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
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Results for Pacific Islands
Sunday 25 March 2007
London, United Kingdom
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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Friday 24 November 2006
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Honolulu, Hawaii
After reading of the destruction and seeing the pictures of Nuku'alofa I am shocked that a group of protesters could be allowed to run wild and do so much damage. Here is Hawaii we have a sovereignty movement that would like to restore the Kingdom. In Tonga you have a movement that wants more democracy. It appears that there are unsatisfied people on both sides of that issue. -Steve Oberg
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Wednesday 22 November 2006
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Oahu, Hawaii
Many of us in Hawaii watch the recent events in Tonga, and as outsiders we are confused and saddend that so much destruction has happened to many of Tonga's innocent businesses and people.... Now at the end of 2006, we Hawaiians, find it interesting that an island with people like us...
are destroying a city to compel democracy....Tonga is going through riots for forced democratic reform, while here many of us (not me), sing songs of protest and march in the streets...
wishing King Kamehameha's royal line was still in command. - Joe
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Wednesday 22 November 2006
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Auckland, New Zealand
Local Chinese communities were targeted by Tongan mob during their violent protest for democracy. With that kind of ill-disciplined behavior shown by those Tongans they have a long way to earn any respect or adhere to rules of law. They try to portray themselves as friendly and peace loving people when try attract tourists and donation from other people but few people know the violent ill-disciplined nature of Tongan who attacked Chinese in Tonga.
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Wednesday 22 November 2006
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Pacific
How is it that the Government and its National Security Agencies allow the situation to get to a point where our capital continues to be engulfed with flames?For now, this event is unimaginable to go this far, and we can only read and listen to news overseas with immense disappointment for leaders who were involved, especially in inciting the riot in the first place, and also at all political parties involved for failing to put an end or at least prevent such acts from happening. - Molisi Manu'atu
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Wednesday 22 November 2006
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Neiafu, Vava'u
Kole ke u hufanga he ngaahi talaaofaki kae'uma'a 'a e ngaahi tu'unga 'oku fa'a tapaekina hono fakatapua. 'Io kia Tupou V kae'uma'a e hou'eiki tauhi fonua; kau taki lotu mo e si'i kakai 'o e fonua. Fakamolemole pe 'a e haofanga ni kae'uma'a 'a e paengalafo 'o e Matangi Tonga kae tuku mu'a ke u hao atu hee mei he vao ate; he kuo te'ialoto pea mau kafo tu'unga'a he kuo lavea 'a e sino pea kafo ai pe ngaahi va'a 'akitaua tangata mo e fefine Tonga. 'Isa na'a mo hota kainga 'i muli na 'oku nau kau he lavea noa he ko e loto'i Tonga si'i kauvaha mai 'enau tu'a-'ofa-'eiki he vahanoa na ki Tonga ni si'onau tupu'anga.
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Wednesday 22 November 2006
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Sunnyvale, USA
How sad it is to hear what is happening in Tonga. I was shocked to hear that the peaceful little island I grew up in and always held in high views has diminished its friendly reputation because of these ignorant rioters. Is this what they call democracy? What happened to the values that we grew up with? - M. Niukapu
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Tuesday 6 June 2006
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California, USA
Sailosi Finau's highlights of the chaotic Pacific neighbors (22nd Feb 2006) who were ones ruled or are still ruled by super-powers, cannot be gone unchallenged. -Saimone Tupou
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Thursday 30 March 2006
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Claims by three Bangladeshi immigrant workers in Tonga, that they were mistreated have been disputed by a Nuku'alofa woman Siuni Lotaki, their caretaker and the Manager of the Pacific Group of Business Ltd, who brought the men to Tonga. The three workers told Matangi Tonga Online last week that they had been brought to Tonga on false promises and then treated like slaves, working long hours, were unpaid, locked up, and one of them was poked in the eye by their caretaker. Siuni said that the idea to set up tailoring and cafe business in Tonga was conceived by herself, her husband, Masod Ahamed Khan, and Mohammed Iftekhar Uddin in Australia. They brought in another Tongan shareholder, Sione Falemanu, who is Tonga's supervisor of prisons.
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