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Tonga must guard against security threats, Deputy PM Sika tells memorial service

By
Philip Cass
-

Tonga must be alert to potential security threat, Deputy Prime Minister Semisi Sika said on Friday.

Hon. Sika was speaking at an early morning memorial service for the victims of the Christchurch massacre held at Tonga Police Headquarters in Nuku’alofa.

“The World changed for us all on March 15,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

“Tongan Police must be alert and prepared for anything that comes their way. We must all be alert and prepared for anything that comes their way.

“We must all be alert to potential threats to our border and work together to ensure Tonga’s security is not compromised.”

The short ceremony began with the raising of the Tongan flag to half-mast whilst the Tongan and New Zealand national anthems were being played by the Tonga Police Brass Band.

This was followed by verses from the hymn, ‘Abide With Me’ and a prayer offered by Rev. Viliam Fanaika.

“We raise our Flag today at half-mast to show our respect, our deep sense of loss and mourning for the 50 New Zealanders murdered at their place of worship in Christchurch,” Hon. Sika said.

“As we pay our respects we salute the leadership and humanity of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and the courage and solidarity shown by New Zealanders to this tragic event.

“I take time to commend the courage and professionalism of the New Zealand Police in putting themselves in harm’s way to protect their citizens, the other courageous First Responders and Emergency Services and all individuals, that  went to help with the dead, dying and wounded and those that were blessed to survive.

“This is a day of Remembrance to the families and loved ones of the fallen and also to show our respect and solidarity with New Zealand in their hour of sorrow and reflection.”

Present at yesterday’s service were the Acting New Zealand High Commissioner, Elena Procuta, the Australian High Commissioner, Adrian Morrison, the Minister for Lands and Minister responsible for His Majesty’s Armed Forces, Lord Ma’afu and other Cabinet Ministers, Police Commissioner Stephen Caldwell and his senior officers and advisors and the Chaplain of Tonga Police, Rev Viliami Fanaika as well as other Church leaders.

As Kaniva Tonga news reported earlier, Members of Parliament took part in a one minute silence last Monday morning to pay respects for the victims of Christchurch’s terror attack.

Acting Speaker Lord Tu’ilakepa said the minute was in respect for the memory of those killed and hurt in the attack on Friday, which left 50 dead and at least 50 injured

Lord Tu’ilakepa said in Tongan: “Oku ou fie ‘oatu ‘a e fie kaungā mamahi ‘a e Fale Alea ‘o Tongá mo e kakai ‘o Nu’usilá, ‘oku ‘oatu heni ha faka’apa’apa, mo e fiekaungā mamahi mo’oni ‘a e Fale Alea ‘o Tonga, mo e kakai ‘o Nu’usila koe’uhi ko e pulonga kuo tō he fonuá, tupu mei he fakapō ta’e’amanekina, ne hoko ‘i Christchurch, ‘i he ‘aho Falaite 15 ‘o Mā’asi, 2019.”

Last week we reported that Tongans living in New Zealand had been asked to wear black this week as a sign of support for the country’s Muslim community.

Tongan church groups have been holding special prayer sessions for the cessation of terrorism.

Last Sunday the brass band from the Pulela’a Methodist Church in New Lynn played outside  an Auckland mosque. Church members prayed and laid flowers.

The main points

  • Tonga must be alert to potential security threat. Deputy Prime Minister Semisi Sika aid yesterday.
  • Hon. Sika was speaking at an early morning memorial service for the victims of the Christchurch massacre held at Tonga Police Headquarters in Nuku’alofa.
  • “The World changed for us all on March 15,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

For more information

NZ marks Christchurch massacre with week of vigils and prayers, more events planned today

Oceania – NZ marks Christchurch massacre with week of vigils and prayers, more events planned today. | Kaniva Tonga

Tongans in New Zealand show solidarity with Muslims after racist murders in Christchurch

Tongans in New Zealand show solidarity with Muslims after racist murders in Christchurch

Help our deported children and fight drugs, Majesty tells Parliament in closing speech

By
Philip Cass
-

Helping Tongans who have been deported to the kingdom after serving jail term in other countries was a major source of concern, His Majesty King Tupou VI said this week.

