10-31-2007, 09:29 PM
PEOPLE’S NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR POLITICAL REFORM
NUKU’ALOFA, TONGA
Seven(7) out of the nine(9) representatives of the People to Parliament and
majority of the People they represented are upset that the King has directed for
Parliament to close when the details for the political reform has not finalized. In
order to show their disappointment to the King, these People’s Representatives to
Parliament made a peaceful demonstration during the closing of Parliament today
by staying outside the Queen Salote Hall where the closing ceremony took place.
The People’s Representatives to Parliament had submitted a letter to the
Palace Office yesterday requesting an urgent audience to the King so that they
could verbally inform him of their concerns but no reply has been received on
same. They also submitted yesterday in writing their concerns which are as
following:
1. That the Speaker of the House has promised that they would resume after
their 5 weeks recess (to facilitate the request by Government to allow them time
for the preparation of the Forum Leaders Meeting) and continue discussions on
the political reform. Much to their surprise on Monday this week, 29th October,
they were informed that the House would finish business on the same day and
Parliament will officially close today, Thursday 01st November;
2. That majority of the People prefer the political reform to be implemented in
2008 in accordance with what has been approved in principle in Parliament in
October 2006. i.e. the report of Parliament’s National Committee for Political
Reform chaired by the late Tu’ipelehake and the recommendations therein. The
main aim of the proposal in this report is to obtain PEACE in Tonga and the
ACCOUNTABILITY of the People & Nobles to the King and vice versa;
3. That the work needed to be done for the revision of the Constitution and
relevant laws in accordance with the recommendations in the said report would
only take maximum 12 months (but could be faster). Hence, if Parliament
agrees this month to the recommendations in the report in order to keep the
peace and obtain the afore-mentioned accountability of the political system in
Tonga, the political reform could still be implemented in November 2008.
The People’s Representatives to Parliament sought the King’s reconsideration to
continue the discussions of the political reform given that he has the supreme
and absolute power to recall Parliament. They further reiterated that it would be
his greatest gift to His People for his Coronation in August 2008 if he confirmed
before the Coronation the implementation the political reform in accordance with
what the majority of His People wanted and not what Government’s 14-Member
Cabinet wanted.
For more information please do not hesitate to contact the Chairman of the
People’s Committee for Political Reform, ‘Akilisi Pohiva, at the above-stated
address and/or telephone.
PEOPLE’S NATIONAL COMMITTEE
FOR POLITICAL REFORM
Tel: +(676) 62-813; P.O. Box 1567, NUKU’ALOFA, TONGA
NUKU’ALOFA, TONGA
Seven(7) out of the nine(9) representatives of the People to Parliament and
majority of the People they represented are upset that the King has directed for
Parliament to close when the details for the political reform has not finalized. In
order to show their disappointment to the King, these People’s Representatives to
Parliament made a peaceful demonstration during the closing of Parliament today
by staying outside the Queen Salote Hall where the closing ceremony took place.
The People’s Representatives to Parliament had submitted a letter to the
Palace Office yesterday requesting an urgent audience to the King so that they
could verbally inform him of their concerns but no reply has been received on
same. They also submitted yesterday in writing their concerns which are as
following:
1. That the Speaker of the House has promised that they would resume after
their 5 weeks recess (to facilitate the request by Government to allow them time
for the preparation of the Forum Leaders Meeting) and continue discussions on
the political reform. Much to their surprise on Monday this week, 29th October,
they were informed that the House would finish business on the same day and
Parliament will officially close today, Thursday 01st November;
2. That majority of the People prefer the political reform to be implemented in
2008 in accordance with what has been approved in principle in Parliament in
October 2006. i.e. the report of Parliament’s National Committee for Political
Reform chaired by the late Tu’ipelehake and the recommendations therein. The
main aim of the proposal in this report is to obtain PEACE in Tonga and the
ACCOUNTABILITY of the People & Nobles to the King and vice versa;
3. That the work needed to be done for the revision of the Constitution and
relevant laws in accordance with the recommendations in the said report would
only take maximum 12 months (but could be faster). Hence, if Parliament
agrees this month to the recommendations in the report in order to keep the
peace and obtain the afore-mentioned accountability of the political system in
Tonga, the political reform could still be implemented in November 2008.
The People’s Representatives to Parliament sought the King’s reconsideration to
continue the discussions of the political reform given that he has the supreme
and absolute power to recall Parliament. They further reiterated that it would be
his greatest gift to His People for his Coronation in August 2008 if he confirmed
before the Coronation the implementation the political reform in accordance with
what the majority of His People wanted and not what Government’s 14-Member
Cabinet wanted.
For more information please do not hesitate to contact the Chairman of the
People’s Committee for Political Reform, ‘Akilisi Pohiva, at the above-stated
address and/or telephone.
PEOPLE’S NATIONAL COMMITTEE
FOR POLITICAL REFORM
Tel: +(676) 62-813; P.O. Box 1567, NUKU’ALOFA, TONGA