152 plaintiffs in Class action against Tonga government [1]
Wednesday, January 28, 2004 - 15:34. Updated on Saturday, May 10, 2014 - 17:34.
A total of 152 plaintiffs are signatories to a writ, calling for a Judicial Review of the media legislation enacted by the Tonga government last year, which curtailed freedom of speech and introduced restrictive print media licensing.
'Akilisi Pohiva, the Tongatapu no. 1 People's Representative to the Tongan Legislative Assembly, said in Nuku'alofa on January 27 that he was forwarding the names of the plaintiffs to their legal counsel, Rodney Harrison QC, in Auckland, New Zealand, and he was expecting a writ to be tabled with the Tonga Supreme Court within two weeks.
'Akilisi said that the 152 plaintiffs came from throughout Tonga, from Niuafo'ou, Niuatoputapu, Vava'u, Ha'apai, 'Eua and Tongatapu. "There are individual citizens, seven Members of Parliament, media organisations, NGOs, senior Religious leaders, Town Officers, District Officers, and business people." 'Akilisi said that the call for a judicial review over the amendment to Clause 7 of the Constitution and the two media acts was significant because it was a concerted effort by the people and not just by an individual.
The seven people representatives who are the driving force in the call for a Judicial Review, are the three People's Representatives for Tongatapu, 'Akilisi Pohiva, Feleti Sevele, and 'Isileli Pulu; the PRs for Ha'apai, 'Uliti Uata, and Fineasi Funaki; the PR for Niuatoputapu and Niuafo'ou, Sione Peauafi Haukinima and the PR for 'Eua, Sunia Fili.