Results for 16/11

Tongatapu no. 1 People's Representative 'Akilisi Pohiva was released from police custody on bail this afternoon, according to Chief Police Inspector Ashley Fua.

The public will be allowed to return to a changed central Nuku'alofa next week when two months of restricted movement will be lifted and pedestrians and traffic movements will be allowed into the central business district. FROM OUR ARCHIVES.

After 53 days of living under the Emergency Powers Act, whereby the Tonga Police Force and the Tonga Defence Services were empowered by Cabinet to use "necessary force" for the purpose of preserving public order and securing the public safety, people are questioning the extent of the powers and wondering how long they will be allowed to remain in force.

The demolition and the clearing of burned-out building sites in Nuku'alofa is behind schedule, according to Loka Vaha-mo-Kioa of the Ministry of Works, which oversees the demolition program.

A total of 777 suspects had been arrested and charged by the Tonga Police up to December 17, with theft topping the list of offences committed on November 16.

Delays in the arrests of the ring leaders of the mob, who destroyed the Nuku'alofa CBD on November 16, means that Tonga's emergency powers and the restricted zone must remain in force, a meeting of displaced business people was told on Tuesday.

There will be no Santa Claus or Christmas shopping in Central Nuku'alofa this year while the area remains a ghost town.

Nuku'alofa tourism operators this afternoon agreed to form a Special Task Force to make plans on how the tourism industry can move forward following the destruction of the Nuku'alofa business centre on November 16.

As of today, December 5, over 400 suspects have been charged by the Tonga Police for arson, theft and other offences relating to their participation in the destruction of the Nuku'alofa business centre on November 16.