A mass fuenral ceremony at sea for the 74 people who were lost when the Princess Ashika sank on August 5, was held at midday yesterday, August 25 at the spot where the ferry sank, 11 nautical miles, south-west of Nomuka Island, in Tonga's Ha'apai Group, where about 500 people gathered on a flotilla of boats. Part Two: Photos by Linny Folau on the MV Pulupaki and Pesi Fonua on the VOEA Pangai.
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          Wednesday 26 August 2009    
  
          
          
  
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  Ha'apai, Tonga
  
      
    
    
          Wednesday 26 August 2009    
  
          
          
  
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  USA
  Thank you for your tireless efforts in keeping us and the world updated with the news on MV Ashika and the still unrecovered passengers. Our hearts been weeping, yet hopeful for those who are still missing in the Ha'apai sea. - Cecil Taufa
  
      
    
    
          Wednesday 26 August 2009    
  
          
          
  
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   Ha'apai,Tonga
  A mass funeral ceremony at sea for the 74 people lost on the Princess Ashika on August 5, was held at midday yesterday, August 25, at the spot where the ferry sank, 11 nautical miles, south-west of Nomuka Island, in Tonga's Ha'apai Group, where about 500 people gathered on a flotilla of boats. Photos by Linny Folau on the MV Pulupaki and Pesi Fonua on the VOEA Pangai.
  
      
    
    
          Tuesday 25 August 2009    
  
          
          
  
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  Nuku'alofa, Tonga
  The Tonga Government has to date distributed over $100,000 pa'anga to help bereaved families of 67 persons in Tongatapu, Vava'u and Ha'apai whose lives were lost in the Princess Ashika sinking.
  
      
    
    
          Tuesday 25 August 2009    
  
          
          
  
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  Nuku'alofa, Tonga
  A special memorial service will be held today, August 25 at the site where the MV Princess Ashika sank, an open sea area 11kms SSW of Nomuka Island in remembrance of the many lives lost on August 5.
  
      
    
    
          Tuesday 25 August 2009    
  
          
          
   
  USA
  The Tongan communities in the United States are rising to the occasion to send assistance home to Tonga for the families of the victims in the inter-island ferry MV Princess Ashika's mysterious sinking August 5, during a Tongatapu-to-Ha'apai/Vava'u voyage. Seventy passengers and crew members are presumed dead. - Sione K. Tupouniua
  
      
    
    
          Sunday 23 August 2009    
  
          
          
  
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  USA
  We are all very saddened by this terrible tragedy. We continue to pray for our family there in Tonga, as well as all the families of those lost. - Sherri Mahe
  
      
    
    
          Saturday 22 August 2009    
  
          
          
  
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  Nuku'alofa, Tonga
  After 17 nights of camping in tents outside the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia Ltd. office at Queen Salote Wharf, anticipating news of relatives in the August 5 sinking of the MV Princess Ashika, bereaved families put closure to the hope of recovery and returned home on Friday July 21.
  
      
    
    
          Saturday 22 August 2009    
  
          
          
  
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  Sydney, Australia
  A Methodist national choir competition planned in Fiji today has been cancelled by the military-installed government as potentially subversive. By Rowan Callick, Asia-Paciic editor
  
      
    
    
          Saturday 22 August 2009    
  
          
          
  
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  Honiara, Solomon Islands
  Operation Kurukuru 2009, a coordinated maritime surveillance operation in which countries cooperate to detect activities such as illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing, smuggling and people trafficking, was hosted by FFA over 10 days.
  
      
    
    
          Saturday 22 August 2009    
  
          
          
  
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  Nuku'alofa, Tonga
  The aerial and surface search for survivors from the MV Princess Ashika disaster has ended, Tonga's Police Commander Chris Kelley announced on 21 August.
  
      
    
    
          Saturday 22 August 2009    
  
          
          
  
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  Canberra, Australia
  It doesn't matter whether the individual AVMP will end up receiving $10,000 or $20,000 per head, "it's all theirs and it's all for them and them only". By the ethics of humanitarianism and human rights under World Red Cross and World Vision, together with the UN Central Emergency Response Fund, all funds must be belonged to the AVMP, except for related and necessary expenses occurring in the process of distribution. - Siosiua Tofua‘ipangai
  
      
    
    
          Friday 21 August 2009    
  
          
          
  
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  Moloka'i, Hawai'i
  We wish to send our deepest sympathy and condolence to all of the families of passengers lost at sea, especially to the Fasi-moe-afi Church members Sione Valele 'Elone, his cousin Veuveuso 'Elone and friend Matoni 'Aho who were on their way to Ha'apai for Sione Valele 'Elones' wedding to my sister-in-law Vahengalu He of Pangai. - Coco & Tevita He
  
      
    
    
          Friday 21 August 2009    
  
          
          
  
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  Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
  Leigh is entitled to his views as everyone else is. The Attorney General at the behest of who?, should not pre-empt the Commission of Enquiries findings with a premature legal opinion on the contents of Leigh's letter. - Sam Tupou
  
      
    
    
          Friday 21 August 2009    
  
          
          
  
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  Pago Pago, American Samoa
  While the press in the region is fighting for recognition and hopefully gain much more of its freedom, Matangi Tonga made a step back by giving up to the threat from the Attorney General. - Mafi ‘o Amerika Samoa
  
      
    
    
          Friday 21 August 2009    
  
          
          
  
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  Suva, Fiji
  Fiji's Interim Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, has abolished the country's Sugarcane Growers Council. It's the latest move by the country's military backed leader to sideline political forces that appear to be opposed to the ideals of his military backed regime. It comes just a week after he limited the ability of the country's Methodist Church to raise funds, saying it is to involved in national politics.
  
      
    
    
          Friday 21 August 2009    
  
          
          
  
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   Jerusalem, Israel
  The President of the State of Israel Mr. Shimon Peres conveyed his condolences to H.M. the King of Tonga and to the people of Tonga for the Princess Ashika tragedy.
  
      
    
    
          Thursday 20 August 2009    
  
          
          
  
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  Nuku'alofa, Tonga
  Crown Prince Tupouto'a Lavaka and Crown Princess Nanasipau'u Tuku'aho joined bereaved families for a Memorial Service in remembrance of the Ashika victims this morning at the Sa Paula Free Wesleyan Church at Pea, Tongatapu. By Linny Folau
  
      
    
    
          Thursday 20 August 2009    
  
          
          
  
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  Nuku'alofa, Tonga
  There were 128 persons on board the Princess Ashika when it left Nuku'alofa on its August 5 voyage, Operation Ashika confirmed on August 19. These have been established as: 54 rescued, 2 bodies recovered, 72 missing persons (68 passengers and 4 crew).
  
      
    
    
          Thursday 20 August 2009    
  
          
          
  
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    Pago Pago, American Samoa
  Here is a huge fakamalo to the Kingdom of Tonga for your first distribution to help out the victims family from the Ashika tragedy. You are now on the right path. But please do not stop there. - Mafi ‘o Amerika Samoa
  
        
