public to give undisclosed
information about stolen goods. The identity of informants is kept confidential.
Stolen Goods
Stolen goods being returned include rental vehicles, boats, refrigerators, TVs’ mattresses, outboard
motors, lawnmowers, microwaves and so forth. Some goods were even retrieved from the outlying
areas where they were buried. The Police and Defence personnel have been following strong leads
to find and retrieve goods from all over the country.
Nobles warn thieves to return stolen good
Some of the Nobles have warned their people that perpetrators must hand back stolen goods or else
the Police will be called in to deal with them. It was reported that Nobles, Hon. Fielakepa, Hon.
Ma’afu and Hon. Tu’ivakano have instructed their respective estates to warn all hose involved in
the disturbances to return all stolen goods
Donors
The donor countries have mobilized to provide assistance to rebuild Nuku’alofa. The Government
is in the process of finalizing its assessment of the damages and about to discuss with the donors the
assistance required for the reconstruction phase.
s
.
Forensics experts
Most of Nuku’alofa is still a crime scene. Major areas where most of the burnings took place are
ticketed off with Forensics experts, assisted by Defence and Police going thoroughly over the site.
Cleaning up
Damaged sites in town need a major clean up. With corrugated iron roofing still hanging from
buildings, it is still unsafe for the general public to enter.
Road-blocks
The Tonga Defence still have their road blocks at the entry points into the Proclaimed Area.
Vehicles going in are still thoroughly searched. This morning, a week after devastation of Tonga’s
capital – soldiers are still searching vehicles going into the Proclaimed Area. The 24hour-round the
clock watch ensures the security of the restricted area. Some of the New Zealand and Australian
troops can be seen at some of the road blocks around Nuku’alofa.
http://www.abc.net.au/correspondents/content/2006/s1797213.htm
Correspondents Report -
Tongans coming to grips with shock riots
[This is the print version of story http://www.abc.net.au/correspondents/content/2006/s1797213.htm]
Correspondents Report - Sunday, 26 November , 2006
Reporter: Peter Lewis
ELIZABETH JACKSON: The people of Tonga are still struggling to come to terms with the most
tumultuous civil unrest in the history of the 160-year-old Kingdom.
It's just over a week since drunken mobs rampaged through the capital Nuku'alofa looting shops and
offices then setting them alight.
Six people died in the riots that have brought into dramatic focus the deep divisions within this tiny
Pacific nation that used to be known as "The Friendly Islands".
Peter Lewis has spent the past week in Nuku'alofa.
PETER LEWIS: Casual observers and one time tourists struggled to reconcile their knowledge and
experience of this sleepy semi-feudal society with the dramatic eyewitness accounts, the
photographs and the television pictures that flashed around the world last week.
But those of us who've been monitoring the rising tensions between Tonga's haves - the Royal
Family, hereditary nobles and close associates - and the have nots - the vast majority of the
Kingdom's 100,000 people who earn on average the equivalent of six dollars Australian a day weren't greatly surprised.
Not only has the ruling elite creamed off most of the valuable concessions for themselves over the
years - everything from electricity, telephones, airlines, TV and the internet - they've stubbornly
refused until now to lessen their grip on political power; an incendiary mix that exploded on the
streets of Nuku'alofa with such deadly and devastating consequences.
NEWS REPORT: The tinderbox Kingdom has finally ignited.
(Sound of explosion)
Years of discontent and anger at the Royal Family's rule has spilled over into destruction. An angry
mob looted and burned around 80 per cent of Tonga's business centre, targeting anything owned by
the Royals. And amongst the charged…
FRED SEVELE: I never thought that the day would come when I see Tongans taking to the streets
like that.
PETER LEWIS: Dr Fred Sevele was a prominent pro-democracy campaigner until the King
appointed him as the first commoner to be the country's Prime Minister. His family was the first to
be evacuated out of the strife-torn capital aboard a New Zealand Air Force jet.
PRISCILLA SEVELE: We heard that we might get… the children might get hurt. We shouldn't be
suffering. We don't have anything to do with this, so we'll just have to be strong.
FRED SEVELE: It's the day of shame for us Tongans.
PETER LEWIS: He made the difficult decision to accept the Australian and New Zealand offers of
military and police intervention. Remember, this is a country that's never been colonised.
John Howard says the extraordinary events demanded a firm response from friends.
JOHN HOWARD: It's too important to the stability of the whole region to ignore or be less than
willing to respond to a request from a country that does look particularly to New Zealand and also
to Australia for protection and help in an hour of need.
PETER LEWIS: New Zealand's one of Tonga's nearest neighbours, biggest benefactors, and home
to 40,000 Tongan expats.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters says simmering tensions and the slow pace of democratic reforms
have been a concern for sometime.
WINSTON PETERS: Well sadly, it just underscores the fact that we in New Zealand and alongside
Australia are dealing with some very difficult circumstances, not of our making, but which we must
respond to, otherwise a vacuum will be quickly filled by nations less benevolent, less honest in their
intentions.
PETER LEWIS: But not everyone appreciated this well-meaning intervention of heavily-armed
Australian and New Zealand troops and specialist police teams into yet another Pacific trouble spot.
FINAU TUTONE: Those who are behind the riot is the King and the Government.
PETER LEWIS: Pro-democracy leaders like Finau Tutone feared the Taskforce would defend an
unrepresentative and repressive regime which had already effectively muzzled political dissent and
free speech as part of sweeping powers under martial law.
FINAU TUTONE: We can't control the people. They have the understanding. In the past we slept
with obedience and so forth. Now they have been enlightened of their rights, they are going to have
them.
PETER LEWIS: Exactly a week after the trouble started, Tonga's new King George
Tupou V restated his commitment to handing ordinary Tongans a greater say in how their country is
run, but without a detailed timetable for when all that will happen.
The priority instead is to clean up the destruction in downtown Nuku'alofa, prosecute those
responsible for the riots and begin the huge task of rebuilding the shattered economy and goodwill
among all those with a stake in Tonga's future.
FRED SEVELE: As leader, my main concern is to look at what needs to be done to reconstruct
Tonga.
PETER LEWIS: Parliament went into recess this week and won't sit again for six
months, so the people's patience is still being tested.
Peter Lewis in Nuku'alofa for Correspondents Report.
http://thestar.com.my/services/printerfriendly.asp?file=/2006/11/28/apworld/20061128134455.asp&sec=apworld
Tuesday November 28, 2006
Australian, New Zealand troops to be withdrawn from Tonga
WELLINGTON (AP) - The military component of an Australia-New Zealand security force sent to
riot-hit Tonga will withdraw this week, New Zealand's defence minister said Tuesday.
A contingent of about 150 Australian and New Zealand soldiers and police was rushed to the South
Pacific country on Nov. 18, two days after a riot razed much of the capital city and left six people
dead from fires.
New Zealand Defence Minister Phil Goff said Tonga was now calm and the foreign troop
contingent had achieved its goals: securing the airport and other key infrastructure.
However, Goff said nearly 40 New Zealand police will keep working in the riot-scarred capital for
some time.
Australian Federal Police are part of the New Zealand-led force.
"Our police force still has some work to do, particularly on the forensic side, sifting through the
remains of buildings ... trying to bring to account those responsible for the fires, loss of property
and the deaths,'' Goff told National Radio.
The foreign troops took over some patrols in the capital, Nuku'alofa, at the request of Tongan
authorities whose security forces were overwhelmed by a rampaging mob that burned and looted 80
percent of downtown Nuku'alofa on Nov. 16.
Last week, lawmaker and leading pro-democracy campaigner 'Akilisi Pohiva called for foreign
forces to withdraw, saying their presence was associated with the suppression of democracy.
He warned the troops were seen as supporting the government of Tonga's Prime Minister Fred
Sevele.
