From the House, an English translation summary from the Tongan vernacular, by Pesi Fonua.

Tonga Legislative Assembly, Minute No. 19, Thursday August 9, 2007.

No debate

THE House started off harmoniously and in a quick sequence of voting passed a bill for a new Civil Service Act 2007 without any debate at all. It was carried with votes of 23-0 in committee and its second reading by 19-0, and third reading by 25-0 in the Legislature.

Broadcasting ban

The banning of some PRs from using Television Tonga and Radio Tonga to air political programs was an issue that inspired a few verbal exchanges between some PRs and other members of the House.

'Akilisi Pohiva, 'Isileli Pulu, 'Uliti Uata and Vili Kaufusi all pleaded for the House and the Chairman of the Board of Tonga Broadcasting Commission, (the Prime Minister) to allow them to use TV Tonga and Radio Tonga to communicate to the people who elected them into the House. They argued that it is important for the people, particularly those in the outer islands to know what is going on in parliament. 'Uliti suggested for the House to pass a decision and demand that TBC lift its ban on the broadcasting of political programs.

The Minister of Justice reminded the PRs that the House has no authority to dictate to the board of TBC how it should run Television Tonga and Radio Tonga. She explained that the only authority that the House has under the law of Tonga was to draft a legislation to regulate the media. She said that a Supreme Court decision (in 2004) deleted three of the amendments that were made by the House, but left one, which was the right to regulate the media.

The Prime Minister who is the Chairman of the Board of TBC told the House that the banning by TBC of the broadcasting of political programs was a decision by the Board, and government has been criticised for interfering in the work of boards. He said that following 16/11 the Emergency Power was introduced for the benefit of the whole country and the focus of government is to build the country.

'Akilisi reminded the PM that it was he (before he became a Cabinet Minister) who was trying to convince them to take A3Z to court but now he is "punishing us."

Samiu Vaipulu praised the work of TBC and said that he had a program with the station, which they had broadcast. He suggested for the complaining PRs to go and negotiate with the board if they wanted to broadcast a program.

PM pleaded

The Prime Minister pleaded with 'Akilisi to stop threatening that there will be protest marches during the Forum Meeting in October. He pleaded for everyone to project a good image of Tonga overseas because overseas leaders are concerned. He was in New Zealand where the Prime MInister asked if it was true that there would be civil protest during the Forum meeting and he informed her that a minority group are doing that sort of thing but the rest of the people will welcome the Pacific leaders.

'Akilisi said that the PM was lying, and neither the PRs nor the members of their reform committee were threatening anybody.

The PM shot back that the threat was published in the member's newspaper, Kele'a. He said that the Emergency Power is in place based on recommendations from the police and the Tonga Defence Service. He said that things are still very sensitive, and the House should really look after the well-being of the whole country.

Tu'ipelehake asks, what will happen?

Noble Tu'ipelehake said that 'Akilisi in Parliament had said that if political reform will not take place in 2008, something will happen. He asked 'Akilisi to tell him what will happen.

'Akilisi said he did not say anything like that, "and if I said things like that then you should punish me and dismiss me from the House."

The Chairman of the Whole House Committee, Noble Tu'ilakepa said he remembered what the member said. [Refer Minute No. 18].

The Speaker ended the threatening talk by simply saying that they "should end the court hearing there."

Committees

The House then proceeded to accept an invitation for the Speaker to attend a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Executive meeting in New Delhi, India.

The House was then closed and will go into recess until August 16, giving committees time to catch up with their work.