The Langafonua Tu'uloa Party is calling on the Prime Minister of Tonga Hon. Dr Feleti Sevele and three other Cabinet Ministers to step down claiming they have breached a Public Proclamation made in 2004 and that their term in office has since expired.

The Langafonua Tu'uloa Party is challenging the four Cabinet Ministers, who are the Prime Minister, the Minister of Tourism Hon, Fineasi Funaki, the Minister of Works Hon. Nuku and the Minister of Training, Employment, Youth and Sports Hon. Tu'ivakano, who were appointed by the late king, Taufa'ahau Tupou IV in 2005.

The Tonga Secretary of the Langafonua Tu'uloa Party Kamipeli Tofa said today that these former members of Parliament did not comply with the condition of the proclamation made by the former Prime Minister Prince 'Ulukalala Lavaka Ata on Television Tonga, that their appointment would be no longer than the period for which they were elected to Parliament, which was three years.

"Therefore their continuation in office as PM and Cabinet Ministers is in breach of the proclamation made because their tenure has since expired," he said.

Kamipeli said this is an important issue to address because we have to make our leaders and decision makers accountable, "to comply to the conditions set out otherwise they will do whatever they want."

The party has also submitted a letter to HM King George Tupou V advising that the four Ministers step down from office on May 22, but no official reply has been issued.

Legal action

Kamipeli said the party is intending to take legal action if the four Ministers do not comply and they will seek a Supreme Court declaration that their continuation in office is unconstitutional therefore it is void and null.

"It is true that the King has the power to appoint whomever he wishes to become a Minister, but the issue lies in the fact that these four men neglected to comply with the Public Proclamation that their appointment depended on their term from the electorate and whether they did this out of pure ignorance or deliberately we should find out," he said.

The Langafonua Tu'uloa Party was established in October 2006 with a purpose of the enhancing political work in the country. It has to date 200 registered members with 50 members residing in New Zealand.

The Tongan President is 'Ofa Fakalata with Kamipeli as Secretary and the Secretary is Soape Tu'iuono. The party's New Zealand President is lawyer Sione Fonua with Sulunga Lavaka as Secretary.