TONGA (16 Nov 2006) -- At least six bodies were found in the riot-torn Tongan capital on Friday as rescue workers searched buildings and shops torched and looted during violence in the South Pacific island kingdom the previous day. Soldiers and police cordoned off streets in central Nuku'alofa where up to 80% of the buildings were destroyed by the pro-democracy protesters. "We searched the burnt building and we found six body remains," assistant police commissioner Unca Faaoa told Reuters. "Only six but other buildings are still being searched." The rioting began after parliament went into recess for the year without voting on proposals for sweeping democratic reforms to Tonga's semi-feudal system. Prominent pro-democracy campaigner Akilisi Pohiva said the authorities had made a mistake in delaying reform and needed to act. "It is the responsibility of the King and the Prime Minister to call a meeting of cabinet who has the responsibility to settle the problem and to make sure the security and peace is restored to the country," he told Radio New Zealand. Late on Thursday, the government bowed to the protesters and agreed to new elections in 2008 in which a majority of the parliament would be directly elected by popular vote. Under the current system, nobles and appointed MPs outnumber the elected representatives. Among the buildings damaged were the prime minister's office, the financial department, offices of power company Shoreline, which is partly owned by King George Tupou V, the town's only bank and Chinese owned shops and businesses. | | Faaoa said the six bodies were found in the Shoreline building, but could not confirm their identities. "We are waiting for DNA tests to confirm as the bodies are beyond recognition," he said. New Zealand and Australia have condemned the violence and said they are ready to help, but warned their nationals in Tonga to stay away from large gatherings. Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Australian and New Zealand troops were on standby but Tonga's government said it did not want any foreign police or troops at this stage. "They think they can contain the situation themselves," Downer told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio from Vietnam, where he is attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum summit. Fiji's Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, chairman of the Pacific Islands Forum, said peace in Tonga was crucial for Tonga and the South Pacific region. "We are all shocked by the acts of violence which have taken place, particularly as they are so uncharacteristic of Tonga and the Tongan people, and we hope they are now at an end," Qarase said in a statement. |
