Results for Tongan Constitution

The first question of course is: what are Tongan traditions or traditional customs? Traditions in any place at any time are continuously subject to changes, especially in, what Chinese call, 'interesting' times. One thing is clear: you had in pre-missionary times chiefs and commoners. The commoners were essentially slaves, and any chief could do with them as he pleased. Briefly: the word of the chief was the law. So no need any more of judges, laws or even a Constitution. And after this law change we do not need churches any more, as they are not traditional, and all the faifekau will be fired. And, of course, most parliamentarians are commoners. - Firitia.

Tongans had a day-off on Monday, November 3 as the Kingdom observed a national holiday celebrating its 139 year-old Constitution - the second oldest in the Southern Hemisphere.

A Bill to dissolve government when parliament closes in a few days times, and a caretaker government to take over in preparation for the Parliamentary Election in November 2014, was introduced into the Tongan parliament this afternoon, 21 September. From the House, by Pesi Fonua.

Mr Senituli Penitani throws in the "abortion" issue to the discussion of judiciary independence hoping to "muddy the water". Reminding Mr. Penitani that I never stated a preference for the American System of justice. I wrote that whichever system Tonga selects (Westminster: British, NZ, etc. American, or Australia: hybrid American-Westminster), they all share a common respect for the "independence" of the Judiciary. - Sione Akemeihakau Mokofisi.

Mr Lopeti Senituli must know that the present system of which he speaks (The King appoints the judges . . . 03 May 2010) makes King George Tupou V an "Absolute Monarch" instead of Tonga being a "Constitutional Monarchy." Inquiring minds are asking: With the King appointing judges, doesn't it subject the Judiciary to the will of the King and Cabinet? With due respect, Mr. Senituli knows very well that the days of the status quo are numbered - six months. This is why the "democratic transformation" is taking place: to follow the mandate of the Constitution. - Sione Akemeihakau Mokofisi.

On today's public holiday to mark the 130th year of the Tongan Constitution, a political rally of about 200 people at Pangai Si'i in Nuku'alofa was told that the constitution deprives them of fundamental rights.

After reading the "Tongan Constitution", I cannot hold myself back from speculating on the state of affairs of our kingdom. A few things are now becoming clear from that reading.

In light of the Government’’s success in adding "the cultural traditions of the Kingdom,"as a new conditionality on the freedom of speech and expression in Tonga, one can be forgiven for jumping to the conclusion that perhaps the Government wants the media and the Tongan people in general to revert to pre-Constitution Tongan standards in which back-chatting the chiefs was punishable by a serious flogging if not death. By Lopeti Senituli.

The reason why the Tongan Government decided to enact Media Bills and to amend Clause 7 of the Constitution so that they can control the local Media, remains a mystery. One thing that is clear, however, is that the new media legislation is vindictive, because it is meant to hurt. - Matangi Tonga, Vol. 18, No. 3