Five days after the destruction of the Nuku'alofa business center on Thursday, November 16, police have confirmed that only six bodies have been found and not eight as was previously reported.

The remains were among the ashes of the gutted Shoreline Building. Meanwhile, 26 men have been arrested and are in custody.

The Commander of the Tongan Police, Sinilau Kolokihakaufisi, said today, November 21 that investigations are ongoing into the smashing, looting and the burning of business houses in Nuku'alofa and since Thursday evening they had been working closely with the Tonga Defence Service, to maintain law and order, and since the week-end they had been joined by the New Zealand and Australian Police and Army.

Sinilau said that the riot police had been focusing their investigations and forensic expertise on the scenes of the crimes. They started with the Shoreline Building on Friday, November 17 where six bodies, yet to be identified were found.

Both the Commander and Dr 'Akanesi Makakaufaki from the Vaiola Hospital confirmed that up to today the death toll remained at six.

Today, Sinilau said that the police investigations were focused at the Molisi Tonga Supermarket and the Pacific Royale Hotel, both were gutted.

Sinilau said that besides site investigations the police had also been following other crimes trails, and already stolen goods had been confiscated, "things like refrigerators, beds and other household furniture."

The police have also arrested and detained 26 men at the Nuku'alofa Police Station, 14 have been detained in relation to the burning down of businesses and shops, five were for thefts and seven were arrested for drunken behavior.

Sinilau welcomed the arrival of New Zealand and Australian police and army officers. "They help to speed up our investigation."

The joint operation by the Tongan Police and the Tonga Defence Services, according to Sinilau was working out perfectly.


"The role of the police is carrying out the investigations on the crimes committed last week and the arresting of suspects. The Tonga Defence Services on the other hand has been called on to provide security and to guard major checkpoints at the restricted area in central Nuku'alofa, and they are also ready in hand if the police calls for any back up if there is any resistance or obstruction to their work."

Emergency Powers

The operation to restore Law and Order, mainly in the Nuku'alofa area has been made easier with the declaration by King George V of the Emergency Powers on Friday November 17 for the maintenance of public order.

The emergency powers are in effective for 30 days, unless extended by an order from the Tongan cabinet.

Sinilau said that the emergency powers in effect allows cabinet to make orders for the purpose of securing the public safety and the maintenance of public order in Tonga. It also allows any person authorized by cabinet as well as the Tonga Police and the Tonga Defence Service for the purpose of preserving public order and securing the public safety to have the power to regulate, restrict, control or prohibit the use of any road, street, path, waterway or public place by any person, vehicle, vessel or by any class of person.

The Emergency Power prohibits the holding of any meeting or procession or the assembly of five or more persons in a place or building in in the Restricted Area whether public or private.

It also gives the TDS and Tonga Police the right to use force if necessary to restore public order when dealing with suspected persons, premises, vehicles, vessels or aircrafts. They can with or without warrant stop and search any person or enter and search premises or stop board and search any vessels, vehicles or aircrafts and seize evidence.

The powers also include that without a warrant arrest any person suspected with the threatening of public order, may be detained for a period not exceeding 48 hours.