Witness saw windows smashed after PR urged Pangai Si'i people to go to PM's Office [1]
Saturday, March 7, 2009 - 06:31. Updated on Friday, September 12, 2014 - 16:39.
Contesting the meaning behind an alleged speech made by PR Teisina Fuko "telling people to go to the Prime Minister's Office" took up the latter part of the morning of March 6 in the fifth day of a jury trial of six accused of sedition.
The charges relate to the events of November 16, 2006, are against Paula Vi of Masilamea, Siosiua Uipi of Fatai, Tevita Fifita of Popua, Siale Fihaki of Nukunuku, Semisi Tapueluelu of Haveluloto and Ha'apai PR Sione Teisina Fuko of Ma'ufanga.
Police Constable 'Inoke Vi, a witness told the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court on Friday March 6 that he heard the accused Fuko in a speech at Pangai Si'i on November 16, 2006 saying that "they go to the Prime Minister's Office because there is a meeting there so they pay attention to what the people need.
Vi (30) of Ma'ufanga, the 13th witness for the Crown was standing guard in front of the Parliament office facing Pangai Si'i and he recalled this during his evidence in chief, which was an extract of what Fuko allegedly spoke of at the meeting in the afternoon.
He told the court he could not confirm the exact wording of the speech but from its content he understood that the defendant was urging people to go with him to the PM's Office.
He understood there was a meeting at the PM's Office and they should go there to convey what they were after, but the witness could not recall anything else. He added he could not confirm whether there were speeches made after Fuko's but the people moved from Pangai to the PM's Office, and at the same time some started to smash windows at the Treasury.
He said he and other officers went to stop these people from damaging Treasury by urging them to follow the people to the PM's Office. He then went and stood guard on the intersection of Salote and Taufa'ahau Road where he saw people shouting with some throwing things.
"We tried to stop them and tell them to go back to Pangai but we couldn't," the witness said. At this time he was called back to Treasury and Molisi Tonga Supermarket, which was being damaged, he also went to Leiola Duty Free Shopand saw it was already smashed and looted. And later recalled Molisi catching fire towards nightfall.
The witness also confirmed seeing Semisi Tapueluelu and Siale Fihaki at the meeting on this particular day.
Cross-examination
In the cross examination of Vi by counsel Clive Edwards who is acting for Fuko, he asked about Fuko's speech and his understanding was that he told the people to go to PM's Office, he answered yes.
He was also asked whether he heard anything else, he answered, no, he could not recall anything else.
The counsel then asked him whether at anytime did he hear anything in the speech about carrying a banner, but the witness also could not confirm this.
"If I put to you questions about other matters you would not be able to recall it?" asked Clive, the witness answered, "yes," because the reason why he was able to recall these particular words clearly was because people did go to the PM's Office.
The witness was asked if he gave evidence stating that people went to the PM's Office while others smashed windows at Treasury and he pleaded for them to go to PM's Office, and he said, "yes".
"So your thought was to tell them to go the PM's Office so as to put a stop to the damage at Treasury?" asked the counsel, and the witness answered, "yes".
He was then asked whether he had any recollection of Fuko telling the people to do anything at the PM's Office, he answered, "no".
The trial continues next week where the Crown is expected to call the rest of 29 witnesses.