Another pro-democracy leader, Finau Tutone, said the foreign soldiers were seen as supporting the
existing semi-feudal system, in which the king appoints Cabinet ministers and the majority of
legislators.
On Nov. 16, the government agreed to a plan ensuring 21 of the 30 seats in Parliament would be
elected, starting in 2008.
The king currently appoints the majority of lawmakers, the prime minister and Cabinet.
The decision came too late to prevent the rampage by hundreds of mainly young people, outraged at
what they perceived was government foot-dragging on the reforms.
Latest from AP-Wire
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/bulletins/rnzi/200611291032/tonga_police_charge_more_than_350_with_offences_duri
ng_nukualofa_riot
Tonga police charge more than 350 with offences during Nuku'alofa riot
Tonga's Police Commander, Sinilau Kolokihakaufisi, says 355 people have been charged with
arson, theft or other crimes, related to the rioting in Nuku'alofa on November 16th.
The Commander has told Matangi Tonga Online that one hundred suspected rioters are still being
held in custody.
Suspects already charged will appear in a new Magistrate's Court that has been set up at the Tonga
National Centre, starting on December 7th.
Meanwhile, police have confirmed that a seventh body has been found in the gutted remains of the
Shoreline building.
Analysis of the human remains found at the site has confirmed that seven people died in the
building.
Radio Australia - 24H dans le Pacifique –
Des militaires et des policiers tongiens accusés de brutalité
Des militaires et des policiers tongiens accusés de brutalité
Plusieurs personnes interpellées lors des émeutes du 16 novembre dernier affirment avoir été
passées à tabac par des membres de forces de la défense et de la police.
De nombreuses personnes s'affirment victimes de violence, notamment pendant des raids lancés
contre des résidences privées. Il semblerait qu'un désir de vengeance se propage au sein de la
jeunesse du royaume de Tonga.
Un député du Mouvement pro-démocratie, Clive Edwards, a confirmé ces accusations de brutalité
et ajoute que les victimes n'ont pas droit à un traitement médical.
M. Edwards ajoute qu'il a été lui-même attaqué et traîner par terre et que plus de 300 personnes ont
reçu des coups ou ont été blessées pendant et après les émeutes du 16 novembre : « Nous essayons
d'obtenir des certificats médicaux et des photos en espérant que nous pourrons les publier. Au lieu
de restaurer la paix et l'ordre, ce sont les soldats qui posent un problème aux habitants. ».
M. Edwards a fait appel aux autorités religieuses pour aider à ouvrir un dialogue avec le
gouvernement.
Pendant ce temps, la police a annoncé que 353 personnes seront poursuivies en justice pour leur
rôle et leurs actions pendant les émeutes du 16 novembre.
http://www.matangitonga.to/article/tonganews/business/article_print_losses301106.shtml
Matangi Tonga (www.matangitonga.to)
BUSINESS
Tonga suffers massive job and business losses
30 Nov 2006, 18:20
Nuku'alofa, Tonga:
Serious difficulties faced by Nuku'alofa business people, attending a consultative meeting.
DAMAGE estimated at $85.53 million dollars was incurred by Nuku'alofa businesses who were not
insured against riots, while some 678 jobs had been lost, Tonga's Minister of Labour, Commerce
and Industries stated today.
Reporting the results of an Assessment Survey of 144 businesses whose business premises were
damaged during the November 16 riot, the minister, Hon. LIsiate 'Akolo, said that while the total
estimated costs of damage to businesses amounted Tongan $117,325,248 but only a few had
insurance cover for riots.
The report stated that 96 businesses or 75% were either not insured against riots, or not insured at
all. Only eight businesses or 6% had riot cover, while the rest were uncertain of their insurance
status.
Of the 144 businesses damaged, 33 enterprises were owned by Chinese or naturalized Tongans of
Chinese origin.
33 enterprises were owned by Chinese or naturalized Tongans of Chinese origin.
The minister pointed out that the millions of pa'anga property losses and 678 job losses would
impact heavily on Tonga's future.
He said that 15 businesses had not provided information for the survey, and the survey did not
include, "the cost of losses to other businesses whose premises were not damaged but are affected
by the incident, and the value of imported inventory that are yet to be cleared by damaged
businesses from the wharf."
The break down of some of the estimated total costs was:
Total cost of damage to stock on shelf T$22,999,393
Total cost of damage to buildings T$38,164,011
Total cost of damage to Inventories T$26,500,860
Total estimated trading losses T$17,570,300
Total other costs T$6,072,050
Retail businesses were the hardest hit on November 16, but most sectors were affected:
•Retail businesses -31% (54 businesses)
•Entertainment & Food Vendors -10% (17 businesses)
•Supermarket/Wholesale enterprises - 9% (16 businesses)
•Rental businesses (incl. real estates) -8% (14 businesses)
•Semi-Professional Services (e.g: hair salons, security services) - 8% (14 businesses)
•Professional Services (e.g: consultancy and accountancy services) - 7% (11 businesses)
•Tourism operators (incl. travel/tour agencies) - 5% (8 businesses)
•Financial services (incl. commercial banks) - 5% (8 businesses)
•Information/Communication Services (incl. newspapers, and publishers) - 4% (6 businesses)
Engineering & Electronic Repair Services - 3% (5 businesses)
•NGOs- 3% (5 businesses)
•Manufacturing Enterprises - 2% (4 businesses)
•Construction Services - 2% (3 businesses)
•Transportation Services (incl. shipping agencies, airlines) - 2% (3 businesses)
•Power Generation - 1% (1 business)
The reported noted that several businesses operated different branches in different sectors, and this
would explain any discrepancies relative to the total number of businesses surveyed.
Many Nuku'alofa businesses were not insured for riots
The survey was made during consultative meetings with affected businesses between November 2023. It also identified the significant immediate needs for the recovery of businesses. This included
the need for assistance with insurance assessment, a reconstruction plan, wharf protection and
security, ensuring a flow of food items and necessary stocks, assistance with clearance of containers
currently at the wharf owned by companies made insolvent in the riot, safety and security of
businesses, access to businesses within the proclaimed area, financial assistance and tax relief, and
other things.
The Minister also said other needs were identified. "There is a need for government to consider the
consequential distortions to the upcoming population census, and there is a need for government to
consider hardship relief for employees who have lost their jobs due to the riot and the general public
who will also be ultimately affected.
"These consequential job losses are predicted to significantly affect the future national employment
rate, unemployment rate and the national labour force participation rate," Hon. Lisiate 'Akolo said.
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/11/30/asia/AS_GEN_Australia_Tonga_Riot.php
Australian troops return from 'stable' Tonga, Australia's defense minister says
The Associated Press
Thursday, November 30, 2006
About 50 Australian troops returned home Thursday from Tonga in a show of confidence that
security had been restored in the South Pacific island kingdom that was crippled by riots two weeks
ago.
"The situation in Tonga has now stabilized and the Tongan Security Forces can control security
without Australian military support," Defense Minister Brendan Nelson said in a statement
Thursday.
A contingent of about 150 Australian and New Zealand soldiers and police was rushed to the South
Pacific country on Nov. 18, two days after a riot razed much of the capital Nuku'alofa and left six
people dead from fires.
No timeline has been set for the withdrawal of the remaining 100 Australian and New Zealand
police.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/latest/200611301845/116_people_held_over_tonga_riots
116 people held over Tonga riots
Tonga's police commander says the suspected ringleaders of the riots that destroyed much of
the centre of capital Nuku'alofa have yet to be arrested.
Sinilau Kolokihakaufisi says 116 other people are in custody and more than 350 people have been
charged with arson, theft or other crimes.
Commander Kolokihakaufisi says nearly 90 police, including New Zealand police officers, are
assigned to investigating the riots, which left seven confirmed dead.
