China donates laptops to Parliament

Speaker of Parliament, Lord Lasike receiving 30 laptops from Ambassador Wang for the entire Tongan Parliament

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The Legislative Assembly is on its way to becoming the “first ever electronic Parliament in the world”, thanks to a donation of laptops from the Chinese Embassy.

China’s Ambassador to Tonga, HE Wang Donghua Mr. Wang handed over the donation to the Speaker of the Tongan Parliament, Lord Lasike, and conveyed China’s continued commitment to support Tonga’s development needs.

The shipment of 30 brand-new Dell laptops were ordered straight from China, according to Embassy First Secretary Rui Yi.

The donation was requested by Speaker of the House, Lord Lasike to the Ambassador “to help members dispose of their duties in a “technologically-challenging world.”

He said he hopes MPs “use it constructively for the benefit of the country”, acknowledging China’s help.

“Tonga will soon be the first ever electronic parliament in the world, and will be a platform for greater transparency,” pledged Lord Lasike.

He said the availability of the technology also helps MPs accountability.

“They can instantly chat with their constituents during the sessions.”

The laptops will be used in the House by all members of Parliament.

Lord Speaker offended by ‘slanderous’ support of Kelley

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The Speaker of the House, Lord Lasike, is still pondering why “chiefs” came to be involved in internal matters of Police, raised by civil society organisations in support of Police Commissioner Chris Kelley as petitions from within police called for his immediate replacement.

“This is but a blind attack on the structure of the Tongan society,” said Lasike.

“As a Noble representative, it’s offending to me and the people I represent,” he said, “Not only is it inaccurate, it turns us Nobles into a perception of uncivilised and barbaric ‘chiefs’.”

The Civil Society Forum of Tonga released a statement supporting Police Commissioner Kelley when members of Police called for his removal by Cabinet.

In it, the CSFT notes that Kelley has shown significant commitments for the civil society organisations.

One of Kelley’s successes, according to the CSFT, was he “Spearheaded the fight against drugs with the investigation and apprehension of Chiefs involved in drug abuse.”

“Firstly, it was an Australian Federal Police  operation and Chris Kelley happened to be Police Commander when it happened,” said Lasike.

“Secondly it only involved one individual, not a group of ‘chiefs’, and thirdly the alleged violations are actually about drug trafficking not ‘drug abuse’.

“Besides, that matter is pending in court. Bringing the case out like that suggests the guy has been convicted in court, jeopardising justice and contempt of court,” he said.

“I demand the CSFT retract their comments and apologise for the insult, and in the public interests of factual information to please correct all the errors it contains. It is slanderous,” he said.

PLA gives Tonga Defence 6 million worth of military equipment

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CHINA has committed 6 million RMB assistance of military equipment to Tonga Defence for the next two years, with the first shipment to arrive in Tonga before August.

The agreement was negotiated by Tonga’s Ambassador to China, H.E Siamelie Latu with Rear Admiral Guan Youfei, who was in Tonga recently in a goodwill visit.

Brigadier General Tau’aika ‘Uta’atu told Tonga Chronicle that the assistance is part of an ongoing engagement between China and Tonga’s military.

“Its really not surprising,” he said.

Adm. Guan is the Deputy Chief of China’s Defence Ministry’s Foreign Affairs Office.

The Admiral conveyed how he understands that the force development of the Tonga Defence includes an increase in the number of soldiers, and his Ministry is prepared to assist training of TDS personnel.

Moreover, he said that China has approved in principle the participation of its military band in the celebration of King George Tupou V birthday in August.

“China is ready to take active measure to further promote the development of the friendly and cooperative relations between the two armed forces,” a statement of the meeting said.

H.E Latu recently toured the College of Defence Studies (CDS) National Defence University (NDU) of People’s Liberation Army (PLA), where he was awarded a Certificate of Advanced Defence Studies after a yearlong study in 2001.

Receiving him was CDS Deputy Principal, Senior Colonel Guo, who expressed his warm welcome said that it was a great honour for “CDS-NDU is proud of having such a participant in the history of the school.

Latu was accompanied on the tour by his wife, Mrs. Sesilia Monalisa Latu, and was given an honorary military escort to the school at Changping District, Beijing.