A Sad Day for the Kingdom

I answered the phone Thursday morning at 7:30 hearing a faint ‘Male’ (hello) on the other end. Tevita’s sister in Tonga called to inform us of all the devastation going on in the capital city of Tonga, Nuku’alofa. It was late at night there and they were all sitting at home listening to the radio to keep updated on the latest.

Apparently pro-democracy supporters were upset about the lack of change within Parliament and directed their anger towards the business district downtown. Fires, destruction, and looting overcame the rioting crowd. Eight people have been reported as dead.



I’m trying to keep my opinion to a minimum, but to say the very least I am disappointed by the participants in this riot. For a country that has the reputation as being ‘The Friendly Islands,’ this is devastating. Not only were lives lost, but the entire business district is in shambles. Who will rebuild these stores? Where will the money come from to support reconstruction?
Will a soft smile, a hand out, and a slight nod of the head be enough this time?

Adrianne