He says they cannot focus only on the suspected ringleaders.
Commander Kolokihakaufisi says police are still operating under emergency powers and although it
is calm at the moment he cannot rule out the possibility of further outbreaks of violence.
NZ troops to be withdrawn
Defence Minister Phil Goff has confirmed New Zealand troops will withdraw from Tonga at the
weekend.
A contingent of 60 New Zealand troops was sent to the country last week to help provide security
after rioting devastated the capital.
Mr Goff says their job is now complete and Tongan authorities are confident that should any
unexpected disturbance arise they will be able to handle the situation.
He says the way is now open for reconciliation and progress to be made on getting democratic
reform in Tonga.
He says police personnel from New Zealand and Australia are staying on to help with forensic work
as part of the investigation into the riot.
http://www.matangitonga.to/article/tonganews/tourism.travel/recovery071206.shtml
New task force to help Tonga's tourist industry move on
07 Dec 2006, 18:56
Nuku'alofa, Tonga:
NUKU'ALOFA tourism operators this afternoon agreed to form a Special Task Force to make plans
on how the tourism industry can move forward following the destruction of the Nuku'alofa business
centre on November 16.
Sione Moala, the Deputy Director of Tourism, told the gathering that about 20 tourist operators
were directly affected by the riot. In central Nuku'alofa the Pacific Royale Hotel was gutted by fire
and the foyer of the Hotel Nuku'alofa was smashed and looted. Several restaurants were also
destroyed by fire, along with travel agencies and the Air New Zealand booking office.
Members of the special task force would be nominated from among the Tonga Tourist Association
members on December 11.
Sione said that the mandate of the Task Force will be wide ranging, but it would also include a
major marketing campaign, to regain the confidence of tour wholesalers and to inform them that
Tonga has many other tourist destinations to offer outside of Tongatapu, such as the islands of 'Eua,
Ha'apai and Vava'u.
He also said that the task force would also be the go-between the Government and the tourist
industry, where the operators could lodge any issues affecting them and the task force would take it
up with Government and report back to the operators.
Taniela Fusimalohi the Deputy Director of Tourism also assured the affected tourist operators that
in the next few weeks they would be talking with various development partners such as the Asian
Development Bank and the Bilateral Partners like New Zealand and Australian for some aid.
Meanwhile, some tourism operators are getting frustrated with the restriction of movement within
Nuku'alofa and its devastating impact on their business.
Vai Sanft from the Hotel Nuku'alofa wanted to know when they were going to ease the restriction
of movement, because at the moment no one want to stay at the hotel in the restricted zone. Even
more worrying was the thought is that the restriction would not be lifted before Christmas.
Kerry Mataele, from the Billfish Bar also expressed her concern with the restriction on closing
hours, which at the moment, from Tuesday Saturday is 1am and on Saturday night it is 10 pm. She
said that the restriction on closing hours had kept away customers.
A representative from the International Dateline Hotel requested the ministry for assistance in
making it possible for customers to use the services of the hotel. He said that besides foreign guests,
there were regular guests who use their hair saloon, and other services, and could not get access, so
unless their services are being used they will have to lay off staff.
The Director of the Tonga Visitors Bureau, Va'inga Palu took note of the concern of these
operators, and he said they hoped that they will be able to help them.
400 personnes inculpées par la police tongienne
Le Matangi Tonga rapporte que dans le sillage des émeutes du 16 novembre dernier à Nuku'alofa, la
capitale du royaume, 571 personnes suspectes ont été interpellées, 108 sont toujours incarcérées,
400 sont soupçonnées de crime d'incendie volontaire et de vol et comparaîtront devant la justice.
De nombreux commerces et bâtiments administratifs de la capitale ont été incendiés lors du
soulèvement.
Le commandant des forces de police, Sinilau Kolokiha Kaufisi, indique que de nombreuses
personnes sont toujours en liberté mais sont considérées comme étant suspectes par la police.
L'enquête se poursuit et les policiers, selon M. Kolokiha Kaufisi, travaillent sans relâche pour réunir
les preuves et témoignages nécessaires à leur arrestation.
Le bilan officiel des émeutes est toujours de sept morts. Les six corps qui n'ont toujours pas été
identifiés reposent dans une morgue temporaire improvisée dans un commissariat de police.
Selon les dernières recherches du ministère du travail, les pertes estimées à la suite des émeutes sont
de plus de 77 millions et dollars, 153 commerces et entreprises sont touchés et 697 personnes ont
perdu leur emploi.
http://www.matangitonga.to/article/tonganews/crime/article_print_702_arrests131206.shtml
Matangi Tonga (www.matangitonga.to)
POLICE AND CRIME
Tonga police arrest over 700 suspects
13 Dec 2006, 15:26
Nuku'alofa, Tonga:
BY this morning, the Tonga Police had arrested a total of 702 suspects involved in the violent riot
that destroyed central Nuku'alofa on November 16.
Tongan Police Commander Sinilau Kolokihakaufisi said that over 600 of the 702 had already been
charged for the main offences of arson, theft and other crimes in connection with the looting and
burning of businesses in central Nuku'alofa.
He said there were currently 107 suspects detained in police custody for questioning and there
would be more arrests to come as investigations into the crimes committed were ongoing.
The first appearance of the people charged will begin on December 20 at the Nuku'alofa
Magistrate's Court.
Meanwhile, the identities of the five remaining bodies found at the site of the Shoreline fire are still
awaiting identification from DNA samples send to Australia for processing.
The police have already identified two of the seven bodies that were discovered.
Copyright © Vava'u Press Ltd. 2005. Permissions apply [email protected] or fax (676)
24749
L'instabilité du Pacifique profite au banditisme
Le ministre australien de la justice, Chris Ellison, concède que l'instabilité grandissante dans le
Pacifique entrave les efforts de l'Australie pour combattre les activités criminelles dans la région.
Le coup d'état militaire à Fidji, les émeutes du 16 novembre à Tonga ou les efforts déployés pour
limoger le chef des forces de la police salomonaise, l'Australien Shane Castles, font que l'Australie
ne peut plus se concentrer, comme elle le souhaiterait, sur le blanchiment de l'argent ou le trafic des
armes ou des personnes dans la région.
Plus de 500 policiers de la police fédérale australienne sont actuellement déployés au Timor
Oriental, aux îles Salomon, à Fidji, à Nauru et au Vanuatu. Ce déploiement, selon Chris Ellisson, se
fait aux dépens d'autres programmes de politique sécuritaire.
Chris Ellisson souligne que le fameux « arc d'instabilité » du Pacifique qui part du Timor Oriental
pour s'étirer à travers le Pacifique en passant par la Papouasie Nouvelle-Guinée, Fidji, Tonga et
Vanuatu, est d'une importance stratégique absolue pour les autorités australiennes. Ainsi, a expliqué
le ministre de la justice, le respect de l'État de droit le long de cet arc est à la base de toute notre
approche dans cette région.
Face à l'instabilité actuelle, Chris Ellison déclare que le gouvernement a l'impression de faire un pas
en avant et 2 en arrière.
http://www.tahitipresse.pf/radio-australie.cfm?snav=see&presse=18739
Pacifique : 14/01/2007 à 14:33
Prolongement de la période d'état d'urgence à Tonga
(Radio Australie) - Une période de pleins pouvoirs a été imposée à la suite des émeutes du 16
novembre. Le Vice-Premier ministre et ministre de la Santé du royaume, Viliami Tangi, a déclaré à
Radio Tonga qu'en fonction d'un rapport des services de défense, le cabinet ministériel a
recommandé le prolongement de cette période d'état d'urgence jusqu'au mois de février.
Par ailleurs, 13 personnes figurent désormais sur ce qui est appelé la " Liste noire ". Selon Radio
Tonga, cette liste regroupe des personnes soupçonnées d'avoir une part de responsabilité dans les
émeutes du 16 novembre. À l'origine, cette liste contenait les noms d'environ 70 personnes.
