Christopher Harder, a defence lawyer in Tonga's 16/11 sedition trials, in a surprise move today, has called for apologies from all parties who were responsible for the riots, after carrying out his own investigation into the tragedy.

He believes the people responsible should say they are sorry in return for mercy from Tonga's King George Tupou V.

Harder includes not only those he alleges "distributed cheap gasoline putting it in barrels in available spots in the middle of Nuku'alofa for the sole purpose of causing destruction", and those who he says planned and plotted events on that day, but also government officials who either did nothing or acted wrongly, and others who played a role in the destruction of much of the central business district on November 16, 2006.

He also suggests numerous requirements for a "solution", including that, "the legal initiatives presently being considered by 'Akilisi Pohiva in an effort to interfere with the Coronation of the King, should cease."

'Akilisi is Harder's client, and along with 'Uliti Uata they are two of the five People's Representatives who are charged with sedition over the events of 16/11.

Harder wants everyone involved to make the same apology.

"Let there be no doubt, many in Tonga bear some responsibility for what happened on 16 November 2006 and the ongoing legal events that continue to tie up the legal process and stop the country from progressing," Harder stated.

"If His Majesty was prepared to be merciful and be big enough to exercise his discretion to grant mercy to all those caught up in the aftermath of 16 November then each person directly or indirectly involved, must also be big enough to accept their own personal responsibility for the part they played in this terrible tragedy."

Christmas message

Harder set forth his proposed "Harder's Peace Plan" as a Christmas message with season's greetings to everyone involved in the trials and sent it as a letter to the Matangi Tonga Online website, and also published it on a lawyers' website.

He offers his dream of a peace plan for a nation that he says has been torn apart.

"I have seen, heard and learned much about the woes of Tonga following the November 16 riots and I have carried out my own investigation into the tragedy.

Torn apart

"I have observed great turmoil and frustration about the land as families turn against each other and the country as a whole is further torn apart by pro-democracy and pro-monarchy supporters being unable to reconcile their differences."

Many of his observations and allegations regard crimes that people are charged with, which have yet to be heard by the courts.

Persons who have responsibility he claims included, "those who planned in advance to steal the containers full of corned beef belonging to local Chinese," and "those who freely supplied the unemployed, angry and frustrated youth with alcohol then encouraged them to carry out wanton destruction."

Harder's list includes not only people accused of 16/11 crimes but also the Prime Minister and government and pro monarchy demonstrators, the people who discarded the Tu'ipelehake Report, and people who have accused others of crimes, as well as "those in the business community who plotted for personal selfish commercial gain."

He also mentions, "those who shut the door of the walk-in safe on the intruders at Shoreline until the police could be called."

Harder says he dreamed that all the people responsible would "come forth in a public assembly before the King at the Royal Tombs (Mala'e Kula), and publicly utter the words 'For my part in this tragedy, I apologise and say I am sorry.' "

Christopher Harder, who has applied for readmission to the bar in New Zealand, and whose Tongan legal licence is currently under review, said the service he is doing in Tonga helps him to make amends for his past actions.