First Tongan contingent leaves for Afghanistan [1]
Monday, October 25, 2010 - 22:45. Updated on Saturday, May 10, 2014 - 15:17.
TONGA'S first contingent to Afghanistan left Fua'amotu International Airport for England on an Air New Zealand commercial flight at 10:00am this morning Monday, October 25.
Colonel Siamelie Latu told Matangi Tonga today that a total of 55 Tongan soldiers led by Commander Satisi Vunipola would be deployed to Afghanistan after completing an initial six weeks pre-deployment training in England.
He said three of the soldiers had already left earlieron Friday, including Commander Satisi Vunipola.
A total of 57 soldiers departed this morning, five are trainers who would not join the troops to Afghanistan but would take part in the training in England.
He said the five soldiers would return to Tonga upon the completion of the training to train the upcoming troops.
Families of the soldiers gathered at the airport in an emotional farewell for loved ones. The Prime Minister Hon Dr Feleti Sevele, Brigadier Tau'aika 'Uta'atu and Colonel Siamelie Latu were also present.
The troops held a prayer service on Sunday, October 24 at Taliai Military Camp at Fua'amotu.
Six months
The Tongan troops would be deployed for six months to Afghanistan and work alongside the UK Armed Forces at Helmand Province in Southern Afghanistan, where they would carry out Base Security at the British Camp Bastion.
Commander of the Tonga Defence Services Brigadier Tau'aika 'Uta'atu signed the Memorandum of Understanding between Tonga and the International Security Assistance Force ISAF in London on October 7.
Troops
Tonga becomes the 48th country to contribute troops to the ISAF mission. The ISAF, a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan, was established by the United Nations Security Council on December 20, 2001.
Countries that have troops with the ISAF included Denmark, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Turkey, Ireland, Poland and most members of the European Union and NATO, also including Australia, New Zealand, Azerbaijan and Singapore.