La police a maintenant inculpé un député et une femme d'affaires considérés comme les meneurs
des émeutes.
Le député Isileli Pulu, membre du mouvement pro-démocratie, et Ofa Simiki, femme d'affaires ont
été inculpés de sédition, d'incendie criminel et de dégâts matériels intentionnels.
Â;gées de 9 à 70 ans, 678 personnes ont été interpellées à la suite des émeutes qui ont détruit 80%
du centre de la capitale, Nuku'alofa.
Pierre Riant - ABC/Radio Australie
http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_35204.shtml
Another MP arrested in connection with November riots
By pacnews
Jan 18, 2007, 14:14
Police in Tonga are still questioning a member of the Legislative Assembly arrested last night in
connection with the last November riots in the Pacific nation kingdom
Police arrested the second people's representative to Parliament implicated with the riots two
months ago.
According to Radio and TV Tonga the second MP was still questioned by police and no charges
have been laid.
About 700people have been arrested in connection with the riots that reduced the majority of
Nuku’alofa’s business centre to rubble.
The first member of parliament to be apprehended has been charged and is awaiting trial.
Acting Police Commander Taniela Faletau said under the Emergency powers put in place since 16
November police can keep suspects up to seven days for interrogation
Meanwhile 12 New Zealand Police officers and three from Australia are still in Nuku'alofa to assist
the Tonga Police with the investigations into last year's violent riot. Some of the New Zealand
officers are also helping out with the Community Policing.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/3932719a12.html
Police detain Tongan politician in riot fallout
Prominent Tongan pro-democracy politician 'Akilisi Pohiva is in custody after police detained
him in relation to last November's destruction of the kingdom's capital Nuku'alofa.
Ten New Zealand police officers and a squad of Australian Federal Police have been aiding the
investigation.
Two days ago Pohiva told Fairfax Media he feared the police were coming.
"I am the number one, according to the official file, I am number one with members of my family,"
he said in an interview.
"I am expecting the police to come home and arrest me. They say I am the key person who caused
the November 16 uprising...
"They are still trying to make sure they are well justified, with good grounds, before they come and
arrest me."
Nuku'alofa's central business district was hit by youth riots on November 16 causing damage
totalling T$123.5 million (NZ$86m). The riots were linked to the royal controlled government's
failure to bring in democratic reforms.
Seven people, believed to be looters, were killed when the royal owned Shoreline electricity office
building was torched.
State run Tonga Broadcasting Corporation is reporting today that police have Pohiva and are still
questioning him.
He is the second pro-democracy MP to be arrested. Police last week arrested Isi Pulu on a charge of
murder which carries a mandatory death penalty in Tonga.
Acting Police Commander Taniela Faletau said last evening that the suspect was being questioned
by police and duration of their work is not yet known.
Under the Emergency powers put in place since November 16, police can keep suspects up to 7
days for questioning.
In the Fairfax interview Pohiva said there was no reason why he or other MPs should be arrested.
"They want to keep us in jail for a long period of time. Normally a person charged with murder is
kept in jail for a long time, until the trial...
"It is not easy for them to come and arrest me. They must have a good reason."
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=178278
Tongan pro-democracy campaigner arrested
Thursday Jan 18 22:08 AEDT
Tongan police - supported by New Zealand investigators probing last November's rampage in the
Tongan capital of Nuku'alofa - have arrested Aikilisi Pohiva, the kingdom's leading pro-democracy
campaigner.
Pohiva was facing a second night in jail on Thursday, amid claims that seven pro-democracy MPs
are also likely to be arrested.
"All seven representatives are on the list," Mr Pohiva told Auckland's NiuFM Pacific Islands radio.
The second-ranked pro-democracy politician, Isi Polu, has also been arrested.
According to another MP, Clive Edwards, a former police minister and Auckland lawyer, Polu is
facing a murder charge.
"The charge is flimsy, because he is alleged to have said `burn' and because he is said to have said
`burn Shoreline' he is guilty of murder," Mr Edwards told NiuFM. "But he denies anything like
that."
Mr Polu is also charged with sedition which carries a five year sentence.
No announcement has yet been made about the charges on which Pohiva was arrested.
The Tongan capital's central business district was hit by a wave of arson on November 16 which
caused damage of $NZ86 million ($A75.73 million), during the Black Thursday Riots linked to the
government's failure to bring in democratic reforms.
Six people, believed to be looters, were killed when the royal owned Shoreline electricity office was
torched.
Pohiva has said that pro-democracy politicians called for the Government to pass reform legislation
that day, but did not intend for people to riot as they did.
A spokesman for the Prime Minister's Office, Lopeti Senituli, has claimed "extremists" from the
movement planned the riot and incited people.
But other theories have emerged, with accusations of commercial rivalries.
The first significant arrest by police was of a business woman charged with sedition and paying
youth to set fire to property.
©AAP 2007
C'est la faute à la presse !
Kalafi Moala, dont le journal Taimi O Tonga fut un temps interdit par le gouvernement tongien,
estime désormais que les médias ont une part de responsabilité dans les émeutes du 16 novembre,
qui ont en partie détruit la capitale.
Kalafi Moala dirige et anime ce mois-ci un atelier de formation et d'information sur les médias, un
atelier destiné au personnel des sphères gouvernementales. A cette occasion, M. Moala a souligné
que des reportages télévisés diffusés « tel quel » sur des rencontres entre militants du mouvement
pro-démocratie dans des villages du royaume ont sans nul doute échauffé les esprits.
M. Moala souligne que plusieurs séquences n'ont pas été éditées, coupées ou montées et manquaient
d'objectivité. Le langage utilisé dans ces reportages, a-t-il ajouté, n'était pas non plus le langage
habituellement utilisé dans la culture tongienne. Par ailleurs, a-t-il expliqué, de hauts responsables
ont été critiqué ouvertement et n'ont pas eu de droit de réponse : « Tout ceci s'est déroulé pendant
les semaines qui ont précédé le 16 novembre et je pense que le lien est direct et que la Presse a
incité la colère des gens qui ont ensuite eu envie d'exprimer cette colère. »
M. Moala estime que le gouvernement et que la presse du secteur privé devraient travailler plus
étroitement ensemble parce que le gouvernement est très timide et que la presse est trop
indépendante.
Tonga veut acheter la compagnie d'électricité du roi
Le gouvernement tongien recherche des fonds qui permettraient d'acheter au roi la société Shoreline
Power après que des investisseurs aient décidé de se retirer des négociations.
Shoreline Power a été donné au Prince héritier dans le cadre d'un bail à long terme, il y a
maintenant 8 ans.
Le prince est devenu l'année dernière, le roi George Tupou V et il désire vendre cette compagnie
d'électricité au gouvernement pour la somme de 59 millions de dollars.
Le gouvernement envisageait d'acheter la Shoreline Power pour tout de suite la revendre à un
important investisseur étranger. Cet investisseur a maintenant déclaré que les émeutes du 16
novembre ont tout remis en question et il s'est retiré des négociations.
Un porte-parole du gouvernement, Lopeti Senituli, indique que le gouvernement n'a plus d'autres
choix que d'acheter et gérer cette compagnie d'électricité.
Le gouvernement aimerait réunir aux alentours de 75 millions de dollars et compte approcher la
Banque asiatique de développement.
