Editor,
The plot is getting thicker. It is now confirmed that prior to Prime Minister Pōhiva’s letter of publicly lashing Acting Attorney General ‘Āminiasi Kefu on the Tu'ilakepa vs. Crown case, a more sinister act of illegal activities took place.
The Prime Minister summoned Mr. Kefu to the PMO with instructions (directives) on how to handle the Tu'ilakepa vs. Crown case. As I discussed in Part I, the “separation of powers” between the Executive Branch, the Judicial Branch, and the Legislative Branch for that matter, is a key principle in our Constitutional Monarchy democracy.
They must maintain their independence as equal partners in our Three Branch of Government democracy. The Legislative Assemble makes laws; the Executive executes those laws, and the Judiciary interprets (or review) those laws for conformity with the Constitution.
It protects people’s constitutional rights from a domineering Executive Branch, which wants to grow powerfully unchallenged as a tyrant. Tyranny is a ruler, or group of people, who want all the powers regardless of the rule of law. In fact the new Tongan Government Executive branch holds itself above the law in many cases, fledging its wings mainly to reward their PTOA cronies.
People’s Rights to an Impartial Judiciary
The separation of powers guarantees our rights to be judged by an impartial judicial branch. The judges must independently seek “justice” without fear of repercussions from the Executive and Legislative branches. Judges must not be subjected to undue pressure and public ridicule in the exercise of their legal duties.
Prime Minister Pōhiva applied undue pressures on Mr. Kefu, both prior and after the Tu'iielakepa vs. Crown case. First the PM laid down the rule how to handle the case, and then lashed out at Mr. Kefu in the public square when Mr. Pōhiva did not agree with the verdicts reached in the case.
Mr. Tu'ilakepa deserved his day in court as a private citizen. Mr. Kefu used prudence judgment according to his profession training and moral values. The Prime Minister misused his Executive Power to cross the separation of powers boundaries laid out by our Constitution.
These are egregious acts of lawlessness we must not tolerate.
Sione A. Mokofisi
Director: English, Journalism & Languages
Tonga International Academy
Comments
Kuo'osi mahino pe fa'unga ia
Kuo 'osi mahino pe fa'unga ia pule'anga, pea mo e konisitutone. Ngaahi va'a mo honau ngaahi fatongia ke fai. Ko e fehu'i heni pe 'e lava fefe 'ehe Palemia, pea mo hono pule'anga 'o fakahoko 'enau taumu'a ngaue na'e 'uhinga ai hono fili kinautolu 'ehe kakai? Kapau he 'ikai lava 'ehe pule'anga fo'ou 'o fakahoko 'enau kaveinga ngaue na'e tupunga ai hono fili kinautolu 'ehe kakai, pea ko e me'a ia 'oku ui ko e 'fail', pea 'e mamahi leva 'a e fu'u kakai tokolahi na'anau fili 'a e pule'anga fo'ou. Pe koeha 'a e lau 'a e konisitutone, ka kapau he 'ikai ngaue fakataha 'a e va'a fakamaau'anga pea mo e Palemia mo hono pule'anga, ko e koto launoa, he 'ikai lava fakahoko 'a e kaveinga ngaue ia 'a e pule'anga na'e fili 'ehe kakai, kapau ko e va'a fakamaau'anga ia 'oku nau tui kinautolu kiha me'a kehe. Na'aku lave heni kimu'a, ko e lao 'oku taha pe. Ka ko hono fakahoko 'ehe kau fakamaau, District Attorney DA, pea moe kau loea etc. 'oku fakalanulanu 'o hange ha feke. Takitaha faka'uhinga pe 'o fakatatau ki he'ene 'uhinga, pea taimi lahi fakatatau ki he'enau tui faka-politikale. 'I 'Amelika ni ko e fakamaau ma'olunga taha 'oku toko 9. Taimi ni'ihi 'oku 'oatu ha fo'i keisi kiai, pea 'io toko 5 kae 'ikai toko 4 'aki 'enau ngaahi 'uhinga kehekehe. Meimei ko e ngaahi 'uhinga ia ko'eni, ko e ngaahi 'uhinga faka-politikale ia. Kehekehe 'uhinga ka fo'i hopo tatau pe. Ko hono 'uhinga ia ko 'ene 'alu hake pe ha pule'anga fo'ou 'o taki, pea 'oku nau fili pe 'enau kau fakamaau ke 'alu ki he kau fakamaau ma'olunga, pea fili pea mo 'enau kau DA 'e lava kenau ngaue fakataha kae lava ke fakahoko 'a e kaveinga ngaue 'a e palesiteni mo hono pule'anga. 'Oku 'ikai te u lave'i pe 'e lava fefe ke fakahoko 'a e kaveinga ngaue 'a e Pelamia mo hono pule'anga kapau ko e DA ia moe fakamaau 'oku na tui kinaua kiha me'a kehe. 'Oua na'a talamai 'eha taha ko e ngaue 'a e DA, mo e tu'utu'uni 'a e fakamaau ko e tonu taha pe ia 'i mamani. Pe koeha lau 'a e konisitutone ka ko e fakapotopoto taha ke ngaue fakataha 'a e DA pea mo e Palemia mo hono pule'anga. Kapau 'oku fepaki mo e konisitutone pea fa'u ha konisitutone fo'ou 'o 'oange mafai ki he Palemia mo hono pule'anga ke nau fili pe ha DA 'e lava ke nau ngaue fakataha. 'Oku ou maheni 'aupito mo e ngaue 'a e kau DA. Ka fiema'u 'ehe DA ke tautea mate ha taha. Pea 'oku ne fakamalanga pe ke tautea mate tokotaha koia. Ka fiema'u 'ehe DA ia ke hao tokotaha koia, pea 'oku fakamalanga pe ke hao tokotaha koia. Koeha me'a koia 'oku 'oatu 'ehe DA, pea 'oku 'listen' kiai fakamaau'anga .... SAIA