The Legislative Assembly of Tonga was due to adjourn for the year and despite promises of action, had done little to advance democracy in the government.

Then they attacked enterprises, including some that were leased to ANZ Bank and those owned by the Prime Minister Feleti Sevele.

A private shop selling mobile telephones and advertising for Tonfön (part of the Shoreline Group of Companies owned, at the time, by the royal family) was next.

Rioters also attacked and burned the main office of the Shoreline Group of Companies, which was located 1 km (0.62 mi) away from the small central business district.

At nightfall, the police and the Tonga Defence Services regained control of the central business district and were turning away anyone who tried to enter.

[5] Since most of the employees of the affected businesses managed to reach safety, news reports speculated that the dead were likely looters.

[9] A leader of the Tongan pro-democracy movement, MP 'Akilisi Pohiva, criticised the intervention of Australian and New Zealand peacekeepers following the riots.

The town center was still cordoned off and heavily patrolled, but local shop owners and the like could easily get permission to enter the restricted area.

[14] In July 2018, Tonga was expected to begin the repayments of loans from China for reconstruction that ended up being US$100 million+ to the Chinese government.

[15] In late January 2008, the Tongan authorities renewed a Proclamation of Public Order for the sixteenth month running, a lingering aftermath of the riots.

[16] Tongan information minister Afualo Matoto announced that the state of emergency would probably be maintained for another three months (i.e., until the end of April).

This was criticised by Tongan pro-democracy advocate ʻAkilisi Pōhiva: "I don’t see any reason for government to continue to hold on to the emergency power.

Member of Parliament ʻAkilisi Pōhiva noted that the government had probably chosen to wait until after the coronation of King George Tupou V to put an end to it.

678 people were arrested, some under controversial circumstances,[21] with former Police Minister Clive Edwards also being charged after claiming that soldiers had engaged in indiscriminate beatings.

[22] Democratic leader ʻAkilisi Pōhiva was arrested on charges of sedition, along with Edwards and a number of other pro-democracy MPs and activists.