Tonga Military

Tongans participated in both World Wars, with the Tonga Defence Force deploying two contingents to the Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942. Two Tongan soldiers were killed.

A New Zealand Defence Force representative along with High Commissioner Matthew Howell attended the service, where they commended Tonga for its contributions to World War 1.

Kaniva News reported the investigation was launched after photos emerged on social media which appeared to show members of His Majesty's Armed Forces attacking a shirtless man as he lay injured on the ground.

One photo seemed to show a soldier stomping on the man's head with his boot-clad foot.

The military has confirmed an investigation has been launched, saying it regretted all allegations, especially in light of the strong photographic evidence of abusive conduct and the physical attack of a member of the public during an incident on November 4.

Lt. Col. Hal Woomer Jr, the state command chaplain, and Master Sgt. Stan Harvey, the state master religious affairs non-commissioned officer, spent over two weeks in Tonga recently.

They engaged with the ranking government officials, royal ministers, Tongan Soldiers and civilian religious leaders.

“Our mission was to begin mapping out a joint strategy for a chaplain corps into the Royal Tongan Marines and His Majesties Armed Forces,” Harvey said.

The ministry team visited many community churches of several denominations, on two different Tongan islands.

Lt Col Maama Misi, Exercise Director said today His Majesty’s Armed Forces (HMAF) is being joined by the United States Marines of the Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, the New Zealand Defence and the French Army New Caledonia.

He said the bi-annual exercise is aimed not only to develop combat skills of individual soldiers but also enhance the inter-operability capabilities and operation readiness.