Highlights from Tonga's newspapers, September 3-6, 2007.

An English translation summary by Tevita Fonua.

The Talaki on September 5 front-paged the tragic death of Soane Sevele (46), a victim of a hit-and-run accident at Ma'ufanga on the morning of September 1. The police are looking for the driver of a white van.

The Talaki reported from the courts that Noble Nuku appeared in the Supreme Court on August 30 after he was summoned by Chief Justice Anthony Ford to testify at the trial of a Viliami Taungahihifo, who is charged with harvesting coral without a proper license.

In the Taimi on Monday, September 3, the Minister for Sports, Youth, Employment and Training Hon. Tu'ivakano denied claims that he fiddled with taxpayers' money; allegations that were published in the Kele'a. According to the Taimi, the minister explained that the government had received a request from the Tonga Rugby Board, for financial assistance in sending the 'Ikale Tahi to the World Cup. The government concurred, but also wanted financial reports on monies given to the board in past years. The rugby board failed to comply and with the departure of the team, imminent; the minister decided to communicate directly with the players. They agreed to deposit the money straight into the players bank accounts, an arrangement that won the approval of other ministers, but the ire of the Kele'a.

The Kele'a on the other hand reported on September 5 that the tripartite committee had ceased operation, but with two key issues still unresolved: the date for political reform and a government proposal for election by constituencies. The People's Representatives have since announced their retreat from a tripartite committee resolution on the composition of a new legislature, which was, in their view, contingent on political reform being implemented in 2008.

The Kele'a also quoted Minister of Labour Lisiate 'Akolo as saying that three quarters of foreign aid to Tonga is spent on expatriate consultants' fees.



The PSA is suing the Tongan government, the Public Service Commission, and Ministry of Agriculture CEO Peni Vea over the sacking of PSA secretary Mele 'Amanaki.

The Thursday September 6 edition of the Taimi revealed that files of sensitive information on Tongasat are in the possession of 'Eleveni and Tilema Latu in Salt Lake City, Utah. According to the Taimi the couple had acquired five boxfuls of Tongasat's correspondences and other documents for $5 at an auction of unclaimed goods by the Customs department. The files were sent from Australia by ex-Tongasat lawyer Mr. Stanton, and addressed to HRH Princess Pilolevu Tuita. The Latu's have met the princess in person and presented their price for the boxes return: $5 million.

HM King Siaosi Tupou V has signed into law the dual citizenship bill, enabling Tongans to hold two passports.

The Kalonikali on September 6 reports that twenty members of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China visited the kingdom. They were led by Standing Committee vice chairman Mr Jiang Zhenghua.

The Kalonikali also reports that over 5,000 people will benefit from a New Zealand funded project to upgrade the water supply to 14 villages in 'Eua. The villagers have endured muddy and infrequent supplies of water for the past forty years.