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2009
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Thursday 16 April 2009 5:01pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Hon. Sonatane Tu‘akinamolahi Taumoepeau-Tupou, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence has been appointed as Tonga's new Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, the Tongan Ambassador to the United States, Chile, Cuba, Mexico, and Venezuela, and the Tongan High Commissioner to Canada.
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Thursday 16 April 2009 3:10pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Chief Justice Hon. Anthony Ford dismissed the seven jurors who were presiding over the trial of four accused charged with serious multiple offences during the 16/11 riot and ordered a retrial to start tomorrow, April 17, at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court. Premium content -
Thursday 16 April 2009 11:16am
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA : We are all in agreement that a more representative government is the democratic direction we want. But Mr. Fale confused readers by opposing a "cabinet picked from within the legislative assembly" because it "concentrates tremendous power in the hands of a few . . . " - Sione A. Mokofisi Premium content -
Thursday 16 April 2009 9:42am
Brisbane,Australia : I suggest that the ERC does little for Tonga's guest for good governance, accountability and transparency. Cutting edge research on governance suggests that nominating committees, remuneration committees, audit committees and other sub-committees for that matter do not necessarily provide for better governance, accountability and transparency. Suggested instead from governance literature is that these committees serve a "window dressing" purpose. Further, the same literature does not attribute improved performance to good governance. With that theoretical background I am confident ke fokotu'u atu 'oku 'ikai ke 'iai ha kakunga'a e ERC ki hono improving governance, accountability and transparency in the public sector. - A Funaki Premium content -
Wednesday 15 April 2009 10:48pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : If the king has given up his executive powers, who is going to sign the Bill(s) that passed by parliament. Who will choose Ministers of the Cabinet, and make other such changes to Cabinet if needed? - D. K. Fale Premium content -
Wednesday 15 April 2009 6:00pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Togna's 86th Inter-Collegiate Sports Athletic competition began at the Teufaiva Outdoor Stadium, Nuku'alofa this morning, April 15. Premium content -
Tuesday 14 April 2009 5:26pm
Suva, Fiji : The 250 Tongan students at the USP Suva, Fiji are safe, and are attending their normal classes today, according to the Acting Director of the University of the South Pacific USP Tonga campus, Dr Seu'ula Fua this afternoon. Premium content -
Tuesday 14 April 2009 9:33am
Suva, Fiji : Overseas journalists covering Fiji's political crisis have been ordered out of the country as the military-led regime tightened its control on the beseiged news media, Pacnews reports. Premium content -
Monday 13 April 2009 12:34pm
Suva, Fiji : The military-led government in Fiji which was sworn back into office yesterday is unhappy with how the News Limited-owned Fiji Times informed its readers about how its Sunday edition was censored. Premium content -
Monday 13 April 2009 12:28pm
Sydney, Australia : Ratu Josefa Iloilo has taken his nation over the precipice. All pretence of acting within the law has been stripped away, and the future of Fiji left profoundly uncertain. By Professor George Williams Premium content -
Monday 13 April 2009 12:25pm
Suva, Fiji : Fiji's President has annulled the constitution and fired all the country's judges a day after the Court ruled the country's military government was illegal. Premium content -
Monday 13 April 2009 10:53am
San Francisco, USA : I strongly believe that the current system of government is the best for Tonga. All Tonga has to do is improving minor things here and there. Major changes to the current structure of government would bring disastrous consequences that the people of Tonga would regret and hope that they were not born to this earth. A new system would be disastrous to the nature of our religion and culture which are the corner-stone of peace and harmony in Tonga. - Siosaia Fatani -
Monday 13 April 2009 5:26am
Auckland, New Zealand : Thanks also for Senituli's input. But is it really that hard to understand that if the King retains the right to pick at least 4 non-elected ministers, as I said, it means he is not a ceremonial figure? - Josephine Latu -
Friday 10 April 2009 4:09pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : I find it amazing, how the Tongan public in general are not fully informed of the actuality of what the temo's are asking for. Any form of government suggested for Tonga that has a cabinet picked from within the legislative assembly concentrates tremendous power in the hands of a few and paths the way for a dictatorship in Tonga. The current checks and balances that do currently exist between government bodies will deteriorate until they no longer exist. This means we are moving in the opposite direction of where we actually want to arrive at. Numerous articles on Matangitonga Online and letters to the editor have clearly pointed these obvious things out. For your reading pleasure and for the sake of being more informed please readers check them out. - Daniel K. Fale -
Friday 10 April 2009 3:30pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The Sovereign of the only Polynesian Kingdom, whose official coronation took place on August 1 2008, is voluntarily surrendering his powers to meet the democratic aspirations of many of his people. They see Tonga's royal heritage as integral to the country's culture and identity, but favour a more representative, elected Parliament. The King agrees with them. Editor's Note - To clarify the discussion over the King surrendering his powers, we are reprinting a Press Release that was issued by the Office of the Lord Chamberlain on July 28, 2008. Premium content -
Thursday 9 April 2009 6:15pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A young man (20) has been charged with murder of a woman following an incident in 'Uiha, Ha'apai, last week, confirmed Deputy Police Commander Taniela Faletau. Premium content -
Thursday 9 April 2009 6:00pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : I am relieved to read constructive and variety perceptions among author's of Letters to The Editor of Matangi Tonga (MT) regarding Reform in Tonga. This is vital as evidence for our achievement in life. - Kisione Taufa Premium content -
Thursday 9 April 2009 4:18pm
New York, USA : I disagree with the Temos whole-heartedly on the fundamentals and agree with them in some of the peripherals, and on behalf of traditions, the simples, and the blinds, may I declare, "We want to retain monarchy, but have a democratic monarchy." A king without an absolute power is not a king, but a king who rules democratically is humanly divine. Any discontent with the government has to be legally expressed, and should resistance be needed, "Non-violent Patient Resistance" would be our peaceful war cry. Here is my starting point and our dividing line. - Senituli Penitani -
Thursday 9 April 2009 3:44pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The Supreme Court has ruled in a summary judgment that the proprietors and staff of the the Kele'a newspaper are liable for damages amounting to TOP $500,000 arising out of a letter to the editor it published in October 2007, which defamed the Hon Prime Minister and his Economic Adviser, Rob Solomon. Premium content -
Wednesday 8 April 2009 1:37pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Tonga will introduce Electronic Company Registration in September, said Penisimani Latu, the Deputy Registrar of Companies, at the Ministry of Labour Commerce and Industries, today. Premium content
