ANZAC troops on the ground in Tonga with jail filled to capacity
Posted at 5:08pm on 19 Nov 2006
New Zealand's High Commissioner to Tonga says arrests from last Thursday's riot have filled the country's jail to capacity.
Michael McBryde says more than 100 people are in custody after the pro-democracy violence led to riots, which destroyed much of the capital Nuku'alofa.
The official death toll from the riots stands at six, with police saying they have yet to confirm reports of two more deaths.
ANZAC troops on the ground
The New Zealand joint defence force contingent has secured Tonga's international airport.
The commander of the New Zealand and Australian deployment says his troops have the power to shoot, and Tonga is under martial law, following this week's rioting.
Two Hercules and a Boeing aircraft flew out of Ohakea and Christchurch on Saturday loaded with police, soldiers, government officials and equipment.
New Zealand has sent 60 soldiers and a lieutenant colonel, who will command the joint New Zealand-Australia force. Australia is sending 50 soldiers and 35 police, including forensic experts who will help identify bodies of those killed.
Tongans flee unrest
The Tongan Prime minister's daughter was among 11 people who flew into Auckland's Whenuapai airbase from Tonga late Saturday night to escape the unrest.
The group was on a military plane returning from dropping off New Zealand troops in Nukualofa.
Maliana Sevele, the daughter of the Tongan Prime minister, arrived with several children. She had been managing a family owned supermarket which was trashed by the rioters on Thursday.
Ms Sevele did not want to talk, but a relative said the family feared it was being targeted so the safest thing was fly to New Zealand until the situation calms down.
Another woman who returned with her five year old daughter, says it was relief to leave Tonga as there is a feeling of unease.
Thousands stranded
Nearly a thousand people remain stranded across the Pacific this morning unable to get in or out of Tonga.
International airlines have refused to land at the capital's airport since rioting in Nuku'alofa last week.
A spokesperson for Pacific Blue, Amanda Bolger, says at the height of the violence last Thursday, her airline diverted a Sydney to Nuku'alofa flight to Auckland.
She says Pacific Blue is talking to with Air New Zealand about when it will be safe to resume flights.
Both airlines have flights scheduled for Tonga on Monday morning.
MFAT warning
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade says any travellers going to Tonga should ensure they have appropriate insurance cover.
It is also warning travellers to continue to avoid the downtown area of the capital Nuku'alofa, especially around government buildings.
It says violence could break out with little warning and though foreigners have not been targetted, it is possible for travellers to get caught up in the unrest
New Zealand's High Commissioner to Tonga says his staff have now contacted most New Zealanders in the country, and only a few want to leave in the wake of last week's violence.
Michael McBryde says his staff have rung several hundred people since the unrest began.
Aust PM sees long haul ahead
Australian Prime Minister John Howard says his country and New Zealand are likely to have to help out troubled South Pacific nations for many years to come.
Mr Howard says deploying police and troops to Tonga is unlikely to be the last time the two countries have to help in such a way.
He says he has concerns about the stability of the South Pacific and that part of the trouble is that some countries are simply not big enough to be sustainable.
However, Mr Howard says he does not expect the troops and police being sent to Tonga will stay there long. He says he is not expecting the deployment to be dangerous.
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