Mele 'Amanaki (43) the President of the Tonga Women's Congress, who has been on a hunger protest during the past seven days, has started to drink water today, October 20.

She told the Matangi Tonga this afternoon that, "after the seventh day of fasting, a holy day, I have decided to take water," and is adamant that she will not eat any food, until the King accepts a petition for the removal of Prime Minister Hon Dr Feleti Sevele and his Deputy Hon Dr Viliami Tangi.

Mele who is working from home at Kolofo'ou, Nuku'alofa, said that other members, including Deputy President Betty Blake and Lepolo Taunisila, are fasting from 6am to 6pm daily and women's groups are also fasting one day a week.

"This is in protest to the injustices and bad governance made by the existing Government.

"But to date there has been no response regarding the petition," she said.

"We initially organised to conduct a protest march but some members were reluctant due to the existing Emergency Powers, so we then thought what we could do that could make a difference and decided on fasting and praying."

"I am not afraid as my faith in God is unyielding and I will continue to pray and fast and take this to end," she added.

Mele tearfully said on the phone that she knew the consequences of her actions because she is a single mother who has two young daughters.

"I am not doing this to make myself known I am doing this for the future of my children and all the children in the country so that they have a good government in place," she said.

A former civil servant, Mele has now stated she wants to replace the current Prime Minister and his deputy with a choice of three nobles, Tuita, Fielakepa or Vaea.

She is a food technician.

World Food Day

The hunger protest also coincided with World Food Day when statistics showed that hunger accounts for 58% of all deaths worldwide. It is estimated that on the average, 1 person dies every second as a result of hunger, 4,000 every hour, 100,000 each day and 36 million each year.