The Star Online > Apworld
Tuesday November 28, 2006
Australian, New Zealand troops to be withdrawn from Tonga
WELLINGTON (AP) - The military component of an Australia-New Zealand security force sent to riot-hit Tonga will withdraw this week, New Zealand's defence minister said Tuesday.
A contingent of about 150 Australian and New Zealand soldiers and police was rushed to the South Pacific country on Nov. 18, two days after a riot razed much of the capital city and left six people dead from fires.
New Zealand Defence Minister Phil Goff said Tonga was now calm and the foreign troop contingent had achieved its goals: securing the airport and other key infrastructure.
However, Goff said nearly 40 New Zealand police will keep working in the riot-scarred capital for some time.
Australian Federal Police are part of the New Zealand-led force.
"Our police force still has some work to do, particularly on the forensic side, sifting through the remains of buildings ... trying to bring to account those responsible for the fires, loss of property and the deaths,'' Goff told National Radio.
The foreign troops took over some patrols in the capital, Nuku'alofa, at the request of Tongan authorities whose security forces were overwhelmed by a rampaging mob that burned and looted 80 percent of downtown Nuku'alofa on Nov. 16.
Last week, lawmaker and leading pro-democracy campaigner 'Akilisi Pohiva called for foreign forces to withdraw, saying their presence was associated with the suppression of democracy.
He warned the troops were seen as supporting the government of Tonga's Prime Minister Fred Sevele.
Another pro-democracy leader, Finau Tutone, said the foreign soldiers were seen as supporting the existing semi-feudal system, in which the king appoints Cabinet ministers and the majority of legislators.
On Nov. 16, the government agreed to a plan ensuring 21 of the 30 seats in Parliament would be elected, starting in 2008.
The king currently appoints the majority of lawmakers, the prime minister and Cabinet.
The decision came too late to prevent the rampage by hundreds of mainly young people, outraged at what they perceived was government foot-dragging on the reforms.