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"WE AGREE, WE AGREE - THERE IS ABUSE HAPPENING IN TONGA"

Hon. Paul Karalus – Minister of Transport in Tonga.

Evidence of abuse mounts before Tonga’s very own eyes and reports reveal the Tongan government hasn’t currently done anything about it. Instead, they have been quick to discredit the report sent out by an Australian volunteer (Gus McLean) for the Tonga National Centre for Women and Children last week end. The report details the horrific experience young Tongans went through bearing the abuse given to them by the soldiers and police. Mr. Gus McLean described it as inhumane (hangee ha manu) action. The Pro-democracy leaders have voiced their concerns, the Tonga Evangelical Union also wrote a letter of concern to the Prime Minister Dr. Feleti Sevele – yet no hard action has begun to stop the abusive behaviour both outside and inside of prison cells. Former Minister of Police and now pro-democracy MP – Clive Edwards claims he has information from three ex-prisoners who said they were physically abused by police in their cells. Photos displayed on scoop website link and Kele’a newspaper show young Tongan people with cuts, bruises on their head and ears, and black eyes on their face as a result of the claimed abuse. Mr. Edwards also said he received allegations from over 10 people claiming they were interrogated by soldiers outside prison cells trying to force an answer from them, if they refused to say what they wanted to hear, they were hit on the head by the butt of the soldiers gun’s. Pro-democracy leader ‘Akilisi Pohiva assured TNEWS there was abusive behavior performed by Tongan police and soldiers both outside and inside prison cells as he has photos to prove it. Lawyer Clive Edwards said, these people are seeking his legal advise and legal action will take place as soon as the government opens on the 17th Dec, 2006. Minister of Tonga’s Transport and Civil Aviation Hon. Paul Karalus fiercely defended the government, police, and soldiers in an exclusive interview with TNEWS on 11th Dec 2006. Hon. P Karalus firstly denied the allegations and said they are not substantiated. As the interview went on, he changed his story from denying it to a “Yes there are some cases of abusive behavior but very minor”. Hon. Karalus added, “we should worry more about the people whom their businesses burnt down and were stolen from on the sixteenth of November…” TNEWS was alarmed by the Minister’s comment and added “Tongans in New Zealand and overseas do care about the people of Tonga as a whole. They sympathize with those who have suffered loss (both lives and possessions) on November sixteenth and at the same time their hearts go out to the ones whom the soldiers and police have abused. They are vulnerable, strong evidence suggests soldiers and police are using their power to abuse their own people”.

The Hon. Minister Karalus softened his tone and said “Agree, we agree”. Commander Tau’aika ‘Uta’atu refused to make a comment but a spokesperson from the soldiers’ headquarters in Tonga – Commander Sikalu did not deny the allegations but told TNEWS on the 5th Dec 2006, they are only using “reasonable force” to maintain the peace in Tonga.

Tuesday, 12 December 2006