Tonga Defence completes RAMSI deployment [1]
Tuesday, July 30, 2013 - 21:35. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
Tonga’s 13th and final military contingent deployed to the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) returned to Tonga on Monday, July 29.
RAMSI marked its 10th Anniversary in Honiara last week and the military component of the mission from Participating Forces is now withdrawing from the island while the police contingent remain until June 2017.
The Deputy Commander of the Tonga Defence Services Captain Toni Fonokalafi said Tonga's military contingent consisted of 34 soldiers led by TDS Liaison Officer to RAMSI, Lt Commander Fonohema.
He said Tonga has been supporting RAMSI since it was first launched in 2003 to help settle civil unrest.
The Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakano and Tonga Defence Commander Brigadier-General Tau’aika ‘Uta’atu welcomed the soldiers who arrived in an Australian Airforce aircraft, at Fua'amotu International Airport.
Support
RAMSI is a partnership between the people and Government of the Solomon Islands and 15 countries of the Pacific who arrived in July 2003, at the request of the Solomons to provide support for the enforcement of law and order.