In his speech closing the current session of Parliament, His Majesty said there was need to help “our children” who had been deported.

Drug-related problems in Tonga had also become a major issue of concern.

The king said police should step up their efforts to fight substance abuse. He called on the government to increase funding towards drug prevention programmes.

“The security of our people is paramount because there has been a recent case where someone was murdered,” His Majesty said.

His Majesty’ comment follow recent reports highlighting serious problems with deportees in Tonga and the growing threat of methamphetamine.

His speech was read by Lord Vaea, one of the three nobles who officially closed the session.

The others were Lord Tu’iha’ateiho and Lord Ve’ehala.

His Majesty is in New Zealand for a short visit.

In his address to Parliament, the king called for an independent body to be established to investigate the burning and destruction of Nuku’alofa in 2016. He said the government should fund the commission.

Climate change

The King reminded the House about the importance of being prepared to face the effects of climate change.

The King said the rebuilding of damage after Cyclone Ian in Ha’apai, Gita and especially in Tongatapu was still not completed.

“Many families and schools in Tongatapu are yet to receive aid from the Government,” he said.

“The longer the delay in the recovery process the harder the work will be.”

The King said Tongans working in seasonal labour scheme overseas should be trained properly before they travel abroad. This was to ensure they can communicate and read in English.

“If we are to take this seriously then we should train our people to the highest level to meet the market’s demands,” His Majesty said.

The King reminded MPs that spending money from donor partners and aid agencies should be transparent and accounted for.

His Majesty said discussion and debates in Parliament should be conducted in a respectful and dutiful manner.  MPs should uphold the dignity of the House.

His Majesty reminded MPs that it was  unconstitutional for Tonga to ratify any regional or international agreements without completing the due process.

Condolences

During the closing ceremony the House observed a minute’s silence for those killed in the Christchurch massacre.

The Acting Speaker, Lord Tu’ilakepa, conveyed his deepest condolences to New Zealand for the tragedy in Christchurch.

“We hope and pray that God’s peace be upon New Zealand during this difficult time. The tragedy has united our Pacific brothers and sisters including Tonga to mourn with New Zealand in this time of sorrow,” Lord Tu’ilakepa said.

Parliament will resume on May 30.

The main points

  • Helping Tongans who have been deported to the kingdom after serving jail term in other countries was a major source of concern, His Majesty King Tupou VI said this week.
  • In his speech closing the current session of Parliament, His Majesty said there was need to help “our children” who had been deported.
  • Drug-related problems in Tonga had also become a major issue of concern.

For more information

Tonga’s King Tupou VI in NZ for short visit

Tonga’s King Tupou VI in NZ for short visit

Supreme Court convicts passenger who tried to board flight to Fiji with undeclared money

By
Philip Cass
-

NUKU’ALOFA – A passenger who was found with nearly TP$149,000 stuffed into his trousers and strapped to his leg has been convicted in the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court convicted Qian Xiyun for failing to declare to Customs  that he was carrying more than TP$10,000 of currency.

Qian originally pleaded guilty to the charge and elected trial by judge alone in relation to other charges. Clive Edwards appeared for him at trial which began on March 18 this year.

At the start of the trial Edwards aid he would argue that the accused  had  wrongly pleaded guilty  to  an offence  the Crown  could not sustain in law.

The prosecution arose out of events that arose at Fua’amotu International Airport on May 15 last year at the passport control booth at the departure  terminal. 

A  customs officer was processing departing passengers for a flight to Fiji when the accused approached her after completing security screening by aviation officers.

He handed the customs officer his passport and passenger  departure card. He declared on his departure card that he was not carrying more than $TP10,000 in cash, or   its equivalent in foreign currency.

