Tongan ferry victims must not be failed again

The New Zealand Government needs to inject some urgency into the recovery mission of the Princess Ashika and the estimated 93 bodies entombed in the Tongan ferry that sank nearly two weeks ago. 

Hopefully it is ignoring repugnant suggestions in recent days that the recovery of bodies might be too costly at an estimated $25 million. 

Saying it might be too expensive is even more unbelievable than the monarch heading off to Scotland for the military tattoo -  surely he will head home now.

It seems the ferry victims were failed in life by skin-flints; they can't be failed in death as well. Every help should be given by New Zealand and other donors for  Tonga to recover both the ship and the bodies if it can be done without too much danger.

It is not just that the thought of leaving so many bodies there is so troubling at a personal level.

If it costs too much, then hold a public appeal. I suspect the ordinary citizens of New Zealand, Australia and Japan whose Governments are working with Tonga would dig deep for the devastated people of Tonga to help them get their loved ones back home for burial, possibly mass burial if they are beyond identification.

It is not just a matter of compassion for the families, though that should be enough.

It is in New Zealand's interests for Tonga to remain stable especially as it in transition to more democratic elections next year, following riots in 2006.

It is also NZ's interest to keep Prime Minister Feleti Sevele in place, having worked so closely with him over the past three years.

A comprehensive response to the disaster may be his only chance of survival.

According to commentators  on the ground, this disaster could easily threaten  stability and Sevele's entire Government.

Radio New Zealand International's Tonga Correspondent Mateni Tapueluele painted a scary picture on Saturday's Tagata o te Moana programme of what impact the disaster has had and could have. It had already affected the monarchy and the Prime Minister and said civil unrest was possible.

He said there had been sense of a leadership vacuum and he believed the resignation of the Transport Minister only - and not the PM or cabinet - underestimated the magnitude of the problem.

But he said there was quite a bit of faith in the Royal Commission of Inquiry that has been established and headed by Justice Warwick Andrews of the Supreme Court.

It must complete its report by March 2010. An interim report is due by the end of November, three years to the month since the riots.

Photo: The victims of the Princess Ashika tragedy were failed in life; they can't be failed in death as well. Photo / Emily Penn