A civil action brought by the Noble Lasike and eight People's Representatives against the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the House, and the Kingdom of Tonga, is calling for the closure of the Tongan Legislature.

However, the action, which claims that the Tongan Legislative Assembly for 2006 was illegally opened by the Princess Regent HRH Pilolevu on June 1, will not stop the proceeding of the House, said the Speaker, Hon. Tu'iha'angana today.

Hon. Tu'iha'angana said that the Tongan Legislature would reconvene on Monday, June 12 and proceed with its working agenda, which is to debate the 2006-07 Budget. He said that the House would only be closed if it was ordered by the Supreme Court.

Clive Edwards, a lawyer, and the Tongatapu No. 3 People's Representative, filed a writ with the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court yesterday, June 6, claiming that, "the current Session has not been legally opened in accordance with the laws of the Kingdom of Tonga, specifically Section 17 of the Legislative Assembly Act 1915 Cap. 4."

Section 17 reads - "The sessions of Legislative Assembly shall be opened and closed by the King either in person or by a commission of three nobles appointed by him."

The Plaintiffs, Noble Lasike, and People's Representatives, 'Akilisi Pohiva, 'Isileli Pulu, Wlliam Clive Edwards, 'Uliti Uata, Vili Kaufusi Helu, Sunia Fili, and Lepolo Taunisila apply for the Supreme Court to declare that the current session of parliament has not been legally opened and therefore the Legislative Assembly to cease sitting until a session of the Legislative Assembly has been opened in accordance with the laws of Tonga.