Another man has been arrested by police after a political activist had been charged with attempted murder.
Vilisoni Tauelangi has been reportedly arrested after his political associate ‘Asiata Māsima appeared in court on Monday charged with attempted murder.
Māsima and Tauelangi are strong supporters of democratic reform activities in Tonga.
A photo of Tauelangi which appeared to show him being handcuffed with another ununiformed senior police officer Pita Tahitu’a standing, has been shared on social media this evening.
Police could not be reached for comment.
The supporters of the PTOA (Democratic) Party and movement in Tonga alleged the arrest of Māsima was made after a political rival group complaint to the police. The supporters have accused the anti-democratic Tū group’s leader of inciting violence against Māsima.
The supporters of the rival groups have armed themselves with Facebook and YouTube accounts to incite dares, trade insults and make threats.
Police said: “Meanwhile, Tonga Police takes this opportunity to remind all users of social media, to refrain from further comments and engaging in activities on social media that could jeopardize the integrity of the ongoing investigations. Any actions or statements that incite violence, promote hatred, or compromise the safety of individuals will not be tolerated and will be investigated for potential prosecutions.
“Tonga Police is committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring a fair and impartial investigation. We will continue to work to gather all relevant evidence and explore any potential links to other individuals or groups involved in these incidents”.
