Tension in Tonga over state of emergency

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http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200704/r140328_482426.mp3

Correspondents Report - Sunday, 29 April , 2007
Reporter: Graeme Dobell
TANYA NOLAN: Tonga is still grappling with the social and legal fallout of the riot that tore through its capital last November.

The political argument is about the power held by the King and the nobles in a system of government that has medieval echoes.

The leader of Tonga's pro-democracy movement has called for the immediate lifting of the state of emergency imposed in November, and a quick timetable for the handover of power by the King.

Akilisi Pohiva says the King of Tonga is on a different planet from his people, and Tonga has waited far too long for change.

He was speaking in Canberra, giving the annual address of the Centre for Democratic Institutions, as Graeme Dobell reports.

GRAEME DOBELL: After two decades pushing for the handover of power from the monarchy, Akilisi Pohiva is sceptical about promises of change from the top in Tonga.

AKILISI POHIVA: What we have learned from history is that monarchy is a monarchy. They never surrender their power.

GRAEME DOBELL: Mr Pohiva says there's no sign of early action or a time frame for change by the King, who still holds much of the power in the constitutional monarchy created more than 130 years ago.

The democracy leader says Tonga is unsure about the intentions of the new King who's just come to the throne.

AKILISI POHIVA: But the problem is the Prime Minister… that the King is still very powerful, the Prime Minister is accountable to the King, and whatever the King says the Prime Minister will follow suit. And that's the problem.

We don't really know what is in the mind of the new King. He's still single, he's very much involved in business, he has a very strong business interest, he's living in his own planet, too far removed from reality, he doesn't understand his people. That is problem.

GRAEME DOBELL: The riots and arson in the capital, Nuku'alofa, on November 16 destroyed much of the central business district and caused a number of deaths. The Tongan Government has imposed a state of emergency, which allows it control the roads, detain suspects and prohibit meetings of more than five people.

Mr Pohiva says it's time to lift the state of emergency.

AKILISI POHIVA: Representatives of the people do not have access to the media. We can have meetings, but not more than four people. So our constitutional right for freedom of speech is very much affected. And I could tell the feeling of the people. I know that the majority of the people are angry.

GRAEME DOBELL: Mr Pohiva says the destruction in Nuku'alofa on November 16 was partly directed at Chinese businesses and at businesses close to the King. But the democracy leader says the riot was also an expression of people's anger and disappointment.

AKILISI POHIVA: My assessment of the situation is that I think people have been waiting far too long for Government to come out and respond to the grievances and calling from the people for political reform, as to allow them to be part of the decision-making process or to be involved in the running of Government.

So some of the Chinese shops and stores were burned down by a group of youths, they broke away from the meeting at the Mariah (phonetic), while we have a meeting at the Cabinet room, and started rioting and burning.

TANYA NOLAN: That's the leader of Tonga's pro-democracy movement, Akilisi Pohiva.