Pendant ce temps, la Chambre de commerce s'inquiète d'une éventuelle montée du prix de
l'électricité dans le royaume.
http://www.tahitipresse.pf/radio-australie.cfm?snav=see&presse=18951
Pacifique : 01/02/2007 à 14:42
Tonga: Le Premier ministre revient sur les concessions faites pendant les
émeutes
(Radio Australie) - Plus de deux mois après les émeutes du 16 novembre et à une semaine des
premiers procès, le Premier ministre du Royaume de Tonga, Feleti Sevele, un roturier, affirme avoir
accepté, au milieu du soulèvement populaire, une demande pour la mise en oeuvre d'une réforme
politique dans l'espoir de mettre fin à la destruction en cours.
Pendant les évènements, les députés du mouvement pro-démocratie avaient crié victoire en
affirmant que le Premier ministre avait accepté leur demande pour que 21 des 30 députés soient élus
par le peuple.
Rappelons que les émeutes ont détruit 80% du quartier commercial de Nuku'alofa, la capitale.
Cette semaine, Feleti Sevele a fait remarquer que plusieurs députés du mouvement pro-démocratie
ont été mis en examen et qu'ils ne peuvent pas vraiment s'exprimer sur cette affaire.
Il a toutefois tenu les propos suivants sur les ondes de Radio Nouvelle-Zélande Internationale:
"C'est quelque chose qui m'a été demandé et qui leur a été accordé, pour qu'ils [les députés prodémocratie] disent à la foule de se disperser et d'arrêter les dégâts après l'attaque du bureau du
Premier ministre. C'est tout ce que je suis prêt à dire pour l'instant".
Feleti Sevele a aussi réitéré que son gouvernement est en faveur des réformes politiques et que les
négociations vont continuer.
Pierre Riant - ABC/Radio Australia
http://www.matangitonga.to/article/letterscomments/powersupply/lettermplynch040207.shtml
Tonga is in deep trouble
04 Feb 2007, 16:25
Moss Beach, California. USA:
Editor,
The day after the burning of Nuku'alofa reflects the country before the riot, with the problems
magnified. Tongans living in Tonga and abroad were shocked by the ruin and squalor Nuku'alofa
had been reduced to by the riot. There is plenty of blame to go around. Unfortunately the
unprecedented pressure catalyzing political change and the pertinacity of government undoubtedly
ignited the riot.
Even though history teaches us that any time one power predominates, a coalition forms to oppose
it, the cause and effect of the riot was a faux pas parliamentarians later regretted with much
bitterness. A majority of the people blame everything that has gone wrong in Tonga on the riot. I
am neither a proponent nor an opponent of either the democratic movement or government as
currently constituted, but Prime Minister, Dr. Feleti Sevele's prodigious lust to put the Peoples
Representatives (PR) behind bars through botched arrests and perjuries by investigating officers to
teach the PRs a hard lesson making them docile, but it also reveals a dishonorable motive: Shoreline
- a colossal swindle.
The devastation from the riot still permeates the kingdom. Shoreline, in its tendencies for revolting
theoretical drama, has taken full advantage of the riot to settle bad debts. While people are angered
by the riot, Shoreline welcomes the riot for how else are they going to save themselves from their
own blunders. This makes Shoreline a very hot subject. Government is dancing to Shoreline's loud
pulsating tune with passionate devotion while several businesses remain in trouble and the lives
which were wrecked by the riot are slipping from government's consciousness. Perhaps some of us
are kidding ourselves when we say the riot is the worst that could happen to a peaceful and religious
island such as Tonga. Government's deal with Shoreline is destined to have a delayed impact that
may well be far worse than the tsunami of the riot.
The negotiation with Northpower fell through quite simply because Government failed to get in
place the legislation that was necessary for Northpower to operate. Sevele misleads the people to
believe it was the riot that caused Northpower to withdraw. But the fact of the matter is the bill had
to pass before the end of the parliamentary session last year if Northpower was to take over
Shoreline. That bill never happened. Northpower in their Press Release on November 28, 2006,
stated they were fully aware of the challenges of such a transaction and were not proceeding with
the purchase agreement as originally planned. The deal was structured so that government would
buy back the business from Shoreline at the ridiculous amount of $60 million and then Northpower
would buy the generation and distribution assets from government at a much lesser (but presumably
more realistic) value. If my business sense is correct, the legislation that never happened would
have relieved Northpower of any liabilities (incurred by Shoreline) prior to the takeover hence
allowing Northpower to mitigate their risks as much as possible. If this deal had been successful,
Northpower and Shoreline would have come out on top while government and consumers would
suffer the adverse consequences. Northpower's action was to protect their interest as most any
overseas investors would have done. For all I know, Shoreline may be a self-limiting disease with a
suicidal bent.
Immediately after the riot, Shoreline rationed the power. The power was on and off on an
intermittent basis for a few days before it was fully restored. Several businesses lost their produce,
mutton, ice cream and all frozen goods. Most people were of the misapprehension that the power
was rationed on the basis that the power lines needed to be fixed.
>From comments in Matangi Tonga (MT), it appears that Shoreline, the Tongan government and
BP have made contradictory remarks blaming the supply of fuel available to Shoreline. According
to Shoreline's COO, David Dunkley, the power rationing was introduced because of the lack of fuel.
BP's letter in the MT emphasized their generous service extended to Shoreline in its supply of fuel.
BP would have logical reasons for not supplying fuel to Shoreline and if BP did not supply fuel, it
would have been on the basis of persistent failures by Shoreline to pay its debts in the prescribed
time. After all, Shoreline had damaged their relationship with Shell a few years ago because
Shoreline failed to pay their debts.
Paul Karalaus, in his capacity as Director of Tonga Electric Power Board (TEPB), in his editorial
comment in MT stated ? " I am very much aware of Government's role and duty in ensuring that
electric power, as an essential utility, is supplied in a continuous and uninterrupted manner.... After
the events of the 16th November, 2006, there was a brief period where the power supply was
rationed to a few hours per day and the monthly payment for the fuel supply to the generating
company was approaching (20th November, 2006)."
Is Karalus agreeing that continuous power is essential and it must be supplied in an uninterrupted
manner? If that is the case why did the government allow the rationing to occur? The payment of $2
million was not due to BP until November 20th and government paid for the fuel to BP. This begs
the question of why was the power rationed?
How many containers of food and how many people's refrigerated items were lost? The government
admitted that the $2 million payment of fuel was due on the 20th?that was AFTER the riot?so what
was the issue? Why was rationing done when it was against government policy? The payment was
made and BP denies that they stopped the supply.
Karalus went on to say?"The destruction of the Shoreline building was accompanied by the need to
restore the billing system and in the ensuing time Government was obliged to advance the payment
of one month's fuel supply to Shoreline to maintain the power supply".
What does the billing system have to do with the supply of fuel? These are completely two different
issues. The billing system or UMS if I understand correctly is either located on the server at the
NOC near the palace or it was backed up at the NOC. In either case restoring the billing system
does not affect the generation. The UMS is only for the power billing. All the power meter readings
are entered into this database from all the consumers hence when the consumers pay, the account is
taken off their bill. It is my belief that the billing system has nothing to do with the payables of fuel
or wages, or any other payables. In other words what has the billing system got to do with diesel
fuel running in the tank of a power generator? If Shoreline is saying that the billing system is
directly linked to the generation, we may as well check out gullible.com or totalnonsense.com.
BP's fuel is supplied from Fiji and even with the coup in Fiji, BP's supply of fuel was not impacted
by the coup. BP does business worldwide and has excellent reputation in the industry. Business
practice dictates a guarantee is required in the event that the payer (i.e. Shoreline) is sending
bounced checks to the creditor (i.e. BP), thus BP bypassed Shoreline and asked for a guarantee
payment from a credible source (i.e. government).
The attempt by both government and Shoreline to connect the disruption of fuel to Shoreline
because of the riot just does not add up. Therefore the public has an inalienable right to ask
questions directly to Shoreline, Government of Tonga and perhaps BP whether the riot on
November 16th had anything to do with BP not supplying fuel to Shoreline or were there any other
factors that are not related to the riots that prevented BP from supplying fuel to Shoreline.
