There must be justice for 16/11 cases [1]
Sunday, April 22, 2007 - 12:00. Updated on Sunday, April 13, 2014 - 19:24.
Editor,
I simply wish to thank you for your continuous coverage of the cases involving those PRs who by all means sought to identify themselves with the destruction of Nuku'alofa on 16/11.
It is indeed the divinely appointed responsibility of the political establishment of any country to administer justice in the land (Romans 13). Hence, the focus should be upon government solicitors and judges who are directly involved in these cases to do all that they can to guarantee that justice will be done on the upcoming court cases. The burden upon their shoulder is to demonstrate that the rule of law in the land is not a 'fraud' as has been maintained unashamedly by Mr. Pohiva throughout his political career.
There is a sense in which the PRs directly involved with the events of 16/11 ought to be extremely thankful that their rights as Tongan citizens have been apparently upheld throughout the current situation in our country. I would think that if the claim that the Tongan government has been dictatorial and oppressive was to be substantiated in any way, that their treatment could have been altogether different from what they are given up to now. In my opinion, this should serve to show (amongst other things) that the current political system is already democratic to a certain extend. It is perhaps a form of democracy that is vulnerable to being undermined by the reign of a king but a democracy nonetheless. Keep up the good work.
Faka'apa'apa atu,
Rev Dr Ma'afu'otu'itonga Palu