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

The Talaki on March 25 reports that the missing boat in which Noble Malupo, the Governor of Ha‘apai, and three others were travelling had no radio-beacon, no safety equipment and no communication equipment either. The foursome were spotted by the crew of a New Zealand Air Force Orion, who had factored in the wind and current in approximating the location of the lost craft. Earlier the police from Pangai had used a boat from the Mormon Church to repetitively scour a different stretch of sea looking for their dear governor.

The Kele'a newspaper has been ordered to apologize repeatedly to the Prime Minister for six consecutive weeks starting with today's front page. It follows a ruling by Mr Justice Schuster in a defamation lawsuit. The Kele'a on March 25 "humbly, deeply, categorically and unreservedly apologized" to Prime Minister Feleti Sevele. Failure to comply with the court ordered apology will result in claims for damages totaling $300 000. The defamatory articles were published in 2006 and 2007 during Tavake Fusimalohi's tenure as editor.

In another story the Kele'a alleges that the Prime Minister, who was then head of the Squash Council, had played a part in securing a $7 million loan for 15 squash companies with the government as guarantor. Last year only six of them actually grew squash.

The Taimi on March 25 reports that a Chinese man who was lost at sea while kayaking has still not been found. He was one of four who were involved in an incident while kayaking; the other three managed to swim ashore. According to the Police Commander, four lives have already been lost at sea this month.

The Taimi Media Network Ltd now operates the newspaper Kalonikali Tonga under an agreement with the government. TMN general manager Kalafi Moala said the Kalonikali will become Tonga's only English language newspaper, with notices in Tongan. The agreement is for three years and will be reviewed in one and a half years.

Reports from Tonga's newspapers, March 18, 2009.

The Talaki on March 18 reports that there are moves to establish Scientology here, much to the dismay of the local Council of Churches.

Minister of Finance Hon. Afu'alo Matoto said that Shoreline was negligent with maintenance of the electricity sector.

The Tonga Law Society is proposing the appointment of some lawyers as King...’s Counsels.

And Dr. ...‘Uhila-moe-Langi Fasi heads the National Qualifications Authority.

The Taimi on March 18 reports that police have arrested Simote Mesake and his wife Kalotia, both from Kolonga, over the abduction of two sisters; one is 15-years old and the other, 13. The couple had transported their own son who is over 18-years old and the girls, from Kolonga and dropped them off in the bush at Te'ekiu. Simote apparently wants the elder sister to marry his son.

One of the senior officers who had investigated the then Speaker of parliament Noble Veikune, now known as Fuatakifolaha; said that he is perplexed by the leading proponents for change. After the trial in which Fuatakifolaha was found guilty and stripped of the title Veikune, the investigative officers had expected to be mobbed by those aching for change and hailed as heroes. Instead these People's Representatives rushed towards Fuatakifolaha with hugs, kisses, tears, and running noses. Then the officer realized that they only want change to be effected by them and no one else; and the investigation that toppled the Speaker was carried out under the present system and by current government employees.

The Kele'a on March 18 reports that a group of 15 fruit pickers from Navutoka who were working in an orchard in Hastings, had refused to work on Sundays and that during a meeting between their representatives with liaison officer Tevita Niulata to discuss this, the latter had thrown a punch at one of the other workers and missed. Another version says that the fruit pickers had requested extra work, but when Tevita got them additional jobs, they refused to work. And they made threatening noises outside the room during the meeting.