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  • Friday 26 August 2005 6:15pm


    Los Angeles, USA
    : Before you begin to stand for what you think is "right," take a deep breath, consider the possibilities from every corner then make your statement. Years of neglect, struggles, oppression, and WRONG MOTIVES from dictatorship are some possibilities as to why OUR fellow Tongans are taking such actions. Dear editor, I am not agreeing that acts of violence is the solution but can you blame the PEOPLE? - M. ‘Aumoeualogo
  • Friday 26 August 2005 6:00pm


    Nuku'alofa, Tonga
    : Over 100 public civil servants sailed from ‘Eua this morning and marched from the Tu'imatamoana Wharf to join the civil service strike at Pangai Si'i, in Nuku‘alofa.
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  • Friday 26 August 2005 5:50pm


    Nuku'alofa, Tonga
    : Leadership is based on inspiration, not Domination; on Co-operation, not Intimidation," the British High Commissioner to Tonga, Mr Paul Nessling, said today in presenting a $30,00 cheque in support of the Tonga's Youth Parliament for 2005-6.
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  • Friday 26 August 2005 12:15pm


    London, UK
    : Let me refresh what was inevitable in the start of my letters. The shift now, from this strike has gone to a road where history has taught many nations, that were once ruled by powerful monarchs. Those soverign nations are now super powered nations. The lesson in the past with these nations are simple: Without the people, you do not have a government! and once you have lost the respect of the people, you do not have a nation. What you have; is a nation that wants change. - William Mariner
  • Friday 26 August 2005 12:00pm


    Nuku'alofa, Tonga
    : The PSA should accept the government's current wage offer for many reasons. - Sifa Citizen
  • Friday 26 August 2005 12:00pm


    Ontario, Canada
    : It seems that little had been said on the third parties to this national strike, which are the public (people in the outer towns, NGOs, foreigners and tourists alike) and also the business community. - Brian Sutton
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  • Friday 26 August 2005 11:30am


    Las Vegas-Nevada, USA
    : They throw around the name of the World Bank to add credibility to this nonsense claim.It is especially appalling that they try to pin the already rising inflation on the PSA demands, when it is caused by their own misguided policies. The true cause of inflation according to economic principles and empirical facts show that inflation is directly proportional to money supply, which is governed by monetary policies traditionally controlled by Federal Reserve Banks, which I presume is under the Minister of Finance portfolio. - Thomas Monson Uata
  • Friday 26 August 2005 11:15am


    Sydney, Australia
    : Also in the event of the PSA members receive this increase will they be subject to reviews and quality assurance or will they be left to perform as they have until now? What effect will it have on inflation, and those working in the private sector? - F. Auliola
  • Friday 26 August 2005 11:15am


    Nuku'alofa, Tonga
    : But allow me to inquire the following: Should the children go to school? What are they to learn that is more important than what is going on in their lives outside of school? What are the teachers 'teaching' by standing up for their cause? I believe the students can learn from this situation and develop character through support of a cause - whether it's for or against the strikers. Children are first taught in the home and supplemented by academics that supposedly educate a 'higher' education. The parents are not in question here. But, let me be clear - the 'higher' education appears to be occurring in Pangai Si'i. - Rick Siale
  • Thursday 25 August 2005 6:45pm


    Auckland, New Zealand
    : In our adopted country we witnessed last night a mature Tongan male trying to head butt his way through a police barricade to seek the presence of the King. This thug who thinks himself a martyr or saviour of our Tongan brothers and sisters is nothing but a self-gratifying egotistical heat stirrer who is strangely enough the instigator for this disgraceful act of borderline tyranny of his own country. Burning our flag? Our flag that symbolises peace? My flag that was held up by Paea at the Olympics in Atlanta? - Lalo Kasia Crew
  • Thursday 25 August 2005 5:32pm


    Nuku'alofa, Tonga
    : The Princess Regent, Princess Salote Pilolevu Tuita brought tears and comfort to civil servants strikers today who applauded her after she delivered a heartfelt speech at Pangai Si'i. Story and pictures by Linny Folau
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  • Thursday 25 August 2005 1:30pm


    Nuku'alofa, Tonga
    : I'm sorry to sound like the devil's advocate, but I'm not sympathetic with the strikers or the government. What I do agree with is the need for political reform. Personally, I'm not keen on having a King; on the other hand, I don't know enough about the leaders of this political/employment-related strike to make a sound decision. I know the need for reform is warranted; also, times have changed and the public appears to desire more representation in government. - Rick Siale
  • Thursday 25 August 2005 1:15pm


    Nuku'alofa, Tonga
    : Ten Tonga Police officers travelled to Auckland yesterday morning to step up the guarding of HM King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV who is currently in New Zealand.
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  • Thursday 25 August 2005 1:00pm


    Suva, Fiji
    : About what I learned from this chaos in Tonga, is that the majority of the people are with the strikers. And the reaction from the government to the people seems very faraway from what we expect to happen. Meaning that this is the worst government that Tonga has ever had. Or do we say that this is the worst public servants (hundreds of them) that Tonga has ever had? - Philli Qarase
  • Thursday 25 August 2005 1:00pm


    San Jose,California, USA
    : I remark favorably on exceptional coverage of the recent affairs and episodes happening in Tonga well elucidated by Matangi Tonga. - James Faasolo
  • Thursday 25 August 2005 12:27pm


    Nuku'alofa, Tonga
    : Tonga's frustrated Public Service Association said last night that it will not negotiate with government to end the five weeks long civil servants strike, "until their conditions to return to work are met by government."
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  • Wednesday 24 August 2005 6:15pm


    Nuku'alofa, Tonga
    : The Prime Minister reminded the House that government had still left the door open for negotiation with the strikers but following the vandalism at Tonga College, if this damaging behaviour continued, he warned that government's bucket of endurance could be full. He told parliament that government was concerned about children losing their right to education, and that government would make a decision to protect the interest of the majority and not that of the minority. From the House, by Pesi Fonua.
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  • Wednesday 24 August 2005 2:37pm


    Nuku'alofa, Tonga
    : A wave of destruction is continuing in Tonga as a third vandalism incident was reported early this morning from Vava...’u High School where the monitors of up to a dozen computers were smashed by intruders.
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  • Wednesday 24 August 2005 2:00pm


    Queensland,Australia
    : I was wondering if you could tell me what the union/organisation is called that covers the government workers and maybe some contact details for them as my work colleagues and I would love to show our support to the workers of your country. - Andrea Westlake
  • Wednesday 24 August 2005 1:45pm


    New Zealand
    : I have had a lot of emails from my youth in Tonga how schools have been on protest and I'm real disappointed to read about this. I was wondering what the cause of this is? and why is it taking so long? I'm am Tongan myself yet I would like to understand and also ask who I can email or talk to about it? and why my country is suffering yet my youth are. - Salome Fiukefu

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