Editor,

I am Tongan. I, like all Tongans, feel immense sadness at the untimely deaths of HRH Prince Tu'ipelehake and Princess Kaimana of Tonga. Thank you your Royal Highnesses for all that you have done for our great country.

I would also like to to thank all non Tongans who have expressed their condolences via the Matangi Tonga. This thank-you is also extended to Mr David Lloyd and Ms Rosina Hauiti. I did not find their words insulting nor did I feel that they were written with contempt or malice.

Their views are not neccessary my views but ultimately I drew comfort from the fact that they felt enough respect and compassion for our people as a whole to take the time to write.

'Ofa atu,

'Amelia Pafusi Tatola Schedlich,

aschedlich [at] pymblelc [dot] nsw [dot] edu [dot] au