In 1999, the Chinese community submitted a list of criminal offences against Chinese migrants to Police Minister Clive Edwards.
Crimes included arson, armed robbery and attempted rape.
Edwards assured the Chinese the police would work around the clock to put an end to such incidents.
Eighteen years later, there has been some improvement, but Tongan police are still working to bring crimes against the Chinese community under control.
Now Tongan police are conducting a survey of the Chinese community in Tongatapu and the outer islands to identify crime and safety problems.
Deputy Commissioner Pelenatita Fe’ao Vaisuai said the Police had established Operation Great Wall with the aim of reducing crimes against the Asian community in Tonga.
Deputy Commissioner Vaisuai said that while Chinese made up three percent of victims of crime, the offences committed against them were quite serious.
They included robbery and violent assault.
“Our mission is to make sure all our citizens feel safe in Tonga,” Deputy Commissioner Vaisuai said.
The survey was designed to inform Tonga Police about safety issues and challenges specific to the Chinese community.
As Kaniva News reported last December, attacks on Chinese have again become a serious issue for the government.
Justice Minister Sione Vuna Fa’otusia said attacks on foreigners were a grave concern to the government.
A subcommittee to investigate crimes against the Chinese community was established, with the Minister of Police, the Commissioner of Police, the Commander of the Tonga Defence Force and the Commissioner of Prisons participating.
TVNZ reported last year that the kingdom’s Chinese community felt besieged after a series of attacks on shop owners in Nuku’alofa.
There have been several armed robberies and violent attacks in recent months.
A New Zealand police officer, Inspector Kai Shao, was sent to Tonga to help the local force build a relationship with the Asian community.
The Tongan Broadcasting Commission reported this week that he had met with members of the Chinese community and staff from the Chinese embassy,
Inspector Shao told the TBC most Chinese believed the safety situation in Tonga had improved in recent years.
However, they expressed concerns in relation to some recent high profile cases.
The main points
- Tongan police are conducting a survey of the Chinese community in Tongatapu and the outer islands to identify crime and safety problems.
- Deputy Commissioner Pelenatita Fe’ao Vaisuai said the Police had established Operation Great Wall with the aim of reducing crimes against the Asian community in Tonga.
- He said while Chinese made up three percent of victims of crime, the offences committed against them were quite serious.
- “Our mission is to make sure all our citizens feel safe in Tonga,” Deputy Commissioner Vaisuai said.
For more information
Gov’t wants to curbs crimes against foreigners, but says guns aren’t the answer (Kaniva News)
Shocking images emerge of Chinese victims viciously beaten in Tonga (One News)
Concern over rise in crime against Chinese in Tonga (Pacific Islands Report)
