The results of the Nobles' and the People's By-elections on May 3 and 5 featured on the front pages of three of the four newspapers that were published in Tonga, during the week May 7-13.

Only the Kele'a was different, and instead it launched a personal attack on 'Isileli Pulu for not toeing the "Temo line", accusing him of being a mould in the Temo camp, stating that he was standing with one foot at the Temo camp and the other in the People's Democratic Party. The editor of the Kele'a, Tavake Fusimalohi called on 'Akilisi Pohiva to remember that in the coming parliamentary election in 2008 to be aware of hangers-on like 'Isileli, whom he was sure was re-elected because of his affiliation with 'Akilisi. Tavake also accused 'Isileli of sly campaigning for Feleti Sevele not to be re-elected.

The Taimi 'o Tonga featured Faka'osi Maamaa's question and answer interview of Clive Edwards, where Clive accused 'Akilisi and the Temos for complicating the issue, and while they pointed their fingers at government for its authoritarianism it had adopted a dictatorial approach to politics, for example, how 'Akilisi told the people that they should vote for Finau Tutone in the By-election.

The other political news story, which featured on the front page of the Talaki and the Kele'a was a consultation meeting, chaired by the Acting Prime Minister, Dr Feleti Sevele.

The Kele'a hailed the meeting as a historical new approach by the government when people's representatives, and public figures were called to a meeting with a Cabinet sub-committee to discuss the proposed protest march to the Palace to present a petition to the King.

The meeting was chaired by Dr Feleti Sevele and attended by the Minister of Police, Noble Nuku, Minister of Works, Noble Tu'ivakano; Minister of Health, Dr Viliami Tangi; the acting Minister of Finance, 'Aisake Eke; 'Akilisi Pohiva, 'Isileli Pulu, Fineasi Funaki, and Sunia Fili. Also attending were consumers' representatives, from the eastern district Soane Kautai, and from the central district Rev. Simote Vea. Laki Niu, from the western district, did not attend.

'Akilisi told the meeting that the petition was based on a dissatisfaction by the people over the misuse of revenue collected from power generation by the Crown Prince Tupouto'a, and Sosefo and Soane Ramanlal, which had been identified as the main cause for expensive electricity.

He said that the other matter of concern was that the auditor for Shoreline was the company owned by a brother of Soane and Sefo Ramanlal, which according to the Chairman of the Tonga Electric Power Board, Ramsay Dalgety, rendered the auditor's report unreliable.

'Akilisi pointed out that the fundamental problem was because of the involvement of the Crown Prince, a member of the Royal Family, which held the ultimate power over all government ministries.

'Isileli Pulu reminded the meeting that government handed over the power generation to Shoreline, without Shoreline paying one cent for it. He also reminded them that the Power Board Act was later amended in 2003 to correct a mistake that was committed in 2002 with the agreement to transfer the power generation from the Tonga Electric Power Board to Shoreline. He also said that according to Dalgety the agreement was amended eight times to be in line with the requirements of Shoreline.

Fineasi Funaki and 'Aisake Eke expressed a view that if the TEPB carried out their responsibility efficiently then there should not have been any problem, but 'Akilisi responded that it was wishful thinking to expect the board to function efficiently when three board members, Siosi'ana Bloomfield, 'Iuna Vete and Paul Karalus were appointed by the Crown Prince when he was Prince Regent.

There was gong to be another meeting and the TEPB was supposed to provide information relating to its dealings with Shoreline.