Police tell Fasi court that protestors broke through cordon [1]
Friday, March 2, 2007 - 19:23. Updated on Monday, July 20, 2015 - 11:44.
Three protest leaders 'Akilisi Pohiva, Tu'i Uata and Semisi Sika appeared in the Fasi Magistrate's Court today for the continuance of their hearing on charges of obstructing the police and disobedience during a protest march on June 1, 2006.
The hearing which had been adjourned several times since the defendants first appearance in court on January 26, resumed today with Police Prosecutor 'Unga Fa'aoa calling four witnesses.
'Unga told the court that the prosecution had previously called two witnesses to give evidence, including Chief Inspector Kainga Hia and Chief Inspector Sione Talanoa. Today he called his third witness Chief Inspector Helepiko who was the officer in charge of security on the day of the protest march.
Marchers
Chief Inspector Helepiko told the court that on June 1 everyone was aware that it was the opening of parliament and he had been instructed that the protest march that was scheduled for that afternoon was to begin at 2:00pm, and the leaders, who included 'Akilisi and other People's Representatives were informed by Chief Inspectors Kainga Hia and Sione Talanoa that they would not begin until 2:00pm and that time would not be altered.
He said that about 500 people had gathered on to the school grounds near Tonga High School that afternoon for the march, and around 1:00pm 'Akilisi shouted for the march to move to the intersection at the Tonga Water Board and wait there for the second part of their march.
He said that when they reached there it was obvious that the traffic, which was already allowed onto Taufa'ahau Road stopped because the marchers poured onto the road, and Teisina Fuko shouted for the march to begin, and all of a sudden a man on a motorcycle ran through a police cordon and led the march well before the scheduled time, and the police could not stop them.
"My duty of making sure that the marchers were secured was not done that day because the leaders made my job difficult by not abiding by the instructions given. Instead, they forced ahead the march well before the scheduled time, and to me this march was very disorderly because I stopped it a few times so as to round them up properly because people were walking everywhere not only on the road but on to the side walks as well," he said.
School children
Chief Inspector Tevita Fifita the fourth witness called to give evidence today said that on June 1, 2006 he was the chief traffic officer, and he remained in town to make sure that all of the secondary schools marching were completed. "Because it was not completed, because I was not sure that the last group of marchers, which included Queen Salote College, had reached it's destination, I did not report back to Chief Inspector Hia because central Nuku'alofa was not yet cleared of school children and pedestrians so I thought that it was wise to wait to 2:00pm for the protest march to begin, just to be sure," said Tevita.
He added that before he could report back he found out that the marching had started and when he rushed down in a patrol car that was scheduled to lead the march the marchers had already reached the Basilica Catholic Church so he had no other choice but to lead them to Pangai Lahi.
"This clearly affected my job that day as I was not able to perform my duties properly because orders were disobeyed," said Chief Inspector Fifita.
The Police Prosecutor asked Tevita Fifita if it was appropriate at the time to allow the march to proceed.
Counsel for the Defence objected because Tevita Fifita was in town and not at the Water Board, and the objection was accepted by the judge.
Adjourned
The court also heard two other witnesses in the afternoon but at the end of the day Police Magistrate Samiu Palu adjourned the hearing to continue on April 16. This was because the magistrate will be traveling overseas and the defence lawyer William Clive Edwards will be busy in March when the 16/11 preliminary inquiry at the Nuku'alofa Magistrate's Court begins.
The prosecution told the court that he would call around 16 witnesses and the defence is also expected to call five witnesses with two of their defendants to give testimony.