Rumour implies that Kele’a knew before hand the riots of 16/11.

 

A rumor has been circulating in Auckland, Honolulu, and San Francisco alleging that the Kele’a Newspaper knew before-hand that the riot and burning of business buildings in Nuku’alofa was forthcoming hence the removal of its equipment (computers etc) from its office on the day before the riots occurred on 16/11.  This rumour implies that Kele’a was forewarned about the plot for the riots, a blatant fabrication orchestrated to implicate the owners of Kele’a as being involved in planning the riots but in fact it was a contrived story by Pesi Fonua and wife Mary Fonua.

The office of Kele’a was located on the second floor of Taumoepeau building next door to the office of Pesi Fonua.  The building was partly burnt during the riot.  The Kele’a office with all its equipment locked inside became part of the restricted area and despite repeated requests to the Hon. Minister of police to allow the staff to remove the computers they were constantly denied by the military command who was now calling the shots.  The Kele’a office was opened approximately 30 days after the riot.  Pesi Fonua refused to accept the invitation to inspect the Kele’a office to see for him-self that nothing was removed before the riot.

It was on the date that selected journalists were taken on a guided tour of Nuku’alofa to see the ruins and remains of burnt buildings that the Kele’a deputy editor, Laucala Pohiva noticed Pesi Fonua and his wife were taking close-up shots of herself.  She got so annoyed that she tried to fend them off.  It was then that she realized the motive e behind those shots because a report from the Taimi ‘o Tonga newspaper and also one from the Chronicle have give her a hint about the rumour.  Maybe they intended to run in their webpage.  That evil behavior is far removed from the truth and the priciple of good neighbors or love thy neighbors as taught by the gospel.

Pesi Fonua is President of the Tonga Media Association (TMA).  A weekly TV program called the Editors is sponsored by TMA to discuss current issues and usually the panelists are Pesi Fonua of Matangi Tonga, Katalina Tohi of TBC and Faka’osi Maama of Taimi ‘o Tonga newspaper.  Apart from the current issue of the week they often stress the need for news to be truthful and balance like the old song “easier said than done”.

There are 2 types of media in Tonga.  Those who try to do the watchdog function of the media and the other one the cosmetics and beautician media who always paint a rosier picture of those in power in search of favors.

A new media association has been set up in Tonga known as the Tonga News Association.  The President is Sangster Saulala, secretry is Mateni Tapueluelu with Tavake Fusimalohi as consultant, with representatives throughout the Pacific including New Zealand, Australia, and the United States.

 

Article:  “The Critical Eyes of Kele’a” - Kele’a Newspaper