Tonga's Princess Regent offered striking civil servants their 60-70-80% wage increases and a new team of government negotiators, in an effort to encourage strikers to return to work today, and to bring the strike committee back to the negotiating table.
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Thursday 1 September 2005
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Wednesday 31 August 2005
Auckland, New Zealand
What was initially meant to be a PSA-Government issue has created concerns at the regional and international levels. Culturally, we have protocols for solving our problems and the PSA has gone through that peacefully. - Justin Kepa
Wednesday 31 August 2005
Auckland, New Zealand
We holidayed in Tonga back in 1994 quite by chance - we had intended to holiday in the Soloman Islands - but we missed our flight due to a mix up with our travel agent and had to quickly choose another destination - and so we found ourselves in the glorious Vava'u Islands. The scenery and people were a delight but the poverty that surrounded us was truly shocking. What was more shocking was the obvious corruption that was practiced so openly, which effectively caused the poverty. - Brett Margison
Wednesday 31 August 2005
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's Minister of Health outlined salary rises that had been given to 823 of his staff, including 49-100% for lower levels, while some People's Representatives were still calling for a return to the old salary scale. From the House, by Pesi Fonua.

Tuesday 30 August 2005
California, USA
My heart was full of sadness after I heard what happened to our home. Uoleva is one of the most respected homes in Tonga and I don't understand why they burned it or what a respectful home has done to the people of Tonga. - Melelatai Mulikiha‘amea Family
Tuesday 30 August 2005
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Striking teachers marched through central Nuku'alofa today, this time to present a letter of petition calling for the dismissals of the Director of Education, Viliami Takau, and three of his deputies.

Tuesday 30 August 2005
Moss Beach, Ca.,USA
In my earlier comments, I noted that the public servants strike in Tonga is laced with danger and perhaps one of disruption as much as optimism. The lack of resolution on the crisis in Tonga has put a cavity on the optimism but accelerated the level of danger and disruption to a potential conflagration...like a volcano that has been passively active but soon to have a devastating eruption. - Mele Payne Lynch
Monday 29 August 2005
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Essential medical services at Vaiola Hospital remain paralyzed, and stressed medical and hospital staff can only hold on for so long, said the Medical Superintendent Dr Siale 'Akau'ola today.

Monday 29 August 2005
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Over 3,000 Class Six students may not be able to enter Tongan high schools next year because while teachers are on strike, the exam papers have not been set for the High School Entrance examination, which is due in early October.

Monday 29 August 2005
Sydney, Australia
Public Servants of Tonga you have been deceived, you thought that the PSA was working for industrial reform, you thought they were working for the people, but all they have done is hold you and the rest of the country hostage to their own demands. - S. Lepailuangahau
Monday 29 August 2005
UK
To imagine how these less fortunate civil servants survived all these years is astonishing. With power prices increasing, fuel prices in record high and inflation in Tonga, one tends to wonder how the average Tongan who can support 6 children will carry on like this. - William Mariner
Monday 29 August 2005
Honolulu, Hawaii
In my humble opinion, the leadership and members of the civil servants/PSA, were treated like second class Tongans, (i.e. I quests that's how the "status quo", in Tonga still looks down at us commoners, a second class status, well, I have news for all of you "HOU'EIKIS", we're not, we're all human being and very proud being Tongans), maybe that is some of the "Hidden Unspoken Issues" that has not been brought out in the open, for an honest and frank discussions. - M. T. Tuaileva
Monday 29 August 2005
UK
I was so moved when I was reading about all the uncountable people who have worked as cleaners and rubbishmen for more than ten odds years and yet still earning as much as T$54.00 fortnightly or even less weekly. I have recently visited Tonga just to catch up with family and friends, and to my suprise the inflation is shocking. - Annette Dougal
Monday 29 August 2005
Auckland, New Zealand
A march in support of striking workers and their demands for a fair pay increase and democracy will be held this Saturday (Sept 3rd) at noon. Marchers will gather at the bottom of Queen Street. Tongan Community youth leader, Niulala Helu, said he will be marching. - Mike Treen
Saturday 27 August 2005
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
As the leaders of Tonga's civil service strike are shifting their stance to seek regime change in the kingdom, the Minister of Justice, Hon. Siaosi 'Aho, says they are holding the people of Tonga hostage with unreasonable demands.

Saturday 27 August 2005
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
New Zealand's Judge Thomas Goddard will leave Tonga tomorrow night, and he said it was unfortunate that parties in the ongoing civil service strike were unable to agree on a process of mediation today.

Saturday 27 August 2005
London, United Kingdom
His Majesty, the father of our nation, who is abroad while our household is on fire and we the people are in it, speaks volumes than his past history. To abandon your responsibility towards a nation who is currently suffering, indicates lack of conscience or moral emotion towards his subjects. -William Mariner
Friday 26 August 2005
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Although the Tonga government this evening conceded to provide an interim salary scale and to provide a lump sum of money for independently adjudicated salary rises, the PSA has again refused to return to the negotiating table.

Friday 26 August 2005
Auckland, New Zealand
I can't sit around and ignore what I believe is unfairness toward our beloved king. The king is nothing else but a socio-cultural and political father to the nation. It surely is not fun for him to maintain the highest degree of respectability, be a model and a leader and try to make everyone of his subjects happy.-Sailosi Finau
Friday 26 August 2005
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My spirit has been moved by the situation that goes on in our island paradise Tonga. I am saddened by the fact that our Noble leaders and some of the royal family could take for granted what God had blessed them with. - Kia Fualalo
