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A collection of news-briefs from The Tonga Chronicle, Lao & Hia, Taimi 'o Tonga, Ko e Kele'a, Radio Tonga. For more details of these stories, feel invited to buy a paper from one of the locations mentioned in our media pages http://www.tongatapu.net.to/tonga/news/media/default.htm

Pro-democracy campaigner Siosifa Filini Sikuea has been found not guilty of three counts of sedition against His Majesty King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, the Legislative Assembly and His Majesty's Government. The decisions were announced on Tuesday by Chief Justice Kenneth Nigel Hampton in the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa, who said in announcing the ruling that "the evidence before me is totally unsatisfactory."

'Ofa-ki-Lo'amanu Tu'i'onetoa, whilst at the post of Private Secretary to the King was laid to rest at Telekava Cemetery on Feb. 13 following his death on Feb. 8 at the age of 42. Private Secretary to the King since Jan. 31, 1992, Mr. Tu'i'onetoa was an active member of society with active roles in the the Tupou College PTA (vice-president) and an active member of fthe Tonga High School Ex-students Association where he was dux in 1971.

The Taimi 'o Tonga's (a New Zealand publisher) license to trade in Tonga is still under review and its position has been made precarious by allegations made by the Taimi 'o Tonga owner through the international media. According to 'Eseta Fusitu'a, Acting Senior Secretary to Cabinet, availability and importation of Taimi 'o Tonga has not been restricted and is still legal trade. The Taimi 'o Tonga's trade license expired Dec. 31, 1996 but the proprietors only contacted the PMs office Feb 3^rd to request extension of their trading license.

The proprietors were informed by the Ministry of Labour, Commerce and Industry (MLCI) that their license was under review as with other traders. The apparent/alleged notification through Agence France-Presse and other sources that the license has been refused, and that the proprietor is anticipating the smuggling in of the newspaper is undermining the licensing process, an invitation for refusal of the license.

Mr. Kalafi Moala, proprietor of Taimi 'o Tonga, has spoken on Radio New Zealand he has no intentions of smuggling his newspaper into Tonga.

Taimi 'o Tonga presents a different story of what is happening.

According to Taimi 'o Tonga, the Ministry of Labour, Commerce and Industry (MLCI) informed their Tonga editor that they are unable to renew the paper's license to trade in Tonga due to concerns raised by the Ministry of Police and Immigration. A letter from the secretary for the MLCI signed by Tevita Niu Lata informs the paper that the Taimi 'o Tonga trading license cannot be renewed until Editor Kalafi Moala satisfactory resolves concerns of the Ministry of Police. Unfortunately the MLCI letter did not specify what these 'concerns' of the Ministry of Police were.

The Tonga editor of Taimi 'o Tonga alleges that threats have been made to the paper that they will never again trade, and that many government organisations have been coerced/informed they are no longer to advertise in the Taimi 'o Tonga.

Lawyers for the Taimi 'o Tonga proprietors have contacted the MLCI for clarification on delays in processing the license extension. Taimi 'o Tonga has been trading in Tonga and overseas for almost 8 years and the editors now believe the government's actions as selective discrimmination.

After the court ruling against his party to undermine the courts, Legislative Assembly Speaker, Hon. Fusitu'a published his public apology to the courts in Taimi 'o Tonga's Feb 19^th issue.

Michael Burling brings home the Juniors trophy from the Rip Curl Oceania Cup surfing competition held Feb. 14 at Tavarau Island Resort, Fiji. Under the management of Steve Burling and Shane Egan, the team (Viliami Falekaono, Michael Bruling, Chas Egan, Finau Fonua, and Martin Flemming) returned home on Tuesday.

The Police detained a would be traveller at the airport over concerns of theft at the airport. The detainee, a former security officer at the airport, is under suspicion of thefts from patrons and from store operators at the airport. Thefts currently under investigation include store goods, auto parts, and other goods.

An extensive search and rescue effort (considering the limited resources of the nation) could not find any trace of a fishing boat missing since Jan. 31^st expected to have returned Feb. 4^th.

The Hakau Tapu, captained by Tu'akalau Fukofuka with six anglers was found Thursday morning by a search and rescue flight from New Zealand. The boat's battery system had failed rendering communications inactive and preventing the crew from starting their engines.

Mr. Sione Naulivou, has moved to Asst Deputy Commissioner of Inland Revenue from CDTC where he was coordinator of the accountant training programme.

Mrs. Vosailoa Lauti Hafoka, has moved to Manager of Tonga Telecom Commission, Ha'apai.

Dr. Makafalani Tatafu, is at Takuilau College, Lapaha after receiving his PhD at Wollongong University, Australia.

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