The officer asked him several times whether he was carrying cash, to which he kept replying that he was not. However, under repeated questioning, he eventually admitted that he was in fact carrying about his person and in his clothes a large sum of money in Tongan, US, and other currencies.

The custom officer called in a more senior colleague who continued questioning the accused who initially denied that he was carrying more money, but eventually removed more cash from his trouser.

At this point a male office was called in and more money was found strapped to his leg.

In his report on the case, Acting Chief Justice Cato said the money was worth about TP$149,000.

The more senior of the Tongan  female customs’  officers said that she had asked him about further money and he had pulled out wads of money and placed them on the table.

He said the accused had produced more money in his hand which he had held out and had asked to go on the plane.  She took this to amount to a  bribe. 

In his ruling, Acting Chief Justice Cato ruled that the guilty plea had been carried out under the appropriate legislation and must stand.

“The accused is duly convicted of failure to declare he was carrying currency over TP$10,000 contrary to section 97 of the Customs and Excise Management Act,” Mr Justice Cato said.

The accused was also originally charged with two counts of bribery of a government official and money laundering.

These charges were all dismissed.

Mr Justice Cato is still to sentence Qian.

The main points

  • A passenger who was found with nearly TP$149,000 stuffed into his trousers and strapped to his leg has been convicted in the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court convicted Qian Xiyun for failing to declare to Customs  that he was carrying more than TP$10,000 of currency

Pōhiva orders flags to fly at half-mast to honour Christchurch racist murder victims

By
Kalino Latu
-

Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva ordered all Tongan flags in the country to be flown at half-staff tomorrow Friday 29 to honour those who had been killed in the racist attacks in New Zealand.

“The mark of respect coincides with the “National Memorial Service” that the New Zealand Government is holding at Hagley Park in Christchurch at 10.00am on Friday 29 March,” a statement from the Prime Minister’s office said.

“The decision that all flags in the Kingdom should be flown at half-mast on 29 March was made by Cabinet in its meeting on Friday 22 March, In my earlier message of condolence to the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Rt Hon Jacinda Adern, I had written, “The people and the Government of Tonga weep with you, as you gather your dynamic multi-ethnic whanau around you to nationally mourn and bury the dead, and to reconnect the bonds that make New Zealand the beautiful and loving country it is”.

The Hon Prime Minister also said that a memorial service and flag ceremony for the victims of the Christchurch terrorist attack, and all those affected by it will be held at the Tonga Police Headquarters in Longolongo beginning at 8am on Friday 29 March 2019.

The effects of the Christchurch shooting has been felt throughout the local and international Tongan communities.

As Kaniva Tonga news reported earlier, Members of Parliament took part in a one minute silence to pay respects for the victims of Christchurch’s terror attack.

Acting Speaker Lord Tu’ilakepa said the minute was in respect for the memory of those killed and hurt in the attack on Friday, which left 50 dead and at least 50 injured.

Following the attack Tongan community leaders in New Zealand have called for their people to wear black  as a sign of solidarity with grieving Muslim families.

The community was also asked to meet in Aotea Square  for a Love Aotearoa Hate Racism hui.

Tongan church groups have been holding special prayer sessions for the cessation of terrorism.

The Pulela’a Methodist Church in New Lynn paid their respects to the 50 people killed in the terror attacks by taking its brass band to play outside Imran Reza Mosque in New Lynn.

Congregation members prayed and laid flowers.

According to the 2013 New Zealand census there were 60,336 Tongans living in New Zealand, a 25% population increase since the beginning of the 21st century. Tongans make up 1.5% percent of the total New Zealand population.

New Zealand has financially assisted Tonga with over NZ$20 million each year through its bilateral aid programme with the kingdom.

King’s decision mirrors PM’s advice for petitioners to take concerns to Ombudsman

By
Kalino Latu
-

The king’s decision to investigate and prosecute any breaches of law by some Cabinet ministers, including the Prime Minister, has mirrored the same advice PM ‘Akilisi Pōhiva gave to the petitioners last month.

