Rioters target Asians

TWO more buildings went up in flames in Nuku'alofa as Tongan police and military try to restore law and order in the island kingdom.

Tongan police commissioner Sinilau Kolokihakaufisi told The Sunday Times yesterday the removal of Chinese retailers, and not democracy, was one of the reasons behind the looting and burning of the capital.

"There was a struggle against the Chinese presence. They were not wanted and that's not democracy. Our investigations will include claims that there were other motives other than democracy behind the riot," he said.

"This is getting us nowhere. We will find the criminal elements who have taken the law into their own hands."

More than 20 people were arrested yesterday for looting in the town and the setting on fire of two Asian businesses took to 16 the number of buildings destroyed since Thursday afternoon. Some of the looters were found drunk when they were hauled in by police yesterday morning, said Mr Kolokihakaufisi.

Police are waiting for forensic experts from New Zealand and Australia to ascertain the identity of six people whose bodies were charred beyond recognition in a fire. Police believe the bodies were those of looters because all the workers have been accounted for. Mr Kolokihakaufisi said only six were dead and not eight as reported by the foreign media.

"I've been to the mortuary and counted only six bodies. I don't know where the other two bodies are supposed to be," he said.

He said there was an adequate supply of food and that shops outside the town were still operating. A state of emergency has not been declared because essential services like electricity are being provided.

Power is supplied at 7am-10am and 7pm-10pm by State-owned generators.

There is no curfew but the CBD has now become a restricted zone.

"Things have died down and the situation has improved a little as we expect the first flights in and out of Tonga to commence at 8pm this evening," Mr Kolokiha-kaufisi said yesterday.

He said forensic officers from Australia and New Zealand were expected to arrive yesterday afternoon on a chartered flight to assist in investigations and determine the cause of fire in the banned part of town.

Tonga Broadcasting editor Sione Vikilani said the buildings that were torched included the ANZ Bank's head office, Shoreline Group of Companies, which housed offices of the country's mobile phone service and electricity and the Air New Zealand office.

He said security measures were beefed up after five villages took turns guarding the remaining buildings which were spared during the riot.

The prime minister's clan known as the Sevele clan had also joined in the fight to keep looters at bay at night, he said.

"They take turns sitting outside shops all night, sometimes drinking grog. Just last night, they chased a number of looters away after they tried to break into a shop," Mr Vikilani said.