Highlights from Tonga's newspapers, February 4-7, 2008. An English translation summary by Tevita Fonua.

The Taimi on February 4 reports that a group of 17 Tongan fruit pickers have returned home prematurely from New Zealand, citing various breaches of their contracts; much of their anguish was directed at the farm manager, a Tongan.

The Taimi on February 7 reports that ambulance driver Savelio Ponove was collared and roughed up by a couple of police officers, after he failed to stop when he encountered the royal motorcade. Savelio was rushing a patient to hospital and found enough space to squeeze through. He was later roughed up. According to Nuku'alofa police superintendent Soakai Motu'apuaka, the constables were wrong and action is being taken

Tongatapu People's Representatives 'Akilisi Pohiva, 'Isileli Pulu, and Clive Edwards donated $3,000 to a kava club at Manuka last Friday night. According to the Taimii, the kava drinkers warmed and openly expressed their love for the parliamentarians.

The Talaki on February 6 reports that four graves at Popua were broken into. The skeletal remains in one appeared appears to have been chopped, and the skull crushed.

The Minister of Tourism Fineasi Funaki told an interviewer in the Talaki that he will resign if one seniti is found missing.

The Kalonikali reports that new entrants to class 1 in government primary schools must now produce immunization certificates. Tiring work, said the headmaster of Longolongo Primary School.

The newspaper also reported that His Majesty and other dignitaries joined the Chinese Ambassador HE Mr Hu Yeshun and the local Chinese community in celebrating the lunar new year at the Janful Int'l Dateline Hotel last Monday.