The petitioners accused the Prime Minister and other Ministers of his cabinet of abusing their powers, breaching the law and corruption.

They demanded the king immediately shut down Parliament and establish an interim government.

They also demanded His Majesty establish a royal commission to investigate the government.

PM Pohiva’s response

Read more: Tongasat a “shell company” and financially weak PM says as battle continues outside court

In his response on February 22 which was sent to Kaniva and other local news media, the Prime Minister said he accepted any criticisms against him, but wanted these criticisms to be factual, accurate and in good spirit.

He recommended the petitioners complain to the Ombudsman, Police, Auditor General or take legal action against any cabinet ministers they accused. 

In Tongan the statement said:

“Ko hono ‘uhinga ia ‘oku toutou kole atu ai ‘e ‘Eiki Palemia kia kinautolu na’a nau fa’u ‘a e Tohi Tangi ke nau launga’i ‘a e kau Minisitaa ‘oku nau tukuaki’i kuo nau maumau’i ‘a e Konisitutone pe ko e lao ‘o e Fonua ki he ngaahi sino Ma’u Mafai faka-lao.”

This translates into English as: “This was why the Prime minister regularly asked the petitioners to lodge their complaints with proper government authorities against the Ministers whom they claimed breached the laws of the nation.”

The complaints

The petitioners accused the Prime Minister of breaking the law and claimed he had declared in Parliament that he was above the law. They also accused the Prime Minister over the Popua national park project.

The petitioners accused the former Minister of Public Enterprises Poasi Tei of importing building materials from China for his own use through containers that belonged to a private company which built a solar farm at Matatoa. They claimed it was planned that after the building was completed it would be rented out to a former CEO of the Tonga Power Ltd for TP$10,000 a month.

The petitioners told the king this was very expensive in comparison with Tonga’s renting rates.

The petitioners also accused Deputy Prime Minister Sēmisi Sika of not paying taxes for 20 years. It also alleged that the Ministry of Revenue attempted to take legal action against Hon. Sika, but that the Prime Minister and the Minister of Revenue intervened.

They claimed the unpaid taxes of the Deputy Prime Minister were worth more than TP$ 1 million.

The petitioners also accused the Minister of Trade and Economic Development, Hon. Tu’i Uata of threatening Ports Authority staff.

They also alleged Hon. Uata temprarily suspended his Ports Authority CEO, Mosese Lavemai, after Lavemai ordered the recovery of an outstanding payment of $400,000 by the Uata Shipping Line, a company belonging to Hon Uata’s parents.

The petitioners said the allegations indicated that there were bad governance, nepotism and, dishonesty and illegal actions by the top leaders of the country.      

PM denies allegations

The February responses from the Prime Minister’s office denied all the accusations raised in the petitions.

The Prime Minister said the statement in Parliament to which the petition referred,  came from what he said in a letter in 1994 to then Attorney General Tevita Tupou. Tupou demanded he apologise after he made a statement about the late King Taufa’ahau, saying he was “a dictator” and accusing him of “financial legerdemain” over the proceeds of sales of Tongan passports to foreigners and revenues of Tongasat.

Pōhiva refused to apologise and a court decision later freed him.

Hon. Pohiva also said in his response to the petitoners there were people in history who lived in societies which had laws, but who breached those laws because they had mission for the people which was more important than those laws. He said the Biblical figure Daniel, who was sent to the lions, was an example as were Martin Luther King Jr in the United State and Mahatma Ghandi of India.

In response to the accusation against the Prime Minister over the Popua Park projects, the Prime Minister said the Auditor General had already dealt with the matter and found the Prime Minister had not breached any laws.

In response to the accusation against Hon. Tei, the Prime Minister said the Chinese company did not give any building materials to Hon. Tei and he did not have any rental house whatsoever.

“The house where Hon. Tei is currently living with his family was built before Hon. Tei was elected to Parliament,” the Prime Minister replied in Tongan.

