Vol. 71/No. 7      February 19, 2007

Pohiva is the most prominent target of a crackdown by the government of Tonga that has roped in hundreds of people in the last two months. He is a longstanding advocate of democratic reforms, and one of nine elected Peoples’ Representatives, who are a minority in a legislature dominated by Members of Parliament (MPs) handpicked by the Tongan king.

Home to 114,000 people, the South Pacific nation is dominated by the imperialist powers of Australia and New Zealand.

Another pro-democracy MP, Isileli Pulu, and businesswoman Ofa Simiki were arrested days before Pohiva. The sedition charges leveled against all three “were all related to the crisis of November 16,” Pohiva said.

Two more peoples’ representatives MPs—Lepolo Taunisila and Clive Edwards—were arrested January 24 and February 2 respectively and also face accusations of sedition.

“I reject the charges,” Pohiva emphasized, explaining that a November 16 rebellion was “a people’s upheaval activated by the continual refusal of the government to respond to the grievances of the people.”

The rebellion followed the government’s closure of parliament for the year, without responding to a massive days-long rally near parliament house demanding democratic changes.

As the rally broke up, some protesters fanned out through downtown Nuku’alofa, the capital, setting fire to businesses believed to be linked to the royal family. The central business district was devastated and remains in ruins today.

Six people died in the fire at the Shoreline electricity company. Isileli Pulu faces murder charges because he is alleged to have urged protesters to “burn Shoreline,” said Clive Edwards.

As these events unfolded, said Pohiva, he and four other pro-democracy MPs were meeting with Prime Minister Feleti Sevele and cabinet ministers, urging them to respond to the protesters’ demands. “Our proposal to parliament was for the people to elect 21 representatives and the nobles to elect nine.” This would reverse the present constitutional setup.

As Tongan security forces began patrolling the streets, the New Zealand and Australian governments sent troops and police. The imperialist cops have remained after the withdrawal of the soldiers.

The Tongan government immediately began mass arrests of those allegedly involved in the rebellion. Journalist Michael Field reported February 2 that around 1,100 people have been arrested and charged. The police commissioner told reporters a couple of weeks earlier that they were accused of “drunkenness … theft, unlawful damage, [and] arson.”

Tonga’s National Centre for Women and Children alleged “systematic torture and abuse” of mostly young prisoners, according to an Australian Broadcasting Company report.

A state of emergency declared after the rebellion has been extended until February. Under its provisions police can “without warrant stop and search any person or enter and search premises … and seize evidence,” reported the Matangi Tonga web site November 22.

“We have no right to hold a meeting of more than four people,” said Pohiva.  
 
 
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