Tongan Police urge public to report illegal firearms [1]
Friday, January 25, 2008 - 15:48. Updated on Thursday, February 12, 2015 - 21:45.
The rise in the use of illegal firearms in shooting incidents, and the killing of two people in Nuku'alofa on Monday is a matter of great concern for the Tongan police, who are today urging the public to divulge information on firearms.
The Assistant Police Commander and Officer in Command of Crime and Operation 'Unga Fa'aoa believes that the use of illegal firearms in crimes is an indication that a number of illegal firearms are held in the community, in addition to 500 properly licensed guns.
'Unga does not know how many illegal firearms are out there but he is asking the public to tell the police where they are.
He said that illegal firearms are sometimes smuggled into the country in containers with personal belongings. "I am not blaming the Customs Division at the border because I can't see how can they thoroughly screen for illegal firearms and ammunitions in every container that comes into the country."
'Unga is appealing to people with illegal firearms to come forward and register and properly licence their weapons to avoid prosecution.
He is also appealing for people to inform the police of anyone they know who might be in possession of an illegal firearm, and he vows that the names of informers "will remain discrete."
'Unga also said that the gunman who killed businesswoman Mosimani Helu and then turned the gun on himself had a .22 rifle licensed to his name, which they have since confiscated from his home.
"But the .22 rifle he used on Monday was an illegal firearm that did not belong to him."
He said although the shooter is dead but they will continue inquiring into the rifle so as to find out who owned it since it is an illegal firearm.
"But for the meantime I want to encourage people to inform us if they know of anyone possessing such illegal firearms, for the safety of our society," he said.
Pistols prohibited
'Unga said there are about 500 licensed firearm holders in Tonga, "and they are mainly rifles and shotguns that are used commonly to shoot animals.
"Pistols are prohibited in the country, and anyone found in possession or importing one is charged with illegal possession."
He explained that the common reason that licenses are awarded is to be used by farmers to shoot their animals, and pistols were not an appropriate weapon for this purpose.
"But I want to stress to people that it is a serious crime for anyone to possess a firearm without a licence. And the penalty for anyone found in possession of an illegal firearm is imprisonment of up to five years."
No arms dealers
'Unga also confirmed that there is currently no one with a licence to sell arms and ammunitions in Tonga. The Molisi Tonga Supermarket used to be the sole dealer in arms and ammunitions but after the 16/11 riots in 2006 Molisi turned in their licence and did not wish to continue as dealer, and to date there is no licensed dealer in the country.
'Unga said the issuing of the licence is at the discretion of the Minister of Police, and there is also a registration fee of $10 and ther must be a submission of supporting documents from reliable members of society, screening of criminal records, birth certificates and a good reason for application.