Date: 11 April 2007
Auckland 6am: The Tongan government continues to delay the cases of the five MPs charged for the Black Thursday riots.
The preliminary hearing for the pro-democracy leaders was supposed to begin at the end of last month but the cases were adjourned.
People's representative MP Akilisi Pohiva says they've been told that the reason for the delay is because the government wants to ammend the charges against the MPs.(listen)
Pohiva says they're expecting to know the new dates for their hearing by tomorrow.
TONGAN RIOT: POLITICAL REFORM BILL BACK ON GOVERNMENT AGENDA
Date: 13 April 2007
Auckland 6am: The Tongan Government is now talking to key leaders of the pro-democracy movement about continuing dialogue regarding the Political Reform Bill.
People's Number One representative MP Akilisi Pohiva says the Prime Minister's two political advisors have been meeting with key pro-democracy leaders individually.
Pohiva says it's good to see the Government coming around since the Bill was one of the sore points that led to the November 16 riots. (listen)
Lopeti Senituli, the chief advisor to Prime Minister Feleti Sevele says it has always been their intention to continue discussing the Political Reform Bill. (listen)
Tongan MP says extended emergency rule might trigger fresh unrest
Posted at 05:19 on 19 March, 2007 UTC
A Tongan pro-democracy MP, Akilisi Pohiva, says he is concerned that there could be more unrest in the future if the government continues to hang on to emergency rule.
Mr Pohiva, who faces sedition charges in connection with last November’s riots in Nuku’alofa, has expressed concern at the fourth extension of state of emergency.
The government says this is a precaution to prevent any further disturbance.
But Mr Pohiva says things have gone back to normal and the restrictions affect his constitutional right to free speech.
“Our concern is focussed on the fact that we are not allowed to have access to radio and television, and also we are not allowed to have meetings. We can have meetings but not more than four people.”
Akilisi Pohiva
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