Many thanks to David Tapiaka for his letter on 27/04 "A call for Overseas Tongans to invest in Tonga" publicly supporting my letter published last month calling for Tongans abroad to invest in Tonga and help re-build our little Kingdom. I am pleased to report that the feedback from Tongans at home and abroad has been overall amazingly positive. - Senolita Swan
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Results for Opinion
Sunday 22 April 2007
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Sydney, Australia
I simply wish to thank you for your continuous coverage of the cases involving those PRs who by all means sought to identify themselves with the destruction of Nuku'alofa on 16/11. There is a sense in which the PRs directly involved with the events of 16/11 ought to be extremely thankful that their rights as Tongan citizens have been apparently upheld throughout the current situation in our country. I would think that if the claim that the Tongan government has been dictatorial and oppressive was to be substantiated in any way, that their treatment could have been altogether different from what they are given up to now. - Rev Dr Ma'afu'otu'itonga Palu

Thursday 29 March 2007
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Pago Pago, American Samoa
You got it right Mr. Sanft, the Tonga's budget is pretty much dry. What you and your Demo friends do not seems to see is that regardless of the form of government you insisted of installing in Tonga, it will have to deal with a budget that is pretty much dry. I am not too sure because you and your friends have never been definitive on the type of system you insist on Tonga. But the early indication your Demo system is not going to solve Tonga's problem either. As a matter of fact, the Demo System created Tonga's current problem by forcing the 60%, 70%, and 80% pay raise. And then apply the last straw to break the camel's back when turn around and burn down the businesses that were going to finance this pay raise. -Sione Lousiale Kava

Sunday 25 March 2007
London, United Kingdom
It has been four months now since 16/11 and, as predicted, the consequential effects on Tonga political reform and the economy have been as deadly as sin. We have gone through a period of soul-searching about why it happened, how it happened and who were responsible for this blunder. As a people, I suppose we all feel emotionally gutted - angry and frustrated that our own brothers and sisters at home were actually capable of delivering such evil. Now of course the reality has hit home - the main business area of Nuku'alofa resembled that of an unfinished Hollywood Western film studio. - Senolita Swan
Friday 23 March 2007
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San Mateo, California
As many may deny it, or the faint of heart may not admit it - Tonga's reform may be its only hope for economic recovery (and future). - Alipate Sanft

Thursday 1 February 2007
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Kolofo'ou, Tonga
Joe is quite right that the Tonga police and military are not big enough to deal with an insurgency because Tonga did not need a big police force or military as Tonga was the proud Friendly Islands until the 16/11. You misfits must be proud of what you did to Nuku'alofa and the business people who are the backbone of our economy. ...Tonga needs a new version of democracy- Taasi Holiday

Monday 29 January 2007
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Sydney, Australia
Allow me to seek a better understanding of the questions raised in Joe Smith's letter of 28 Jan 07. Why does the royal family have lavish homes in Tonga, NZ and USA while there are roads in Tonga that are not paved, many villages in the outer islands without running water, many family homes still use outhouses instead of in-house bathroom/toilets, etc. - Sione Fifita

Sunday 28 January 2007
Auckland, New Zealand
Tolerance is a good cornerstone on which to build human relationships. ...The way to happiness can become contentious when one fails to respect the religious beliefs of others. 'Atulouaki Lasitani
Saturday 27 January 2007
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Sydney, Australia
Tongans choose to respect and love their monarchy not because they are just royal but they represent what God himself has put in place it is the reason we respect them Tonga's democracy is built on sacrifice and loyalty, Tongans have always cherished their rights has a free people. - Andrew Fifita

Friday 26 January 2007
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Salt Lake City-Utah, USA
As Mr. Fifita describes there are many significant past achievements that have been accomplished by Queen Salote III and King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV. Even King George Tupou V has done much to improve Tonga's telecommunication infrastructure. The King has a very loyal following. Democratic leaders around the world would give their right arms to have loyal subjects who can't even pay their water bills, get down on their hands and knees to crawl up to them with an envelope full of money. - Joe Smith

Sunday 21 January 2007
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Looking now at what he said, I realize that this man is too old to be facing the much younger, stronger, faster, braver, ‘matapoto’ (and better-looking of course) guy like me in a fair match, because if he grew up back then in Kolomotu’a with my uncles, and was at the peak of his youth in the 70’s, then he must be in his 50’s by now. - Joseph PT Holani
Tuesday 9 January 2007
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Pago Pago, American Samoa
Borrowing from Shakepeare, "I went, I saw, I am very sad." I was not bothered by the extent of the damages, I saw worse in Lebanon back in 1983 and caused much of the same and more damage in Iraqi Desert Storm. But I was sad at the loss of history and the damage to a place we all call home. Nuku'alofa reminds me of loved ones no longer with us. -Sione Lousiale Kava

Sunday 7 January 2007
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London, United Kingdom
Having read "The attempted coup of 16th November 2006" by Lopeti Senituli, I would like to ask the Matangi Tonga if it is possible to publish Dr Taufe'ulungaki's report in full so that the readers can have the full benefit of what she is writing about without prejudice. -Senolita Swan

Friday 5 January 2007
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Kolofo'ou,Tongatapu
If it was not for seeds of hatred and anger that these people had planted in the minds, hearts and life of these people during the rallies and meetings at their villages and Pangai Si'i, the young people would not have had the courage to do what they did on 16/11. It is important that we follow closely and carefully analyse what 'Akilisi and the gang are doing and saying for they represent the iceberg that lurks below the evil actions of the young people on 16/11. -Taasi Holiday

Thursday 4 January 2007
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Honolulu, Hawaii
here are no words to described and express the sadness and feelings of the unfortunate incident on 16th/11, reading so many emotional point of views from so many very passionate LTE and understandably seeing from both sides of this debate. I pray that through "TalaTalanoa" between the people and it's Govt., could bring meaningful changes for the future of our children and families.- MT Tuaileva

Thursday 4 January 2007
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Pacific
I have one word for the "Kau Demo" - it's not DEMOCRACY (that they are supposedly preaching) it's "DEMOLITION". - Saimone Tupou

Thursday 4 January 2007
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Canberra, Australia
It is so disappointing to read some of the personal and professional comments made by the political advisor, or is it the press secretary of the Tongan Prime Minister. In fact, Mr Senituli accuses every one who has formed an opinion or reported on the events of Nov 16 riot of distorting the truth. -Sera Taufa.

Wednesday 3 January 2007
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Wellington, New Zealand
What an extraordinary woman Queen Victoria was. According to Venisi Uata (1 January 2007) the grand old lady gave a speech in India on November 24, 1930. emarkable. She had been dead for 29 years by then. Oh, and she never in her life went to India. -Michael J Field

Friday 29 December 2006
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Suva, Fiji
We will be soon crossing over to a new year, I wonder if the PRs still have a few stunts left to entertain the crowd. If the answer is no then they should gracefully bow and make way for new talented actors to run the show. If the audience still prefer the PRs then they should askew themselves whether it would be worthwhile keeping them in the the long term.- Freddy Kavaha'apai

Tuesday 28 November 2006
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Auckland, New Zealand
Please, through your site, thank the staff I worked closely with at Peau Vava'u Airlines for the two and a half weeks I was in Tonga before the riots forced us to leave. I would particularly like to thank the two drivers for the company who drove us from the hotel to safety. - Paul Neame
