Tragedy strikes Tonga's Aussie rules team [1]
Monday, September 1, 2008 - 22:40. Updated on Sunday, October 26, 2014 - 16:00.
Reports from Tonga's newspapers, August 21-28, 2008. An English translation summary by Tevita Fonua.
The Taimi on August 27 reports that two members of Tonga's national Aussie Rules team are paralysed after an accident on August 20. Mafua of Nukunuku and Paumolevuka of Talafo'ou were jogging with the rest of the team along Taufa'ahau Rd. in Nuku'alofa when a van driven by team official Lopaki Fifita was struck at the rear by another vehicle. Lopaki lost control of the van, which ploughed through the four players jogging at the back of the team. Both Mafua and Paumolevuka were dragged under the van. Apart from his fractured backbone Paumolevuka suffered extensive injuries to his body. The rest of the team left on August 25 for Australia.
The Kalonikali on August 21 reports that while in Beijing for the opening of the Olympic Games, the Tongan Prime Minister Dr. Feleti Sevele met his Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and reiterated Tonga's commitment to the one-China policy.
The Kele'a on August 27 surmises that the King no longer wants the emergency regulation in operation, but it is the government that is manipulating it for their own security.
The Talaki on August 27 reports that a group in Tonga is campaigning to reserve three seats for Tongan communities abroad in Tonga's new parliament.
The Kalonikali on August 28 reports that Tonga can only export 2,500 tons of squash this year, a significant drop from over 10,000 tons in 2005. Farmers have deserted the industry leaving only the four exporting companies to grow squash this year.