After two days of camping at Pangai Si'’i in central Nuku'alofa, without receiving a response from Cabinet, Tonga's Constitutional change campaigner, Laki Niu, stepped up his call for democratic changes to the Tongan Constitution today by marching with 30 supporters to the parliament house.

The House, sitting during its morning session, was disrupted as Laki, who is a Nuku'alofa lawyer, and President of the Tonga Law Society, led supporters to the parliamentary compound and sat outside its doors.

Laki did not wait for the parliamentary debate to stop but spoke loudly to the Speaker of the House, Hon. Veikune, from outside its doors, telling him that they were coming because of Freedom, " the freedom that we will be celebrating on the Emancipation Day of November 4".

The House went silent and listened to what Laki, had to say.

Bondage

"We have deeply felt the bondage and we are asking you to free us from that bondage and that is by accepting the proposed amendment to the Constitution that has been submitted to Cabinet on Friday October 14," he said.

" It has been two days without any response from you and it is our wish that by coming here to the House you can give us an answer today ".

He concluded his short speech by saying they would return to Pangai Si'’i and remain there until a response is given to them.

The House then took an early lunch break.

Courage

Laki and his supporters returned to Pangai Si...’i where he thanked the small gathering for having the courage to go with him in the rain to the House, and that hopefully the Speaker would give them a reply today.

Laki began camping on Monday October 17 with the small gathering that are supporting the proposed change to the Constitution.