By Pesi Fonua

The decision by the Tonga Legislative Assembly to select three People's Representatives, Clive Edwards, 'Akilisi Pohiva and 'Uliti Uata to be members of a Tripartite Committee to vet political reform proposals for Tonga is as much a set back in our strive for political reform in Tonga in the 21st century as was the destruction in Nuku'alofa on November 16 last year.

These three PRs, and a fourth reserve member of the committee, Lepolo Taunisila, are among the five PRs charged with sedition and other criminal offences, relating to the destruction in Nuku'alofa on 16/11. 

In addition to these criminal charges, the Tongan parliament also last month passed a resolution for a Contempt of Parliamentary Proceedings case against them to be heard after the sedition trial.

The accused PRs remain innocent until they are proven guilty in a court of law.

But it is absurd to allow the accused PRs to be members of a committee that is planning our future, given the fact that the basis for their being charged by the Crown and by Parliament is a claim that they tried to impose their political solution on us by force. 

It is like recalling a teacher who has been accused of child molesting onto the school board to decide how they are going to deal with the issue of child molesting. In any other walk of life, people who are accused of serious crimes are suspended from their jobs, at least until they have their day in court. So why should our lawmakers be excused from the rules of integrity that the rest of us are expected to abide by? 

So we have to ask: who are these accused PRs actually representing on the Tripartite Committee? 

If these PRs are representing those who supported and participated in the destruction of Nuku'alofa, they cannot claim to be representing the best interests of the people of Tonga.

It makes a mockery of justice. They must receive the verdict of the trial and until that day, and depending on the outcome, they should not be allowed to make decisions about our future.

Now their selection to be members of the Tripartite Committee has cast a shadow over the efforts of government and the Tongan Parliament to restore a sense of justice and security to Tonga following the events of 16/11.