No news is good news. It becomes painfully clear that government has allowed the sovereign grand
commander, Shoreline to continue managing government's assets despite the fact that Shoreline
routinely experiences financial difficulties and has clearly shown impotency in its management
style. I can only guess that this perpetual quagmire is chiefly marked by some of those in
government that have haunting fear of losing their jobs.
The basic question really is why the original lease agreement between Shoreline and Government
did not include any requirements that Shoreline has to guarantee reliable service in order to
undertake the management of the power generation and distribution. It is common practice that
when private operators lease government assets, they must service legal agreements. A clause in the
lease agreement would have deemed that the lease thus be terminated upon the operator being
unable to meet its financial commitments. If Shoreline could not keep the power on reliably, then
the lease should be terminated and now is the time to terminate the deal without government
exposing the country to total ruin.
I am also guessing that Shoreline may argue that the $2 million is due to low consumption because
the riot destroyed most of the business district in Nuku'alofa or CBD. Hence there would be less
power used as there are no more buildings. CBD will be operating at far less capacity after the riots.
Only the government offices were left standing but due to Martial Law, they were unoccupied as
was the rest of the CBD was a No-Go zone. Also the schools were closed due to holidays and the
public service was closed for its usual Christmas break. Generation would possibly be at the lowest
level in many years, meaning the consumption of fuel would be low. It is possible that the one
month of fuel can be as high as $1.6 million based on $2.70 per liter, and as low as say $
400,000.00 with a variety of factors. One thing that is a variable is the condition of the generators. If
Shoreline says they have spent $60 million investing on new generations (or were purchased new in
2001), the generation system would be very efficient with consumption of fuel around or better than
0.2 liters per KW. Hence the generators are gold plated and are very efficient thus the $2 million
dollar fuel bill is bogus. If Shoreline claims that these new generators suck $2 million of fuel per
month then Shoreline must have been ripped off and sold ratty old crap generators dating back to
1965 or they are simply overstating the real costs of the generators. Whatever argument Shoreline
makes, there are Forrest Gumps with spines of tapioca in government that will not suffer a pang if
(and when) Shoreline prevails.
Broadmark's (a Seattle company) statement on Shoreline shows that Shoreline loaned US$30
million; US$15 million for capital infrastructure and US$15 million for refinancing (most likely to
pay off another loan from another banker). If Shoreline has only loaned US$15 million (TOP$30M)
for capital then why the price tag for TOP60 million? The generation system Shoreline invested on
does not worth $60 million; please refer to my previous articles on Shoreline. Could it be that
Shoreline is tagging on the mobile phone technology, wireless, TV and possibly Peau Vava'u for
government to bail out all the businesses under Shoreline Group? Until the $60 million price tag of
Shoreline is clearly substantiated, the future of the royal power is very bleak indeed because any
interested investors would want the value appraised and business transaction is transparent before
committing to a real deal.
The whole truth of the dealings between Shoreline and the Tongan government cannot be known
due to lack of transparency in their business practices. However, consumers and tax payers should
go into their praying-chamber and give sober thought to this incomparable idiocy hence
incomparably amusing deal between government and Shoreline.
There should be a growing sense of empowerment on the part of government leaders in response to
the overwhelming challenges before and after the riot. Unfortunately, government in this colossal
swindle with Shoreline, helps in a wholesale way pave the way toward inglorious catastrophe.
Shoreline, rather than taking money from government, should invest in the reconstruction of
Nuku'alofa. Government leaders should be able to catalyze sustainable development to bring the
capital back to life. Strong focus on how they can best extract themselves from this quandary,
recommending ways to resuscitate and diversify the local economy, improve government
effectiveness, infrastructure construction, preparation and implementation of a master building plan
that recognizes a significant growth in population and unemployment, school and hospital
improvements, and rebuild Nuku'alofa in a way that satisfies and stimulates the people while
honoring spatial relationships, cultural priorities and aesthetic synergy of the town.
The political, economic, social and moral climate in Tonga is in more serious trouble than the threat
of global warming to our fragile planet. The riot was a threat to the kingdom's peace and security
but government's action can potentially be a serious threat to the survival of Tonga.
Mele Payne Lynch
Radio Australia - 24H dans le Pacifique - Recherche avocats pour défendre 1000 personnes à Tonga
Recherche avocats pour défendre 1000 personnes à Tonga
En chiffres, les émeutes pro-démocratie du 16 novembre ont détruit 80% du quartier commercial de
la capitale du royaume tongien, Nuku'alofa.
Elles ont fait 8 morts et plus de 70 millions de dollars de dégâts, (environ 5 milliards de francs
CFP). Plus de 1000 personnes âgées de 7 à 75 ans ont été arrêtées et inculpées pour toute une série
d'infractions.
Nalesoni Tupou, un avocat tongien qui officie à Tonga et en Nouvelle-Zélande, a publié un appel
dans le bulletin d'information juridique d'Auckland « Law News » pour demander aux avocats néozélandais de venir prêter main forte à leurs collègues du royaume.
Ces avocats tongiens sont vraiment débordés. L'un d'entre eux est âgé de 72 ans, doit assurer la
défense de 800 prévenus et a lui-même été inculpé.
Si les avocats néo-zélandais ne répondent pas à cet appel, les accusés devront probablement assurer
eux-mêmes leur défense.
http://www.niufm.com/?t=3&View=FullStory&newsID=1792
TONGAN RIOTS: PRO-DEMOCRACY LEADERS SUE LOPETI SENITULI
FOR $110,000
Date: 14 March 2007
Auckland 6am: Key pro-democracy leaders are suing the Tongan Prime Minister's advisor over
claims they incited locals to riot on that infamous Black Thursday.
One of the defamation suits is by lawyer and MP Clive Edwards and is for five hundred thousand
dollars.
The other is for six hundred thousand dollars and is being mounted by two people named by Lopeti
Senituli as two of the key culprits of the November16th riot.
Edwards says Senituli has defamed him with his claim that he incited people two days before that
fateful afternoon of November the 16th, as well as on the day itself. (listen)
He told Pacific Radio News that other locals will also be taking civil action against Senituli. (listen)
Senituli said in a report that the pro-democracy movement had hatched the riot, singling out key
leaders as the culprits, saying they had intended also to kill the Prime Minister, Dr Fred Sevele, in
the process.
When contacted by Pacific Radio News regarding the defamation action, Senituli told us he was not
at liberty to discuss the matter.
But he went on to say that it was the right of every citizen to seek legal redress if they felt they were
entitled to it.(listen)
http://www.matangitonga.to/article/tonganews/courts/letisi_200307_lf.shtml
Man to face trial for destruction of several Nuku'alofa buildings
20 Mar 2007, 20:02
Nuku'alofa, Tonga:
POLICE Magistrate Salesi Mafi today, March 20 ordered Talifolau Letisi (33) to appear at the
Nuku'alofa Supreme Court for trial on charges relating to the destruction of key Government offices
and business premises during the November 16 riot last year.
Talifolau was charged with four counts, the first count was for participating in a rioting meeting at
Pangai Si'i that resulted in the destruction of the Molisi Tonga Supermarket, the Shoreline Power
Head Office, and damage to the Prime Minister's Office, Parliament Office, the Treasury and
others.
The second charge was that the accused participated with other rioters in the destruction of the
Molisi Tonga Supermarket by smashing its windows and looting its goods, which eventually led to
the supermarket being set on fire.
The third charge was for the damage to buildings including the Prime Minister's Office by throwing
pieces of timber and smashing its glass windows. The fourth charge was also for the destruction of
the Shoreline Head Office when he punched through the office glass windows, smashing it, in the
lead up to the office being set on fire.
