Reports from Tonga's newspapers, 19-25 February, 2009. An English translation summary by Tevita Fonua.

The Kele'a on February 25 reports that the New Zealand Society for Political Reform in Tonga has proposed to the Constitutional and Electoral Commission the removal of powers from the King. They propose that the king will no longer have the power to veto a bill, to close parliament, or to dismiss a minister, and they also propose to remove King's authority over the defence forces.

The Taimi on February 25 reports that Vava'u People's Representative 'Etuate Lavulavu is suing the Kele'a newspaper for claiming that he was imprisoned at a Brussels airport.

John Moore from Australia's fruit industry hopes that in future the seasonal workers from the Pacific will be brought in during the fruit- picking season and not towards the end of it.

11-year old Fe'ao Moala from Vava'u found a 1 000 Indonesian rupiah note (about $50 pa'anga) in his packet of noodles. His father has since included the unknown donor in their prayers.

And a group of Tongans who had paid $4,000, after getting assurances of job opportunities in the United Kingdom, were abandoned at a Newcastle bus stop by their Tongan agent. Without food, money or a contact address they slept at bus depots, at train stations, at an airport, and even outside a Catholic Church before they met a Fijian rugby player who informed 'Ikale Tahi player 'Epeli Taione of the group's plight. Through the efforts of the Tongan community, int he UK, most of whom are rugby players, all the travellers have returned home. The agent, who had cashed the group's return tickets, also returned home and tried to recruit more workers.

The Talaki on February 25 reports that Sione Kaho, the father of the 22-year old woman from Vaini, who was stabbed to death last Saturday, is willing to forgive the assailant.

Meanwhile, Katei Taufa (31) of Longoteme was to appear at the Mu'a Magistrate's Court, accused of killing his wife Fononga-moe-La'a, at Vaini on February 21.

And 28-year old Tevita Ngaue got a seven-year jail sentence for starting the fire that engulfed the Golden Star restaurant on 16/11. Tevita who is married with children, has a criminal record that dates back to when he was ten.