In his response to accusations made against Hon. Uata, the Prime Minister said the decision to suspend the Authority’s CEO was made by its Board of Directors not the Minister.

Hon. Pōhiva also said the Ports Authority took Uata Shipping to court after it failed to pay its outstanding debts.

The Supreme Court ordered the Authority to sell two vessels belonging to the Uata Shipping Line to help pay off their debts. However, the Authority and the shipping company later met and agreed that Uata would repair its two vessels and operate them so they could make money that would help them pay back their debts.

With regards to the allegation that Hon. Uata had threatened Port Authority staff, the Prime Minister said he had yet to receive any complaint against the Minister.

In response to accusations about the Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Pohiva said the Ministry of Revenue had issued a statement last year denying the accusation against Hon. Sika which was falsely reported on local media.

There were other accussations against the government raised in the petitions but Hon. Pōhiva said they had been dealt with by the Auditor General in its investigation following a petition submitted to Parliament last year.

King’s  petitions

In response to the petitoners, instead of desolving Parliament, the king ordered the Ombudsman, the Attorney General and the Police Commissioner to conduct an investigation and prosecute “where a prima facie case is established.”

The main points

  • The king’s decision to investigate and prosecute any breaches of law by some Cabinet ministers, including the Prime Minister, has mirrored the same advice PM ‘Akilisi Pohiva gave to the petitioners last month.
  • The petitioners accused the Prime Minister and other Ministers of his cabinet of abusing their powers, breaching the law and corruption.
  • They demanded the king immediately shut down Parliament and establish an interim government.

For more information

Gov’t denies Talaki newspaper article claiming Deputy PM owes TP$1million taxes
PM slams Privilege Committee  for  blocking cabinet responses to ‘Amanaki petition 
Tukutonga: from hazardous landfill to new recreational park

PM supports king’s decision, but says petition has been directed to non-existent office

By
Philip Cass
-

Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva said today the king had ordered that the petitions against his government should be investigated by an office that did not exist.

Hon. Pōhiva said  the king had ordered the petition should be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions, but that the office did not exit.

“The Bill to amend the Constitution so that the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions can be established is one of those six Bills that I had submitted to the Legislative Assembly to be treated as urgent,” the Prime Minister said.

“It is unfortunate that its passage has been held up due to differences in interpretation of the Rules of Procedure of the Legislative Assembly.”

The Prime Minister said the king’ decision because it implied the petitioner’s call for Parliament to be dissolved had not been approved.

It also implied that approval had not  been given to calls for the establishment of a commission of inquiry and an interim government to organise new elections.

“I totally support His Majesty in Council’s decision to instead to refer the petitions to the Ombudsman, the Attorney General and the Commissioner of Police for investigation.

“In my public response to the petitions that was issued on February 22 I acknowledged the Petitioner’s constitutional right to petition His Majesty,” the Prime Minister said.

 “However, I called on them to first submit their allegations to the offices of the Ombudsman, the Attorney General and the Police to first investigate.

“I also suggested that they should also submit their allegations of misuse of public finances and resources to the office of the Auditor General.”

Hon. Pōhiva said he would make a submission to Cabinet as soon as possible regarding the king’s directive that the government pay for the Anti- Corruption Commission.

As Kaniva Tonga news reported earlier,  three petitions with more than 10,000 signatures were presented to the palace in Nuku’alofa.

Former government minister Clive Edwards, who presented a petition signed by former politicians, said he believed that once a Royal Commission for Investigation was appointed, a caretaker government should be put in place.

The main points

  • Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva said today the king had ordered that the petitions against his government should be investigated by an office that did not exist.
  • Hon. Pohiva said  the king had ordered the petition should be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions, but that the office did not exit.

For more information

King orders petitions from government’s enemies to be referred to Ombudsman

King orders petitions from government’s enemies to be referred to Ombudsman

Tonga’s King Tupou VI in NZ for short visit

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By Radio New Zealand

Tonga’s King Tupou VI and his wife Queen Nanasipau’u were welcomed to Government House in Wellington today by New Zealand’s Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy.

