Police in Tonga were alerted to an incident in Nuku’alofa involving a journalist allegedly being threatened by a gunman. Photo / Tonga Police
Police in Tonga were alerted to an incident in Nuku’alofa involving a journalist allegedly being threatened by a gunman. Photo / Tonga Police
A gunman allegedly stormed a local radio station in Tonga and threatened a female journalist after a gang-related news item went to air.
Police received a report about an incident at the Kele’a Voice and Kele’a Publications office, based in Tonga’s capital, Nuku’alofa, on Thursday, April 23.
“A man wearinga black-hooded cardigan and armed with a handgun (pistol) entered the Kele’a office late that afternoon and threatened one of the journalists, who was alone in the office at the time,” Kele’a management said.
The outlet said it appeared the man was “upset” by a radio story by the journalist that morning about a man affiliated with the Australian motorcycle gang, the Comancheros.
The story was about Eneasi Taumoefolau. Born in Tonga and now in his mid-40s, he spent most of his life in Australia after his family moved there when he was a boy.
He was deported to Tonga in 2022 because of a significant criminal history that included weapons offences and drug trafficking.
Eneasi Taumoefolau was deported from Australia to Tonga, where he is now serving a life sentence.
He has since been sentenced to spend the rest of his life in a Tongan prison for drug dealing.
Taumoefolau’s story was recently highlighted again in a documentary in which an Australian news agency travelled to the island kingdom to interview him in prison. The documentary was focused on the increasing impact and consequences of illicit drugs in the Pacific region.
The Kele’a Voice journalist included a mention of the documentary in a news bulletin that day. After it aired, the topic was of particular interest to listeners taking part in the radio talk-back that followed, with many expressing their concerns about drug trafficking and gang influences in Tonga.
“The perpetrator threatened the journalist with the pistol and warned her not to run any more news on Taumoefolau and the Comancheros, before exiting the office and leaving in a waiting vehicle,” Kele’a management said.
‘Resilient’ young journalist back to work
Kele’a editor and manager Teisa Cokanasiga said this was the most serious threat against a journalist or a member of the media in Tonga in a long time.
“This is quite new for us and very serious. This is not just a stand against our media organisation, but the whole of the media in Tonga.
“We are appealing to the public – Tonga is a small country – if they do have information that might assist the police, reach out to the police.”
She told the Herald the journalist involved was back at work and “doing what she does best”. Cokanasiga said she could not go into specific details, but praised the woman for keeping a cool head.
“I’m just grateful that she was able to handle it in the way she did and she was able to get out of it.
“She’s very resilient, such a strong girl. But at the same time, she’s being very careful and I’m sure all the other journalists are taking this on seriously – and realising that these are the risks that they’re facing when carrying out their duties.”
She also called on the Tongan public to look out for members of the media.
“Our journalists are doing their job, trying to bring information... and issues that are controversial that the people and the public need to hear.
“Look out for us so we can continue to carry on our duties as journalists.”
Tonga Police has been approached for comment.
Vaimoana Mase is the Pasifika editor for the Herald’s Talanoa section, sharing stories from the Pacific community. She won junior reporter of the year at the then Qantas Media Awards in 2010 and won the best opinion writing award at the 2023 Voyager Media Awards.