No Plea
The accused as directed by Police Magistrate Salesi Mafi will not have to enter a plea during the
preliminary inquiry hearing, because this case is of the jurisdiction of the Nuku'alofa Supreme
Court.
The case will be submitted to the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court on May 1 for an arraignment of a trial
date
Police Prosecutor Mema Latu told the court that the prosecution had divided its case into two parts.
Firstly, to prove that there was a meeting that was held on this particular day, November 16, 2006
with the intention of causing a riot and, secondly, that Government buildings and Shoreline
properties were destroyed and damaged by rioters. He called five witnesses to give evidence.
Pangai Si'i
The first witness was Chief Inspector Tupou 'Otutaha who on November 16, was working in the
Investigation Unit at the Nuku'alofa Police station and was assigned to the area around the
Parliament Office to keep a close look out at a meeting that was held at Pangai Si'i.
Inspector 'Otutaha told the court that he clearly recollected, seeing the accused at the meeting at
Pangai Si'i, he was wearing a red highlight vest and he was intoxicated. He said that about 3 pm a
crowd of about 200 people including Talifolau, who was one of the people carrying the banners,
moved from the meeting at Pangai Si'i and started throwing things at the Prime Minister's Office
smashing its windows, at the same time trying to get through the office entrance.
"We tried to stop them but we just could not stop rioters who were still throwing things from the
back, finally Semisi Tapueluelu turned up and said in a loudspeaker for everyone to return to Pangai
Si'i because they had got what they wanted, so I followed the crowd back who then turned and
started smashing windows at the Treasury, including government vehicles that were parked in the
parking area.
"The rioting crowd continued their destruction to the Parliament Office where they broke the lock
on the entrance gate and started smashing windows and vehicles there, but we managed to get some
of them out. Nevertheless, part of the crowd had already moved to the Supreme and Magistrate's
Courts across from Pangai Si'i and started smashing louvers and windows before moving to the
Molisi Tonga Supermarket and smashed everything in sight and at the same time looting the
supermarket."
Tupou said that the police intervened and managed to chase the rioters from the supermarket then
they shouted for all to go to the Ramanlal Hotel. When he got there the hotel including the office
equipment inside were already trashed and looted.
"After this, I heard shouting again for all to continue to Shoreline and I saw a crowd of 100 people
running on foot to Shoreline while others went in vehicles but when I got to the Tonga Water
Board, I saw smoke and knew straight away that Shoreline was on fire, and when I reached there,
about 300 people gathered outside but the office was totally trashed. Computers and other office
equipment were smashed and thrown onto Taufa'ahau Road, and a fire was already started inside."
Tupou said that after setting fire to the Shoreline Building the crowd returned to town, and about
5pm the Leiola Duty Free shop was also trashed and looted. Some of the crowd turned up at the
Nuku'alofa Club and started smashing up the place while looting only the alcohol and beers,
bringing them to Pangai Si'i and started drinking the stolen items while the meeting was still going
on.
"We the police did not have the capacity to stop these large crowds from the destruction all we
could do was to follow them and monitor closely what they were doing, and I noticed that these
crowds of rioters were very angry with government and it showed by the way they spoke and the
way they acted, and some even yelled out curses to the Prime Minister, " explained the Chief
Inspector.
PM's Office smashed
The second witness called by the Prosecutor to the stand this morning was Paula Ma'u, the Deputy
Secretary at the Prime Minister's office.
Paula told the court that on November 16, 2006, he was the Acting Secretary at the Prime Minister's
Office and at 2pm that afternoon the Cabinet's Security Sub committee was meeting in the Cabinet
room at the new glass building beside the old Prime Minister's Office.
He said that about 3pm they heard crashing coming from outside the building. He went out on to the
verandah to see what was happening and he saw people standing outside their gate and people
pouring onto the road throwing things at the building and smashing their windows. "There were lots
of people outside, and the people I saw were those on the area across to the Post Office, which I
estimated to number about 100," he said.
Paula also confirmed to the court that the damage to both the old PM's Office and the glass one
beside it was carried out on November 16, by the crowd of people, and the damage had since been
repaired at the old PM's Office building while repairs to the new building had not been completed.
Molisi Supermarket set on fire
The third witness to take the stand this morning was Sokopeti Lavemai a supervisor at the Molisi
Tonga Supermarket.
Sokopeti told the court that on the afternoon of November 16, while working at the supermarket she
heard that the Prime Minister's Office was trashed, so she and others at the supermarket ran outside
to the verandah to try and get a glimpse of what was happening, but when they turned to go back
inside rioters started to throw things and smashed the windows.
"We were all very scared so all of the workers ran to the back into our wholesale area to try and get
out but the back door back was locked so our male employees broke it down and we all escaped
outside to the 'Onetale Shop and just watched as people started looting the whole supermarket and
'Ainise Sevele arrived and told us to all try and return back to the safety of our homes," explained
Sokopeti.
Sokopeti said that she and her two younger sisters, who also worked at Molisi, returned to a
relative's home at the Church of Tonga residence across from Pikula and while they were there they
saw smoke in the sky so they decided to return to town and see if it was Molisi on fire.
"When we got to town we saw, it was ANZ on fire so we moved and stood at the Talamahu Market
across from the supermarket and just watched as the fire engines rushed to the site. At that time
Molisi was not on fire. While we were standing there, I saw about four to six people walking from
the Cowley Bakery direction to Molisi carrying big green plastic bottles filled with benzine.
"I clearly identified the accused as one of these men carrying the benzine bottles and they all
entered with the bottles into the supermarket and I knew for sure it was benzine because as they
were coming out the fire was coming up in the supermarket ".
The witness also told the court that she identified the accused as Talifolau well before 16/11,
because he had a tyre shop at village of Malapo and she used to go there to get her car tires
replaced.
The prosecution completed the hearing by calling two more witnesses, one was an employee from
Shoreline and the other was a Police Inspector.
In a report of the accused's interview with the police that was read out in court, the accused was said
by the police to have confessed that he committed these crimes and had also expressed that he was
very sorry for what he had done.
Radio Australia - 24H dans le Pacifique Les audiences se poursuivent au royaume de Tonga
Les audiences se poursuivent au royaume de Tonga
Cinq législateurs tongiens sont devant la justice après avoir été inculpés de sédition à la suite d'un
rassemblement politique qui a dégénéré en émeute. Bilan sept morts et 80% du quartier de la
capitale, Nuku'alofa détruits.
Les cinq hommes, parmi eux le chef de file du mouvement pro-démocratie, Akilisi Pohiva, ont été
convoqués devant le tribunal dans le cadre des audiences préliminaires.
Les cinq députés sont aussi accusés d'avoir incité la population à se rebeller contre le
gouvernement.
M. Pohiva et les quatre autres députés seraient entrés dans la salle du Conseil des ministres l'aprèsmidi des émeutes du 16 novembre pour demander au gouvernement d'accepter toute une série de
propositions visant à démocratiser le Parlement du royaume et le régime de monarchie
constitutionnelle héréditaire.
Les émeutes ont éclaté le soir même et la facture s'élève à plus de 200 millions de dollars, (14
milliards de francs CFP).
Radio Australia - 24H dans le Pacifique L'état d'urgence maintenu mais assoupli à Tonga
L'état d'urgence maintenu mais assoupli à Tonga
Le gouvernement du royaume de Tonga a décidé de proroger de 30 jours cet état d'urgence sur
recommandation du ministre de la police, Siaosi'Aho.
C'est la sixième fois depuis les émeutes du 16 novembre qui ont fait 8 morts et détruit 80% de la
capitale Nuku'alofa, que ces mesures d'urgence sont prolongées en dépit des protestations
grandissantes du mouvement pro-démocratie.