This is his first visit to New Zealand as Tonga’s King, following his coronation in 2015.

During the meeting Dame Patsy thanked the King for the support shown by the Tongan community in New Zealand following the terrorist attacks in Christchurch.

King Tupou VI is expected to meet with a number of New Zealand government officials, and tonight a dinner will be held for him at Government House.

This article is republished under Kaniva’s content partnership with Radio New Zealand.

Linda Folaumoetu’i appointed Tonga’s new Attorney General

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Attorney General’s Office is pleased to announce, that on Thursday 21 March 2019, His Majesty King Tupou VI, upon receiving advice from the Judicial Appointments and Discipline Panel and His Majesty’s Privy Council, has appointed Mrs Linda Simiki

Folaumoetu’i SC, to be the new Attorney General of the Government of the Kingdom of Tonga.

Mrs Folaumoetu’i holds a Bachelor of Arts and Laws degree (BA LLB) from the University of Auckland (1994), a Post Graduate Diploma in Legislative Drafting from the University of the South Pacific (1997), and a Master of Laws degree (LLM) from the University of Melbourne (2000). She was admitted to the High Court of New Zealand in 1994 and to the Supreme Court of Tonga in the same year, and was also admitted to the High Court of the Solomon Islands in 2008.

Mrs Folaumoetu’i was first employed in 1993 as a Legal Officer in the then Crown Law Department, now the Attorney General’s Office before she graduated and was admitted to the legal bar. She was appointed the Solicitor General and Head of Department of the Crown Law Department from December 2006 to June 2008.

She then worked as a Litigation and Advice Advisor for the Law and Justice Project in the Solomon Islands under the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) from July 2008 to December 2014. She then returned to Tonga and was appointed to her current role of Chief Executive Officer of the Office of the Ombudsman on 5 March 2015.

Mrs Folaumoetu’i is also a member of the Electoral Commission since 2016, and was appointed by His Majesty the King as a Law Lord and Member of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in 2018.

Mrs Folaumoetu’i will replace Mr ‘Asipeli ‘Aminiasi Kefu SC, the current Acting Attorney General, once she is released from her current role of Chief Executive Officer of the Office of the Ombudsman, and terms of employment are finalised.

The Acting Attorney General will then complete and end his appointment in the Attorney General’s Office after 22 years of service.

Commentary: King’s disregard of call for dissolution gives hopes for more democratic reforms in Tonga

By
Kalino Latu
-

The king’s decision not to dissolve Parliament after receiving petitions led by anti government leaders was a significant move in Tonga’s struggle to see a more democratic government after the 2010 political reforms.

It has also been seen as a remarkable move forward after the king’s dissolution of Parliament in 2017 failed to oust the ‘Akilisi Pohiva government.

The rejection of the request to dissolve Parliament could be seen as a precautionary measure for those who have animosity against the democratically elected government or anybody else who wanted the king to use his constitutional powers to support their political agenda.

The king could now be seen by democrats as a reasonable ruler rather than a monarch who was quick to exercise his absolute constitutional power without listening to those who had been accused, as some saw happening in 2017.    

After that dissolution analysts believed the king’s reputation and that of the country as a whole were damaged. This was because not only voters returned the government to office after the snap elections, but more MPs who supported Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva were elected and some noble MPs lost their seats.

King’s decisions

The king’s decision to refer the petitions to the Ombudsman, the Attorney General and to the Police Commissioner has strengthened the Democrats’ trust in him and their hopes for a more democratic government during his tenure.  

The king’s decision was a milestone on Tonga’s democratic reforms because the Ombudsman, Attorney General and Police commissioner’s roles which His Majesty has used to investigate the petitions were created on principles of transparency, accountability and good governance- the core ideologies of democracy.

Because he has used these tools, we have good reasons to believe that he could continue to use them in the future.  

