Crown witness says People's Reps urged crowd to Pangai Si'i [1]
Thursday, March 12, 2009 - 10:23. Updated on Friday, September 12, 2014 - 16:33.
A crown witness told the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court, that if people were not urged to Pangai Si'i the events of November 16 would not have taken place.
Tevita Ma'u Taholo Tovi, widely known by his chiefly title 'Tovi',
who first gave evidence on Tuesday, continued giving evidence on March 11, the eighth day of the jury trial of six men charged with sedition in relation to the riots of November 16, 2006.
He told the court's morning session when cross examined, he had no doubt and believed that if the People's Representatives had not urged people to go to Pangai Si'i the events of November 16 would not have taken place.
Defence counsel Mana Kaufusi asked the witness who is 65 years old if he had previously told defence counsel Sifa Tu'utafaiva, that one cannot always recall everything when one ages.
He put to him that it is possible that one cannot always recall everything when one is getting older. The witness replied "sometimes, but when one recalls something clearly, one would remember it."
"Bloodshed"
The witness who was cross-examined on evidence previously stated. One was in relation to the phrase containing the word "bloodshed", which he told the court he overheard on OBN television from a meeting at Masilamea.
Counsel Kaufusi put to the witness he alleged two phrases, "it is time for bloodshed," and another "if attempts for reform lead to bloodshed then it would happen." The counsel asked "do they mean the same thing or not?"
The witness answered, "they are the same, the two phrases refer to the same thing, that is to kill."
He was again asked whether it was correct to say when the phrase said "it is time for bloodshed" it meant "now".
The witness answered "no it does not necessarily mean the immediate or now, but it is something that must be done."
On the second day of trial, March 4, the accused Tevita Vi was alleged to have said this phrase in a meeting at Masilamea prior to November 16.
Prime Minister's Office
In your evidence in chief you stated you heard speeches made by the accused Semisi Tapueluelu saying "are you going to come or we come over there." The witness said "yes", he recalled this statement.
The witness was again asked, he alleged the phrase "Prime Minister you come here and see the people or we come there," the witness confirmed "yes" and said the accused Teisino Fuko said this.
The counsel put to him that the two phrases are different.
The witness answered "no" the two phrases meant the same thing, which construes to the same thing, going to the Prime Minister's Office.
The trial continues on March 12 with more Crown witnesses.
The accused are Paula Vi of Masilamea, Siosiua Uipi of Fatai, Tevita Fifita of Popua, Siale Fihaki of Nukunuku, Semisi Tapueluelu of Haveluloto and Ha'apai People's Representative, Sione Teisina Fuko of Ma'ufanga.