THE Vice-Consul of the French Embassy in Suva, Alexandre Raugel laid a wreath at the Ashika Memorial Wall, Vakataumai Cemetery, Ma'ufanga on March 17, in tribute to a French couple who died in the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika in 2009.

Pauline Henry and Sami Chakroun, were among the 74 people who died when the ferry sank in the middle of the night near Ha'apai on August 5, 2009.

Attending the wreath laying ceremony by the Commanding officer and officers from the French frigate, La Moqueuse, as well as Tonga's Secretary for Foreign Affairs Mahe'uli'uli Tupouniua and the French Honorary Consul in Tonga Tupou Pasikala.

The Vice Consul arrived in Tonga on March 16 to observe the Ashika jury trial in the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court. He left Tonga on March 18.

The French Embassy in Suva, Fiji is responsible for Tonga, Kiribati, Tuvalu and the Federal States of Micronesia.

The Ashika Memorial Wall was unveiled by Crown Prince Tupouto'a Lavaka on August 8, 2010, on the first anniversary of the tragedy.

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