And because he could continue to use them in the future, we have good reasons to think he will continue to accept more democratic mechanisms to help him run the country according to the constitution.

This means the king’s decision not to dissolve Parliament after receiving the petitions mean  people should hope for more democratic reforms in the near future led by this king.

His decision for the government to fund the Anti-Corruption Commission and for the Commissioner to be paid a judge’s level salary to be approved by the king was another sign of hope for the Democrats.

The constitution gave power to the king to dissolve Parliament but it did not give him power to dissolve the government.

The petitions

The petitions were organised by former government Ministers and MPs, including lawyer William Clive Edwards, Sione Teisina Fuko, ‘Isileli Pulu and Dr Viliami Uasike Latu. All are fierce political foes of ‘Akilisi Pohiva.

They demanded the king immediately dissolve Parliament after what  they described as signs of corruption, dishonesty and abuse of power. 

In a democracy, elected officials are accountable to the public they govern and they must be held accountable for any wrong doing.

Taxpayers have the right to complain, protest and petition if they were concerned at how their leaders run the government of the day.

But only the petitions that have merit, validity and which have been created in good spirit should be submitted for the king’s consideration.

There are good reasons to believe the petitions the King has ordered to be given to government bodies to investigate had a hidden political agenda of opposition to the government behind them.

One of the engineers of the petitions, William Clive Edwards was the lawyer for Princess Pilolevu and Tongasat in their fight against the government in which the court ruled Tongasat receiving of TP$90 million Chinese money was unlawful.

He was also the lawyer for former Speaker and Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakano who was charged with 10 counts, including one of making a false declaration to obtain a passport, two perjury counts, five for accepting bribes and two counts of money laundering.

The Pohiva government was instrumental in pushing for an inquiry and investigation which led to the arrest of Lord Tu’ivakano.

Edwards also represented the Pacific Games Council and Lord Sevele ‘O Vailahi in court cases in which they were fighting against government.

The investigation

Everyone should be happy that the complaints have been handed over to the right authorities to investigate and if there has been any wrong doing they must hold those responsible accountable.

Read more

King orders petitions from government’s enemies to be referred to Ombudsman

King orders petitions from government’s enemies to be referred to Ombudsman

By
Philip Cass
-

King Tupou VI has ordered three petitions attacking the government to be referred to the Ombudsman.

The petitions have been organised by long standing opponents of the government and have demanded  the government be dissolved.

In August November  2017 the Speaker persuaded the king to dissolve Parliament and put the government of ‘Akilisi Pohiva out of office.

Hon. Pohiva’s government was returned at the subsequent election.

In June last year a 3000-strong signature petition to impeach the Prime Minister and seven of his cabinet ministers was submitted to parliament.

A Radio New Zealand report carried by Kaniva Tonga news last week said three petitions with more than 10,000 signatures had been presented to the palace in Nuku’alofa.

Former government minister Clive Edwards presented a petition signed by former politicians.

Edwards said he believed that once a Royal Commission for Investigation was appointed, a caretaker government would need to be put in place.

Noble MP Lord Nuku presented a petition from the country’s nobles.

The third petition was presented by former MP Teisina Fuko from members of the general public.

In a statement issued today, the Lord Privy Seal said the Ombudsman would investigate complaints in the petition, take such action as he considered appropriate and make a determination on any instance of mal-administration which he found to have been established to his satisfaction.

The Ombudsman would report to the king.

The Lord Privy Seal would order the government to fund an Anti-Corruption Commission and pay for the Commissioner to be paid a judge’ level salary to be approved by the king.

The petitions would be referred to the Attorney General, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Commissioner of Police for Investigation and prosecution where a case had been established.

The main points

  • King Tupou VI has ordered three petitions attacking the government to be referred to the Ombudsman.
  • The petition have been organised by long standing opponents of the government and have demanded  the government be dissolved.

For more information

Multiple petitions call for dissolution of Tonga Parliament

Multiple petitions call for dissolution of Tonga Parliament
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