A hearing to decide the fate of the Tongan Parliament's 2006 session will start at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court tomorrow, June 17.

The Supreme Court office confirmed today, that the two parties to the Civil Case had filed the essential documents and agreed for the hearing to start on Saturday at 9am.

The case has been through several twists and turns, since the House passed a motion by the Prime Minister on Monday, June 12 for the House to adjourn indefinitely, awaiting a court decision, after a group of MPs filed a claim that the opening of parliament on June 1 by the Princess Regent, Princess Pilolevu was illegal.

In a Chamber hearing on Thursday afternoon, the government and other defendants rejected an offer by the plaintiffs for the case to be discontinued. Then today the defendants filed their Statement of Defence.

Hearing date was agreed

The defendants have also rejected a press statement made by the plaintiffs that accused government of playing for time.

The Secretary to Cabinet, 'Eseta Fusitu'a, in the Prime Minister's television program on Thursday evening, said that in a Chamber hearing on Tuesday June 13 the defendants lawyers had said their statement of defence would be filed with the Supreme Court today, June 16, and a hearing date was agreed on for Wednesday next week.

However, on Wednesday June 14, the Plaintiffs, Noble Lasike, 'Akilisi Pohiva, 'Isileli Pulu, Clive Edwards, 'Uliti Uata, Viliami Helu, Sunia Fili, and Lepolo Taunisila, filed an application with the Court for their Civil Case against the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the House and the Governnment of Tonga to be discontinued.

In a Press Conference that was called by the plaintiffs on Wednesday, after Clive filed the application for their case to be withdrawn, they claimed that government was deliberately dragging its feet on the matter, and that by Wednesday June 14 neither of the three defendants had filed any defence. They made no reference to fact that a hearing date had already been agreed on between the parties in Chambers, as claimed by 'Eseta.

Both Clive and 'Akilisi stressed that their main reason for discontinuing their case was because of their concern that at this time of economic depression in Tonga, the 2006-07 Budget, which should be passed by the House before July 1, may be passed without being properly debated.

Business as usual

Meanwhile, there is tension in the air because of the depressed state of the Tongan economy, the frailty of the king, compounded with the unstable state of the Tongan parliament.

Trying to generate some confidence, the Minister of Justice, Hon. 'Alisi Taumoepeau released a press statement this afternoon, June 16, saying that, ...“it is business as usual and the government does not expect any problems with delivering public services while the House is adjourned. The Ministry of Finance will continue to make payments....”



She said that there was no need for alarm, "I want to state that the government will be paying public servants...’ salaries as normal...….The government wants to ensure that public services will continue to be delivered as per usual and will not be affected by the adjournment of Parliament."

Counsel for the plaintiffs is Clive Edwards. The defendants are represented by Harry Waalkens for the Prime Minister, 'Aisea Taumoepeau and Samiu Vaipulu for the Speaker, and Linda Simiki for the Government.