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2009
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Wednesday 26 August 2009 8:15am
Ha'apai,Tonga : A mass funeral ceremony at sea for the 74 people lost on the Princess Ashika on August 5, was held at midday yesterday, August 25, at the spot where the ferry sank, 11 nautical miles, south-west of Nomuka Island, in Tonga's Ha'apai Group, where about 500 people gathered on a flotilla of boats. Photos by Linny Folau on the MV Pulupaki and Pesi Fonua on the VOEA Pangai.
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Tuesday 25 August 2009 5:53pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The Tonga Government has to date distributed over $100,000 pa'anga to help bereaved families of 67 persons in Tongatapu, Vava'u and Ha'apai whose lives were lost in the Princess Ashika sinking. Premium content -
Tuesday 25 August 2009 1:58pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A special memorial service will be held today, August 25 at the site where the MV Princess Ashika sank, an open sea area 11kms SSW of Nomuka Island in remembrance of the many lives lost on August 5. Premium content -
Tuesday 25 August 2009 4:39am
USA : The Tongan communities in the United States are rising to the occasion to send assistance home to Tonga for the families of the victims in the inter-island ferry MV Princess Ashika's mysterious sinking August 5, during a Tongatapu-to-Ha'apai/Vava'u voyage. Seventy passengers and crew members are presumed dead. - Sione K. Tupouniua -
Sunday 23 August 2009 11:30am
USA : We are all very saddened by this terrible tragedy. We continue to pray for our family there in Tonga, as well as all the families of those lost. - Sherri Mahe Premium content -
Saturday 22 August 2009 9:33pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : After 17 nights of camping in tents outside the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia Ltd. office at Queen Salote Wharf, anticipating news of relatives in the August 5 sinking of the MV Princess Ashika, bereaved families put closure to the hope of recovery and returned home on Friday July 21. Premium content -
Saturday 22 August 2009 3:51pm
Sydney, Australia : A Methodist national choir competition planned in Fiji today has been cancelled by the military-installed government as potentially subversive. By Rowan Callick, Asia-Paciic editor Premium content -
Saturday 22 August 2009 3:23pm
Honiara, Solomon Islands : Operation Kurukuru 2009, a coordinated maritime surveillance operation in which countries cooperate to detect activities such as illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing, smuggling and people trafficking, was hosted by FFA over 10 days. Premium content -
Saturday 22 August 2009 10:40am
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The aerial and surface search for survivors from the MV Princess Ashika disaster has ended, Tonga's Police Commander Chris Kelley announced on 21 August. Premium content -
Saturday 22 August 2009 6:15am
Canberra, Australia : It doesn't matter whether the individual AVMP will end up receiving $10,000 or $20,000 per head, "it's all theirs and it's all for them and them only". By the ethics of humanitarianism and human rights under World Red Cross and World Vision, together with the UN Central Emergency Response Fund, all funds must be belonged to the AVMP, except for related and necessary expenses occurring in the process of distribution. - Siosiua Tofua‘ipangai Premium content -
Friday 21 August 2009 7:45pm
Moloka'i, Hawai'i : We wish to send our deepest sympathy and condolence to all of the families of passengers lost at sea, especially to the Fasi-moe-afi Church members Sione Valele 'Elone, his cousin Veuveuso 'Elone and friend Matoni 'Aho who were on their way to Ha'apai for Sione Valele 'Elones' wedding to my sister-in-law Vahengalu He of Pangai. - Coco & Tevita He Premium content -
Friday 21 August 2009 3:15pm
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea : Leigh is entitled to his views as everyone else is. The Attorney General at the behest of who?, should not pre-empt the Commission of Enquiries findings with a premature legal opinion on the contents of Leigh's letter. - Sam Tupou Premium content -
Friday 21 August 2009 2:45pm
Pago Pago, American Samoa : While the press in the region is fighting for recognition and hopefully gain much more of its freedom, Matangi Tonga made a step back by giving up to the threat from the Attorney General. - Mafi ‘o Amerika Samoa Premium content -
Friday 21 August 2009 12:58pm
Suva, Fiji : Fiji's Interim Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, has abolished the country's Sugarcane Growers Council. It's the latest move by the country's military backed leader to sideline political forces that appear to be opposed to the ideals of his military backed regime. It comes just a week after he limited the ability of the country's Methodist Church to raise funds, saying it is to involved in national politics. Premium content -
Friday 21 August 2009 9:48am
Jerusalem, Israel : The President of the State of Israel Mr. Shimon Peres conveyed his condolences to H.M. the King of Tonga and to the people of Tonga for the Princess Ashika tragedy. Premium content -
Thursday 20 August 2009 10:15pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Crown Prince Tupouto'a Lavaka and Crown Princess Nanasipau'u Tuku'aho joined bereaved families for a Memorial Service in remembrance of the Ashika victims this morning at the Sa Paula Free Wesleyan Church at Pea, Tongatapu. By Linny Folau Premium content -
Thursday 20 August 2009 9:00pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : There were 128 persons on board the Princess Ashika when it left Nuku'alofa on its August 5 voyage, Operation Ashika confirmed on August 19. These have been established as: 54 rescued, 2 bodies recovered, 72 missing persons (68 passengers and 4 crew). Premium content -
Thursday 20 August 2009 4:00pm
Pago Pago, American Samoa : Here is a huge fakamalo to the Kingdom of Tonga for your first distribution to help out the victims family from the Ashika tragedy. You are now on the right path. But please do not stop there. - Mafi ‘o Amerika Samoa Premium content -
Thursday 20 August 2009 3:00pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The letter from Leigh Harkness makes unjustified conclusins about the cause of the disaster. - John Cauchi SC Premium content -
Thursday 20 August 2009 11:30am
Suva, Fiji : The UK Government has contributed 5,000 to the Kingdom of Tonga's ''Ashika Relief Fund'' to assist the families who have suffered in the aftermath of the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika. Premium content
