Issues highlighted in the four newspapers published in Tonga, for the week April 30-May 6, included the goings-on with the Customs Department at Queen Salote Wharf, the Parliamentary By-election, and the up-grading of the Fua'amotu International Airport by a Chinese company to allow 747s and the Airbus 380 to land.

Taimi 'o Tonga and Talaki

The Customs Department was in the news in both the Taimi and the Talaki.

The Taimi of Tuesday May 3 reported a court decision for the destruction of a container of pirated Winfield Extra Mild cigarettes that was imported from Singapore by a Tongan registered company, G & P Trading Company, and was held by the Customs Department at the wharf.

The Talaki of Wednesday May 4 featured an Interview of the Collector of Customs, Sione Likiliki. Sione had been reprimanded by the Public service Commission and was suspended from his post last month, for not following the proper procedure when he released an excavator for 'Uliti Uata, and his company, Pacific Tonga Trading (PTT). Sione did not deny the allegation but he confirmed the reason why he allowed the excavator to leave the wharf was because PTT had a Development Licence.

Sione said he had written and rebutted the accusations, which were levelled at him and led to his being reprimanded, and he was awaiting a reply from the Minister of Finance.

The Taimi also ran a comment by 'Akilisi Pohiva, calling on the King to surrender his executive power and become just a figure-head. He suggested for the King to run the government in a similar style to that of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga, where the King plays the role as the head of the Church, he opens and closes annual conferences and officially appoints the president of the church, following their annual presidential election.

Kalonikali

The front page news story of the Kalonikali of May 5 covered the beginning of the up-grading of the Fua'amotu International Airport by a Chinese company, the China Airport Construction Corporation, CACC, to enable Boeing 747s and Airbus 380 to land at Fua'amotu.

The Kalonikali also reported a plummeting vanilla yield for Tongatapu this year of only 13 tonnes compared with 60 tonnes last year. It also pointed out to growers that there was a better price for nonu, at 40 seniti per kilo.

Taimi and Kele'a

While the Taimi of May 6 ran a news story on the result of the Nobles by-election, the Kele'a of May 4 featured a campaign headline urging people to vote for Finau Tutone in the Tongatapu People's Representative By-election of May 5.

The Kele'a also ran a commentary by 'Akilisi Pohiva accusing the Privy Council and Cabinet of being trouble-makers who were destabilising the country.

'Akilisi then went on to define "Sedition" as:

1. to excite disaffection against the King of Tonga or against the Parliament or government of Tonga;

2. to excite such hostility or ill-will between different classes of the inhabitants of the Kingdom as may be injurious to the public welfare;

3. to incite, encourage or procure violence, disorder or resistance to law or lawlessness in the Kingdom.

He then asked, who was responsible for the creation of a social, economic and political environment that incited sedition?

The answer was the failure of government to stop the misuse and the abuse of power by top government officials, the Crown Prince and other members of the Royal Family.

If there was to be a civil uprising in the country the people were not to be blamed, but the Privy Council and the Cabinet, with the assistance of the churches who did not say anything about all these wrong doings.

'Akilisi said that because government had not done anything in response to the quest of the people for justice and good governance it caused the people to become disloyal to the King and the government, and it could lead to a civil uprising. He said that the people had been putting up with this unjust behaviour for years but there comes a time when their glass would be filled and may spill over.