Tonga's Emergency Powers quietly expired [1]
Thursday, September 4, 2008 - 19:28. Updated on Thursday, September 11, 2014 - 16:07.
The Tonga government has yet to make a decision on whether to further extend the Emergency Powers (Maintenance of Public Order) Regulation 2007, the Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet Mrs 'Eseta Fusitu'a said today.
The last extension of the Emergency Power expired on August 7, but government has not announced the expiry to the public.
"As of today, a decision has not been made," said 'Eseta.
The Emergency Power Regulation 2006 was enforced following the burning of central Nuku'alofa on November 16, 2006, and has been extended every 30 days since then.
On May 16, 2007 the Emergency Powers Regulations 2006 was replaced by the new Emergency Powers Regulations 2007, which removed some powers that were given to the Tonga Police and Tonga Defence Services under the old regulation.
It is clear that government is carefully gauging the law and order situation before it makes a decision to reinstate the Emergency Powers.
A new Commander of the Tonga Police Force, a New Zealander, will take up his post at the end of September, after being recruited to build up the morale, integrity and the image of the police force, which was damaged by the handling of the riot of 2006. There was glaring evidence that if the police had not called for the assistance of the Tonga Defence Services the rioters would have done more destruction to the capital. It is likely that government will consult with the new commander of police before they make a definite decision on whether or not to reinstate the Emergency Power.
Under the regulation a proclaimed area that covered the central business district and other areas was controlled and maintained by the Tonga Police Force and the Tonga Defence Services to maintain public order, and allowed the police to stop, search and arrest without a warrant.