MEDIA
RELEASE
30 April 2003
“HRDMT
ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS OPTIONS FOR ACTION
ON “TAIMI ‘O TONGA” BAN”
The
Advisory Committee of the Human Rights & Democracy
Movement in Tonga Inc. will discuss on Thursday,
(1st May) the options for action available to it
on the ban on the “Taimi ‘o Tonga” newspaper.
The “options for action” are contained
in a “Discussion Paper” prepared by
HRDMT Director Lopeti Senituli. Members of the
HRDMT Advisory Committee are Rev. Simote Vea, Professor
Futa Helu, Samiuela ‘Akilisi Pohiva and Finau
Tutone.
Speaking
on behalf of the HRDMT, Lopeti Senituli said, “The
members of HRDMT and all the people of Tonga are
confronted by a crisis that can make or break this
country. The crisis is the standoff between the
political and temporal authority of His Majesty
and the Privy Council on the one hand and the moral
and spiritual authority of the Supreme Court of
Tonga on the other.”
The
Supreme Court had on 4 April ruled that the three
bans that the Tongan Government had placed on “Taimi ‘o
Tonga” were unlawful and invalid, and ordered
the bans quashed. His Majesty and the Privy Council
on the same day gazzetted a new Ordinance imposing
a new (fourth) ban on “Taimi ‘o
Tonga”.
Senituli
said there are basically 3 options for action available
to the HRDMT. “The first option is uphold
the decision of the Supreme Court of Tonga of 4
April. To do so would be to clearly commit an offence
under the new Ordinance gazzetted on 4 April and
invite fines up to $1,000.00 and 2 years in prison.
The second option is to abide with the provisions
of the new Ordinance and thereby admit that the
Judiciary of Tonga is impotent and that in effect
the Executive has autocratic powers beyond reproach
or review. The third option is to lobby the Nobles’ Representatives
and the People’s Representatives to rescind
the new Ordinance when it is tabled in the Legislative
Assembly where it must be submitted.”
Senituli
also explained that HRDMT and the People’s
Representatives in the Legislative Assembly have
organised public forums in numerous villages and
the publics’ views will be taken into account
by the Advisory Committee.
For further information please contact: Lopeti Senituli on phone 25501
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