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Foreign troops secure airport, ease fears in riot-torn Tonga
(AFP)
19 November 2006
NUKU’ALOFA - The arrival of foreign troops eased tensions in riot-torn Tonga, allowing its borders to reopen to international flights Monday, four days after a violent rampage devastated the main business area.
New Zealand and Australian troops secured Tonga’s international airport within hours of arrival Saturday, erasing the main concern of hundreds of people trapped in the tiny Pacific island kingdom. At least eight people were killed when pro-democracy gangs looted and rioted Thursday through central Nuku’alofa, leaving residents and foreigners terrified as the kingdom became isolated when the sole airport shut down. But the situation calmed with confirmation that the airport was secured and flights would resume Monday. “The troops are not visible, but people are pleased they are there because they just want to get the aircraft coming in,” Tongan journalist Mary Fonua told AFP Sunday. But there was no indication of an impending stampede at the airport when flights resumed. “It was a big concern that there was no aircraft access. Some want to go home but they are not so anxious that they aren’t prepared to wait for a day,” said Helen Tunnah,a spokeswoman at the New Zealand high commission. Eleven people flew to New Zealand Saturday night on the return flight of a New Zealand Air Force Boeing, which ferried troops into Tonga. They included Maliana Sevele, a daughter of the Tongan Prime Minister Fred Sevele, whose supermarket was the first target of the rioters. She did not want to talk to the media, but a relative told Radio New Zealand the premier’s family feared it was being targeted so she felt the safest thing was to fly to New Zealand until the situation calmed down. About 34 Australians also sought a seat on a military aircraft returning to Australia. New Zealand and Australia, the Pacific regional powers, sent in 110 troops and around 44 police at the Tongan government’s request. “We judge that as an adequate number to keep the situation quiet, and hopefully there won’t be any more problems and we’ll be able to withdraw fairly soon,” Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said on ABC television. The latest Tonga riots erupted when the legislators looked likely to adjourn for the year without making a decision on expanding democracy, enraging pro-democracy activists. Calm was restored Friday after an emergency meeting of the cabinet, nobles and elected commoners agreed to the pro-democracy demands. Legislators elected by popular vote will represent the majority in parliament at the next election in 2008, ending centuries of rule by nobles and people appointed by the royal family. Tonga, a kingdom of about 115,000 people spread over 171 islands, 2,000 kilometres (1,250 miles) north of Auckland, has witnessed growing demonstrations over the past year.
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