From the House, an English translation summary from the Tongan vernacular. Tonga Legislative Assembly, Minute No. 2, June 7, 2007.

- Finance Minister says Budget delay due to files damaged on 16/11.

- Speaker says soldiers' presence outside Parliament necessary because some members feel insecure.

- Justice Minister wants the House to stop any discussion in the House about the events of 16/11.

- 'Uliti Uata says that since 16/11 the PRs who have been charged with crimes relating to 16/11 have kept quiet. He asks government to stop showing on TV some of the bad things that took place on 16/11.

- Justice Minister introduces a motion for a resolution to defer contempt of the House proceedings relating to November 2006.

- 'Akilisi Pohiva says that PRs charged with offences, wish for reconciliation with government.

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Thursday June 7:

THE Speaker said that the agenda for the day was to debate over Bills that they had already started working on last year. Some had been read once and twice.

'Uliti Uata wanted to know where was the Budget. He said that normally the Budget was distributed following the opening of parliament. He wanted to know what was happening.

The Minister of Finance responded that 90% of the Budget had been completed. He said that the delay was due to some of their files that were damaged during last year's riot.

'Akilisi Pohiva repeated the question of what was the Budget.

Clive Edwards queried why there appeared to be too many soldiers mingling around the parliament compound. He called for the House to make a decision because it was not good for the image of the country to have soldiers roaming around outside parliament.

The Speaker said that he requested for soldiers to be in the House's property, because some members were feeling insecure. He said that soldiers were not there to scare members but to provide security.

Clive pleaded with the Minister of Police to send police officers over to replace soldiers.

The Speaker called on the clerk to read two Motions for Resolution No.s 1 and 2 for 2007.

The letter with the two Motions was dated June 5, 2007, addressed to the speaker of the House, Hon. Tu'iha'angana.

Motion No. 1: for the Government, Parliament and the Judiciary to have the liberty to make decisions.

The House recognised that there are people, including members of Parliament who have been charged with crimes relating to the events of 16/11, and with regards to constitutional conventions, relating to the liberty of Government, Parliament and the Judiciary, the Tongan Parliament has decided to defer any discussions relating to the events of 16/11 so that it does not influence the proceedings which are currently going on in courts.

Motion No. 2: resolution to defer contempt of the House proceedings relating to November 2006 (contempt of the House).

The House noted that its proceedings were disrupted on more than one occasion when Parliament last met in November 2006, and noted that such disruption may be considered as a contempt of the House under the Constitution, and resolves to defer consideration or any motion on whether Parliament's privileges were violated by any person, including any Member, until relevant judicial proceedings that may also touch on similar facts and events, have been completed.

The Legislature dissolved into the Whole House Committee and the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Tu'ilakepa took his chair. He called on the Minister of Justice to verify her Motions.

The Minister explained the importance for the House to make a decision and stop any discussion in the House about the events of 16/11.

Clive Edwards wanted to know if the courts had made any illegal decisions, which caused her to present this motion to the House.

The Minister said that because there was no question about the motion she would proceed and verify Motion No. 2, which was relating to Contempt of Parliament.

Clive Edwards queried the intention of Motion No. 1 because the House has Rules of Proceedings and the Chairman can stop members from discussing issues relating to 16/11.

He said that a Prime Minister's office TV program showed the burning of Nuku'alofa on November 16, and they had complained but they were still showing the program.

'Uliti Uata said that since 16/11 the PRs who have been charged with crimes relating to 16/11 have kept quiet and never said anything about the event. He asked for government to stop talking and showing on TV some of the bad things that took place on 16/11.

He wondered how could government could go around talking about 16/11 and then try to stop them from talking about it in the House. He said that government was stirring things up, and they should only introduce motions like this if they suspected that something was going to happen.

The Minister of Works wanted to know if the Member wanted the House to forget what happened on 16/11, including the court cases.

'Uliti said that he was only referring to the proceeding in the House, because the House was stirring up trouble.

The Minister of Works pointed out that there was a case of Contempt of Parliamentary Proceeding.

'Uliti said that there were Parliamentary regulations to deal with such cases, and there was no need for the Minister to introduce the two motions.

The Minister of Justice said that the motion relating to contempt of Parliament was for the House to agree that there was a case but because of the proceedings in courts, for the House to defer dealing with the Contempt case until the court proceedings were completed.

The Minister of Justice agreed to withdraw Motion No. 1. She agreed that the House's regulations were sufficient enough to deal with her concerns, but for the House to make a decision on Motion No. 2.

'Akilisi Pohiva thanked the Minister of Justice, and he conveyed the wish of the PRs, who had been charged [in relation to 16/11], for reconciliation with government.

The Chairman of the Committee called for members to prepare for closure. He vacated his chair and the Speaker took his chair and called for the closure of the House.