The Pacific is continuing to lead the world towards abolishing the death penalty, Amnesty International revealed today in its new report, 'Death Sentences and Executions in 2010'. Only four Pacific nations still retain the death penalty in their laws (Papua New Guinea, Nauru, Tonga and Fiji)- Rebecca Emery, Amnesty International.
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Monday 28 March 2011
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New Zealand

Saturday 26 March 2011
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Tokyo, Japan
Tongan rugby players Lata Taniela Lui and Piei Mafile'o who survived the tsunami that devastated Kamaishi, Japan on March 11, will go to New Zealand next week to continue their training.

Saturday 26 March 2011
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A petition filed to government by 150 police officers who were unhappy with police reforms, was sent back to them by the Tongan Cabinet on March 25, because the petitioners did not follow the processes available to them under the law.

Friday 25 March 2011
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Holding up photographs of welding damage and holes in the hull, the Crown Prosecutor 'Aminiasi Kefu told a jury that the MV Princess Ashika was grossly unseaworthy and should never have been sent or taken to sea with passengers and cargo onboard; and he asked: "How could they disregard this, would you disregard this?."

Friday 25 March 2011
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'Okalani, Nu'usila
Ne te'eki tu'otaha ke u faka'ikai'i 'a e lelei 'a e ngaue kuo fakahoko 'e he Komisiona Polisi mo 'ene Potungaue. 'Ikai 'aupito. Ko 'eku faka'amu ke nau fokotu'u ha'anau kautaha ke nau fakahoko 'a e ngaahi alea pehe ni kae tu'u tau'ataina e kau Polisi ke fakahoko honau fatongia.- Dr Fotu K.V. Fisi'iahi.

Friday 25 March 2011
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
When Tonga's new Police Commissioner Chris Kelley took on the job of police commander two and a half years ago he began cleaning up the force, calling on the public to be part of the process of restoring trust and confidence in their police.

Thursday 24 March 2011
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga is at high risk of debt distress and cannot afford to take on more borrowing, according to an Asian Development Bank report that was released this month.
Thursday 24 March 2011
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Erskineville, NSW,Australia
The Constitution of the Office of Chief Trade Adviser (OCTA) was the main point of contention at the Forum Trade officials meeting in Palau last week, with Australia calling for a delay in the establishment of OCTA as an independent legal entity. - Aid Watch, Action on Aid, Trade and Debt.

Thursday 24 March 2011
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
'Oku 'ikai te u tui tatau pea mo Dr. Fisi'iahi ki hano fokotu'u 'o e kautaha ki he kau Polisi koe'uhi ko 'enau ta'efiemalie. 'Oku hanga 'e he tohi ni 'o fakaha mai heni e mamaha 'o e fakakaukau 'a Dr. Fisi'iahi pea mo e si'i 'ene 'ilo ki he lao mo e kakano 'o e ngaue mo e fatongia ko ia 'o e Komisiona Polisi. - Samiu Sika.

Thursday 24 March 2011
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Defence counsel told the Ashika trial yesterday that the first mate of the MV Princess Ashika, Semisi Pomale, did his best in carrying out his duties onboard the MV Princess Ashika while he was in charge from 8pm to 12pm on August 5, 2009.

Thursday 24 March 2011
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Melbourne,Australia
China's state-run media XINHUA opening up an office in Fiji is a sign of growing relations between the two counties. - Radio Australia.

Tuesday 22 March 2011
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Captain of the MV Princess Ashika Viliami Makahokovalu Tuputupu sailed with a Provisional Certificate of Survey issued by the Government of Tonga's Department of Marine declaring the vessel seaworthy to sail in Tonga, defence counsel Sifa Tu'utafaiva submitted today.

Tuesday 22 March 2011
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The counsel for Acting Director of Marine Viliami Tu'ipulotu argued on March 22 that his client signed the Provisional Certificate of Survey dated July 3, 2009 allowing the vessel to sail, because it confirmed that a survey was actually carried out on the vessel.

Tuesday 22 March 2011
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Tokyo, Japan
Two Tongan rugby players in Northern Japan, Piei Mafile'o and Lata Lui and his daughter Sisifa, almost lost their lives while rescuing a child from the tsunami that devasted the port town of Kamaishi on March 11.

Tuesday 22 March 2011
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Port Vila, Vanuatu
It has now been more than two weeks since the assault on myself as Daily Post publisher by a group of men blatantly led by Minister Harry Iouko, and despite more than a dozen eyewitness statements and photos, absolutely no criminal charges so far have been made by police and nothing is currently with the Public Prosecutor. - Daily Post publisher Marc Neil-Jones.

Tuesday 22 March 2011
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Auckland, New Zealand
A group of Pacific Islands parents are taking New Zealand's Ministry of Education to court over its decision to indefinitely suspend producing Pacific language books.

Monday 21 March 2011
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
TheShipping Corporation of Polynesia Ltd in its defence argued at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court on March 21, that the company acted lawfully when sending the MV Princess Ashika to sea, because they were issued valid Provisional Certificates of Survey and Registration.

Monday 21 March 2011
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Defence counsel Laki Niu submitted to jurors in the Ashika trial that the Crown Prosecution had not provided any evidence to prove beyond reasonable doubt the eight counts against his client, John Jonesse.

Sunday 20 March 2011
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A grant assistance of over half a million pa'anga was signed by the Japanese Ambassador to Tonga, HE Mr Yasuo Takase, and representatives from three Technical Institutes in Nuku'alofa on March 17.

Sunday 20 March 2011
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Vice-Consul of the French Embassy in Suva, Alexandre Raugel laid a wreath at the Ashika Memorial Wall, Vakataumai Cemetery, Ma'ufanga on March 17, in tribute to a French couple who died in the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika in 2009.
