Tonga’s Minister of Police said Kelekolio Tapueluelu’s disturbance threat against the Prime Minister during a press conference in Nuku’alofa last week had provoked public reactions.
Kelekolio told Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva at Fa’onelua Convention centre he had intended to disturb “fakahoha’asi” him from time to time until he would change his mind and bring back the Pacific Games 2019 to Tonga.
He told Hon. Pohiva he was ready to die as long as he would achieve his mission.
He said he was making the same threat the Prime Minister had made when he was in opposition after he declared he would continue to disturb the King until he agreed to reform Tonga’s political system into democracy.
The government declared last month it had cancelled hosting the Pacific Games.
This has angered the Pacific Games council as well as Tonga’s Games Organising Committee led by Lord Sevele ‘o Vailahi.
It is understood Kelekolio was a staunch supporter of Lord Sevele who has led a campaign since last month against the government’s decision.
Hon. Māteni Tapueluelu said he was concerned about the threat, whether it has an issue with the law or not, but the statement itself has posed national security threat to the kingdom.
The Minister said some people went looking for Kelekolio and when they found him an attack ensued. Kelekolio was injured during the attack, he said.
In Tongan the Minister said: “Sea ko hono ue’iue’i ‘a e fonua ke ngaungaue ‘o fehāngaaki ha ngaahi kupu, ko e tokotaha ko eni na’e, na’e kumi ia he ni’ihi ‘aneafi, na’e līpooti mai ki he Potungāue Polisi, na’e iku ‘o alasi ‘e he ni’ihi ‘o lavea e tokotaha ko eni ‘aneafi pea ‘oku tauhi ia ‘i ‘api polisi ke malu pea ‘oku fai ‘a e ngāue ki he keisi ko ia”.
The alleged attack on Kelekolio occurred outside a restaurant in Nukuʻalofa on June 14.
It followed with Police arresting a 49-year-old man on Thursday 15.
A 47-year-old man was later arrested on Friday, June 16.
They both charged with assault and will appear at the Magistrate’s Court on 30 June.
The Minister of Police told the House on Thursday last week after the assault Police accompanied Kelekolio to the station to protect him from any further attack.
Tapueluelu is a New Zealand – Tongan resident and he flew to Tonga the previous week to support his former boss in Tonga, Lord Sevele.
