People could not be controlled by PRs on November 16, witness tells court [1]
Thursday, May 17, 2007 - 19:11. Updated on Tuesday, May 20, 2014 - 19:00.
Witness, Hon. Luani told a Preliminary Inquiry today that he had initially supported a proposal by five People's Representatives for the People to elect 21 representatives into the House, but he did not agree with the methods used in trying to achieve this.
On the fourth day of a Preliminary Inquiry Hearing for the People's Representatives 'Akilisi Pohiva, 'Isileli Pulu, Clive Edwards, 'Uliti Uata and Lepolo Taunisila, who are charged with sedition alleged to have been committed on November 16 Hon. Luani gave evidence at the Nuku'alofa Police Magistrate's Court.
Hon. Luani, the sixth witness to be called by the prosecutor, told the court that at a Special Meeting in the Cabinet Room at the Prime Minister's Office late in the afternoon of November 16 'Akilisi Pohiva told the Prime Minister, Dr Feleti Sevele that, "the people are waiting outside for the Government's response."
He was referring to a proposal that they had presented to the House, and were pressuring for the House to vote on.
The Minister of Police then asked Pohiva, "what about the Rule of Law?"
to which Pohiva had replied, "there is no rule of law, the law is in the hands of the people today". The Minister of Police, had then stated, "then what is the use of having this meeting, if there is no rule of law?"
The Special Meeting started with a prayer, before they proceeded with the meeting. He said that at one state 'Uliti Uata stated that if the Speaker had accepted their proposal in the House the damage to properties that had already been committed would not have taken place.
The Speaker responded that he suggested for their proposal to be submitted to the Political Reform Committee before it was tabled into the house.
Hon. Luani said that he told the meeting that he supported the proposal made by the PR's but because of what had taken place that day he had withdrawn his support. "I supported the idea but we are at odds when it comes to the methods used because the people could not be controlled," the witness told the court.
Hon. Luani said that during the meeting, Lepolo Taunisila came in and informed the meeting that part of town was burning including the ANZ Bank. Pohiva then asked the other People's Representatives to go out and to calm the people.
Letter
Hon. Luani also told the court that towards the end of the meeting the Prime Minister verbally accepted what Pohiva was pursuing, but Pohiva was not happy because he wanted a letter to be written down and for someone from Government to accompany him to Pangai Si'i and read out the letter.
Hon. Luani said that Pohiva was concerned that the people would not believe him.
Crown Prosecutor Peter Little then asked the witness precisely what did 'Akilisi Pohiva want, and the witness answered that Pohiva wanted the government to endorse their proposal for the people to elect 21 members to parliament and for the nobles to elect nine representatives.
The Prime Minister had ordered for the letter to be drafted and the Minister of Justice suggested that if any letter was to be made from Government then she should sign it because she was the Attorney General.
Heated discussion
Uata then proposed to change the proposal and for the people to also elect the nobles.
Hon. Luani said that there was a heated discussion about this between Uata and the Speaker who said that he did not want to rush the proposal because it needed further discussion before being submitted from the Political Reform committee to the House.
The witness said that from his impression Uata was more concerned with now and the fact that the Speaker could have avoided the events of November 16 if he had accepted the proposal in the House. Uata then wanted the House to sit but was declined.
Nuku'alofa burns
Hon. Luani told the court that as the meeting was about to finish Pohiva was still proposing for someone from Government to go back with him to Pangai Si'i to read the letter out.
The Prime Minister responded that he would not allow that because it was risky. The Minister of Justice then advised Pohiva to remain calm because the letter would be announced live on the national radio later that evening.
The meeting ended about 6:00 to 6:30pm in the evening when the news came that Nuku'alofa was burning, said the witness.
Hon. Luani was to be cross-examined by all three counsel for the defence in the afternoon.
The hearing will continue tomorrow, Day Five, with more witnesses to be called.