UPDATED: Tonga Parliament has removed a new login panel it has installed on its website which has blocked new users and it appeared there was no way to register new accounts.
The incident has concerned Tongans overseas who rely for information about Parliament on the site.
Kaniva has reported the incident on Tuesday night before it was removed the following day.
The times of Parliament’s sessions are normally aired on Tonga Broadcasting Commission radio, but are not stored online.
As we reported, once users open the site www.parliament.gov.to it asks to “Please login” with two blocks below it which required users’ username and password.
The new internet panel is meant for users who have already registered an account on the site.
However, there is no way for a user to register an account so they can login.
Further down the page are links for storing the username and password of the registered users under the tag ‘Remember me.’ Another link is to help those who have forgotten their password and the other for users to click so they can log in.
Kaniva news attempted a number of times to log in, but failed completely.
Parliamentary authorities could not be reached for comments.
The website holds important documents and sources of information for the public including Parliamentary meeting minutes and press releases.
Kaniva news became aware of the issue this evening after it received a number of complaints from Tongans in New Zealand.
Some were concerned at the move, asking why Parliament wanted to control access to public information.
They said the website of the Parliament of New Zealand did not require a login.
The main points
- A new login panel installed on Tonga Parliament’s website has blocked new users and it appears there is no way to register new accounts.
- The incident has concerned Tongan overseas who rely for information about Parliament on the site.