Les autorités ont toutefois fait preuve d'un peu plus de flexibilité en autorisant, par exemple, les
rassemblements publics de plus de quatre personnes à condition qu'il ne s'agisse pas d'une réunion
politique.
C'est la police qui décidera si le rassemblement est oui ou non politique.
Radio Australia - 24H dans le Pacifique Des sanctions réclamées à l'encontre de Tonga
Des sanctions réclamées à l'encontre de Tonga
Betty Blake, membre du Groupe de travail de la communauté parajuridique du royaume, estime que
l'Australie et la Nouvelle-Zélande devraient imposer des sanctions à l'encontre de Tonga et à la suite
d'un rapport faisant état de violations des Droits de l'Homme par les forces de sécurité.
Sur 84 détenus interrogés par les membres de ce groupe de travail, 41% affirment avoir été victimes
de brutalité policière ou militaire.
Ces 84 détenus font partie des Tongiens interpellés après les émeutes du 16 novembre qui ont fait
huit morts et détruit 80% de la capitale du royaume, Nuku'alofa.
Betty Blake indique que les émeutes ont éclaté alors que le Parlement essayait de retarder l'adoption
des réformes démocratiques promises après le décès du roi Tupou IV au mois de septembre.
Melle Blake estime également que si l'Australie et la Nouvelle-Zélande ont imposé des sanctions à
Fidji pour mettre un terme aux abus des Droits de l'Homme après le coup d'état, les mêmes
sanctions sont applicables à Tonga.
Pacifique : 21/10/2007 à 08:05
Tonga: les opposants au roi attendent leur heure
(Tahitipresse) - En marge de la reunion du Forum des îles du Pacifique, à Tonga, les délégations
étrangères ont pu mesurer, sur place, la défiance croissante à l'égard du système monarchique en
place et une volonté populaire de réformes de fond pour faire évoluer la société tongienne.
Figure de proue de cette contestation qui monte en puissance depuis maintenant quelques années,
Samuela Akilisi Pohiva a regretté que la situation à Tonga ait été "complètement écartée de l'ordre
du jour de la réunion du Forum".
Tenus à l'écart du centre ville de la capitale, Nuku'alofa, ses sympathisants ont matérialisé par des
banderoles, au bord des routes et sur les devantures de magasins, leur mobilisation et leur
engagement pour qu'à terme davantage de démocratie soit instaurée à Tonga. Leur projet de
manifestation à l'occasion de la réunion du Forum des îles du Pacifique a dû être abandonné.
Un des derniers royaume au monde, ce petit état insulaire d'à peine plus de 100 000 habitants vit
encore dans le souvenir des émeutes du mois de novembre 2006 qui ont vu de nombreux
établissements du centre ville partir en fumée.
Depuis, Tonga a vécu au rythme d'un couvre-feu, dans un régime où la police et l'armee tiennent
déjà une place importante. Cette aspiration à davantage de démocratie, sur fond de suspicion de
corruption du pouvoir en place, passe notamment par les jeunes générations, nourries d'expérience à
l'étranger, une bonne partie de la communauté tongienne ayant émigré vers la Nouvelle-Zélande ou
les Etats-Unis, en particulier en Californie.
La place des nobles
La crise et le mouvement de contestation s'est accéléré depuis le décès du vieux monarque Tupou
IV, en 2006, peu de temps avant les émeutes, son successeur, son fils, Tupou V, n'ayant pas la
réputation d'être proche du peuple.
Le carcan de la société traditionnelle pèse sur les femmes et l'accès aux richesses est notamment
contrôlé par une caste de nobles perçue par beaucoup comme un anachronisme.
L'opposition entre militants pro-démocratie et proches de la monarchie se cristallise depuis
plusieurs semaines sur le projet de réforme du système électoral, le quota "d'élus" provenant
actuellement du monde des nobles et du roi assure à ces derniers une majorité au Parlement ne
reflétant absolument pas le résultat des urnes auprès de la population.
Un sympathisant du mouvement pro-démocratie, qui a résidé quelques années aux Etats-Unis,
résume en une seule formule la situation: "Le monde ne le sait pas encore mais, ici, c'est pire qu'à
Cuba".
TM
http://www.solomonstarnews.com/?q=node/15510
The riots in Honiara, Nuku’alofa
Submitted by drupal on 24 October, 2007 - 9:55am. Private View
By ROBERT L. IROGA
IN Honiara it was the April Riots, in Nuku’alofa they call it 26/11.
These sadly fancy descriptions resembled the riots, looting and burning of Honiara and
Nuku’alofa’s business hubs.
Many believe the wind of disaster started in Solomon Islands before it razed Tonga’s business
centre.
Others describe it as the explosion point of frustration, foreign domination and dictatorship.
Tonga’s rare burst to violence still leaves many puzzled as they try to understand why a peaceful
community spouts into violence without any warning.
I spent almost two weeks in the kingdom recently, trying to ask the same question on some of
Tonga’s leaders.
As a Solomon Islander having witnessed the mad days of April 2006, Nuku’alofa’s burnt town
generated more interest to me than anything else when I set foot on the island kingdom.
In my search for answers, I realised that Tonga’s riot was more selective to an extent similar to
Honiara’s target of Chinatown.
In Nuku’alofa, the remains of the fire is obvious but the burnings were more selective.
Looters ransacked shops then put them on fire at different locations of the town.
One government official claimed that the buildings burnt were previously marked and when the
riots broke, looters targeted the marked buildings.
The businesses were either connected to the monarchy or Chinese.
Like the Honiara rioters, Nuku’alofa’s rioters camp outside the Parliament demanding change,
before attacking the Prime Minister’s Office next door and burning Nuku’alofa’s business centre.
The pro-democracy movement denies any link to the damages even though its supporters were the
ones leading the Tongans alleged to have carried out the attack.
“We don’t plan and took no part in the riot,” people’s rep and pro-democracy leader Akilisi Pohiva
told the Solomon Star.
However, he believes the riot is peoples expression of their demand for reform in Tonga.
Tongans are demanding that the monarchy be removed and replaced with an elected government.
The Tongan Government has responded to the people’s demand and promised to put in a
democratic elected government by 2010.
Back to the riots, Kalafi Moala, a prominent Tongan journalist said the Nuku’alofa riots had no
direct influence from Honiara’s April riots.
Besides, many others believed it was carried out by beer bingers and opportunists who took part
without knowing what they are doing.
Others blamed it on the deported Tongans from the US, Australia and New Zealand.
Whilst some put it squarely on the rural dwellers.
However, the tact and the approach in the Tongan fires were similar to what happened in Honiara.
Rioters entered, looted before setting the houses on fire. Like what Honiara plunderers did.
As I pondered on the question of similarities between the two, one obvious answer that came to
mind was - yes.
Given the power of the television footage from Honiara in April, Tongans must have been watching
with great interest.
They know it’s the most effective way of bringing down governments and sending the message
clear.
The self-believe saying of - “if they can do it, why not us” - must have been the driving force.
My assumption is strengthened by one of the Tongans I met in Nuku’alofa, who upon knowing that
I’m a Solomon Islander, said: “you guys are bad influence”.
Bad? I quizzed him.
He replied, “yes”.
“We saw you burn your place, we burn our place.”
Whether his statement holds water - deep down, I believe we influenced certain quarters in the
Pacific in a bad way.
And whilst Tongans are slowly rebuilding and clearing the burnt sites nicely, Honiara is nowhere
near.
Tonga’s Government is now working with those who lost their properties to rebuild the town with
those losing their homes set to receive substantial assistance from the state.
If we can influence Tonga in a bad way - then we can learn from Tonga’s good side by helping to
speed-up the rebuilding process of our city.
I hope the winds of change from Tonga can blow over us again but in a good way.
The troubles are over - it’s time to rebuild.

06 TON 1 - Laboratoire des frondeurs

Transcription

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