“Someone has to pay,” Police Minister says as Turkish tanker blamed for blackout

Tukuaki’i motu ‘a e keipolo ‘initaneti ‘a Tonga' ki he vaka lolo Toake na’a’ ne fa’a fetuku hake lolo’ ki Tonga. Kuo pehē na’e ma’u ‘i ha ngaahi ‘ata mei he satelaite' ko e vaka’ ni ne ‘i he feitu’u mo e taimi tatau ne hoko ai e motu’ ‘o nofo ta’e ‘initaneti ai ‘a Tonga ha mei uike ‘e ua. Ko e fakamole ki he mamau' ni ne ‘i he $2 miliona’. ‘Oku fai ‘a e ngāue fakalao ki heni pea ne ‘osi fakataha e kau taki e vaka’ ni mo e poate ma’umafai ‘a Tonga ki he taulanga'.

Police Minister Mateni Tapueluelu has vowed Tonga will take action over the internet blackout that cut the kingdom’s communication with the outside world in January.

Hon. Tapueluelu said the loss had cost the kingdom $2 million.

“Someone has to pay,” the Minister told New Zealand’s One News.

“I’m sure some legal action will take place.”

As Kaniva news reported in January, the kingdom’s only internet and mobile phone providers, Digicel and Tonga Communications Corporation, were cut off

Tonga Cable used the local Internet Service Provider (ISP) Easynet via Kacific Satellite to  maintain essential services.

A Turkish-owned fuel tanker that regularly brings essential fuel and gas to the Pacific has been blamed for cutting the underwater fibre-optic cable that carried Tonga’s internet traffic.

One News reported that satellite evidence showed the Duzgit Venture in the same location as the breaks in the cable. It is believed they were caused by a dragging anchor.

The Turkish tanker arrived in Nuka’alofa on a Sunday, despite entry to the port being  banned on the Sabbath

The tanker is reported to have made a circular track across the no anchor area where the cables were cut.

The ship’s owners met with the Tongan Ports Authority in February.

The Duzgit Venture has a gross tonnage of 2166. It was built in 2009 and is registered in Malta.

The main points

  • Police Minister Mateni Tapueluelu has vowed Tonga will take action over the internet blackout that cut the kingdom’s communication with the outside world in January.
  • Hon. Tapueluelu said the loss had cost the kingdom $2 million.

For more information

Tonga keeps close eye on Turkish tanker after it plunged country into communication blackout

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/world/tonga-keeps-close-eye-turkish-tanker-after-plunged-kingdom-into-communication-blackout

Undersea line has been cut, but could be repaired within two weeks says Tonga Cable

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