Seabed minerals’ benefits to be maximised for the country

By Tevita Motulalo

Members of the Tonga Police's Special Armed Squad receiving Australian-donated badges from Parlaimentary Secretary Richard Marles last week

Australia’s Parliamentary Secretary of Pacific Islands Affairs, Richard Marles thinks the benefits of seabed minerals should be maximised for the benefit of the Pacific country they are taken from.

Marles was in Tonga last week to reaffirm Australia’s support as a Pacific partner and a friend of Tonga, wrapping up a region-wide tour to all the small states in the Pacific.

“We see ourselves as very close friends and we want to be the best of friends that we can be to Tonga,” he said toTonga Chronicle in a doorstep media conference just before departing Nuku‘alofa.

“The Gillard Labour government regards the Pacific as absolutely crucial to Australia’s Foreign Policy. Whatever else happens around the world our neighbourhood will always be our neighbourhood. And for that reason the Pacific is our collective neighbourhood,” he said.

But the issue of seabed minerals had been a key point in discussions with the Tongan Cabinet, amidst the exchange regarding the ‘partners in development’ program for Tonga.

In Tonga, Australian companies are involved in the prospecting for underwater commercial mining and Marles thinks there are two key issues to be looked at.

Security Analyst: "Serious Gaps" In Tongan Security (Letter to The Editor)

Dear Editor,


As a security expert, it was my job to identify gaps in a defensive system. It could be for an individual, corporation, or nation. I was recently lucky enough to visit the Kingdom of Tonga. Due to my background, though on holiday, I couldn’t help but notice substantial gaps in the security system of the nation.


There are two types of security: Hard security, and Soft security. Hard security is what is normally thought of when security is mentioned –  for example the military. Tonga’s hard security is good. The staff of the Tongan military is exemplary - well trained, dedicated, and loyal. It could be better equipped, but just about every military on the planet will say the same thing.

Tongan military is " exemplary - well trained, dedicated, and loyal"

Soft security, according to one definition, is designed to: “protect the system and its users from harm, in gentle and unobtrusive ways”.
Assuming the system is Tongan governance, and the users are the citizens of Tonga, this is where there are serious gaps in the security of the nation.

Tongan Former Speaker of the House arrested in relation to South American drug ring

© Tevita Motulalo

THE former Speaker of Parliament, Noble Tu‘ilakepa, has been arrested and remanded in custody while Police search for an alleged consignment of cocaine destined for Australia.

Seven search warrants were issued last Thursday on premises related to Tu‘ilakepa, including his residence in Tongatapu, Vava‘u, and the Parliament office in Nuku‘alofa.

Australia Federal Police led the crackdown on the drug ring, in cooperation with local authorities in Australia, Tonga, Peru, and Colombia.

Police Commander Christopher Kelley - detailed to Tonga from his native New Zealand - says the cooperation with AFP relating to the drug smuggling ring “has been going for some months.”

As a consequence of the searches, two firearms were seized from the Noble’s residence - an unlicensed .22 rifle, and a revolver (which is illegal for civilian possession). Several hundred rounds of ammunition was also found.

Magistrate Pita Soakimi directed that Tu‘ilakepa be kept under house arrest at one of the quarters at the Police Training Camp at Longolongo. Police monitor all communications with Tu’ilakepa, which are restricted to interactions between him and his family.

Tu‘ilakepa is suspected by Police of possessing, or knowing the whereabouts of up to 190 kilos of cocaine, intended for the Australian market.

A package of white powder was found in his residence, of which samples will be sent for verification in New Zealand.

One of the pieces of evidence linking Tu‘ilakepa and the South American drug runners is a letter written by him, on Parliamentary letterhead, to support the visa application of one South American person involved.

Tu‘ilakepa will be released from custody on Thursday.

There have been a number of arrests in Australia relating to the drug ring crackdown, including some Tongans.

Commander Kelley says that the information shared by AFP is solid, and that the case is before and under the direction of the courts.

It also means Tu‘ilakepa is presumed innocence until proven guilty.

Noble Tu‘ilakepa has recently been elected a Member of Parliament, as one of the Vava‘u Nobles Representative.

Tonga engaged by 7 countries’ militaries in one week

© Tevita Motulalo

In the last two weeks, Tonga has been visited by the highest concentration of military delegations in the Kingdom's history. 

Delegations from New Zealand, Australia, United States, United Kingdom, France, China, and even India arrived in Tonga on separate bilateral engagements. The number of visits, and the countries involved in these engagements, is unprecedented.

Lieutenant Commander Solomone Savelio says it is usually during Heilala Week that military visits are highest, “This is our own little Heilala Week.”  He said some of the visits have been scheduled months in advance, but a majority were due to Defence services budgets utilised “as most of them are nearing the end of their financial years.”

UN’s Global Peace Operations Initiative

A contingent of UN operated private contracted team of (ex-military and civilian origin) instructors, visiting on a “Train the Trainers” course for Tongan military officers- for the training of personnel to take up peacekeeping roles with the United Nation’s Peace Operation Initiative. The 5 Instructors were from the United States, India, Singapore and Malaysia.

New Zealand/Tonga MAP

A team of 3 New Zealand Defence Force Officers arrived to conduct the annual Mutual Assistance program Talk between TDS and New Zealand Defence Talks.

Australia

3 officers from the Australian Army arrived to talk and prepare the next (10^th) Tongan contingent to partake in the RAMSI in November.

United Kingdom

A 3-member team of instructors visited from the United Kingdom to lead the training of the Tongan contingent to be deployed under British command in Afghanistan.

United States

2 Officers from the US Marines arrived for further talks and discussions of the upcoming TAFAKULA Exercise for 2011.

France

The French frigate La Glorieuse arrived in Nuku‘alofa after a week in Vava‘u on the weekend.

A French 30 member Platoon arrived Tonga on a French CASA sircraft to conduct CEELO Exercise with a Tongan platoon in Tonga.

The French Plane departed Tuesday 31st Aug taking a Tongan platoon to Noumea, New Caledonia to conduct Commando Exercises with the French soldiers. Lieutenant 'Esau Tupou is leading that platoon.

India

Captain Jatinder Singh of the Indian Armed Services made his first visit to Tonga on his new role as Defence Attaché to Tonga.

China

Two Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy ships, a battles frigate Mianyang and a training vessel Zhenghe with total crew of 565 will arrive at 1000 for visit until 1000 hrs Tuesday 7th Sept.There are 3 Admirals on board, including Rear Admiral Leng Zenqin, the Deputy Chief of Staff of the People’s Liberation Army.

They visited Prime Minister Sevele and the Commander of the Tonga Defence Services; sightseeing; exchange sports and visits, and the vessels were open for the public visits last Saturday.

  

Captain Toni Fonokalafi in welcoming the Rear Admiral and the vessels said, “Your support, together with other foreign defence relations, has lifted our capability to a standard where we can cope with government expectations.”

  

In concluding his statement he said, “I believe the program set for the ship’s company to interact with our defence personnel and the people of Tonga, will enhance our defence relations further by developing personal relations.”