TASANOC accuses PM of "dictatorial political interference with sport" [1]
Friday, June 8, 2018 - 20:55. Updated on Friday, June 8, 2018 - 21:30.
Tonga's Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva was accused of "dictatorial and blatant, political interference with sport” by Lord Tupou, President of the Executive Board of TASANOC on June 6
In a letter written to the Prime Minister this week Lord Tupou conveyed "the serious concerns" of the executive board of the Tonga Sports Association and National Olympic Committee.
He warned the Prime Minister that if he continued to interfere and dissolved TASANOC it may result in Tonga's suspension from the Olympic movement.
Lord Tupou alleged that the Prime Minister had called a meeting on May 31, where the PM had suggested that the Executive Board of TASNOC be "dissolved" - as was done by the PM to the Rugby Union.
"With respect, Prime Minister, this smacks of dictatorial and blatant, political interference with sport,” Lord Tupou stated.
"There were other matters raised by you at the meeting which, with respect, are untrue," Lord Tupou stated in the three-page letter, which set out to correct the PM's allegations.
He stated that the the PM called and chaired a meeting on 31 May at the office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, attended by the Deputy PM, also responsible for Sports, Hon. Semisi Sika, five other government officials and the representatives of nine National Sports Federations.
"We are most concerned at your reported aims for calling the meeting, namely ke tamate'i 'a e TASANOC, as Government could no longer work with them," Lord Tupou stated.
The Prime Minister's allegations at the meeting that TASANOC had not presented annual financial reports "is not true," he said, as were other allegations about funds unaccounted for.
Lord Tupou stated that TASANOC believed that the PM's motives were a result of current legal action against the Tonga Government in the region.
"It appears clear to us that that the main reason for calling the meeting and expressing your displeasure was because of the legal action by Pacific Games Council (PGC) and TASANOC against Tonga Government for unilaterally pulling out of the Agreement for Tonga to host the 2019 Pacific Games causing those games to be relocated to Samoa."
Lord Tupou stated that because the matter is before the courts they could not discuss it.
He stressed that TASANOC had a mandate "to safeguard its absolute autonomy and to resist all pressures whether of a political, racial religious or economic nature".
He warned the PM "Your accusations against TASANOC are not true... and if you and the Government continue with this mission and aim to interfere and dissolve TASANOC, it may result in Tonga's suspension from the Olympic Movement and her membership with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Commonwealth Games Federation and the Pacific Games Council."
The letter was sent to the PM and copied to the Palace Office, and the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga.