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A total of 152 plaintiffs are signatories to a writ, calling for a Judicial Review of the media legislation enacted by the Tonga government last year, which curtailed freedom of speech and introduced restrictive print media licensing.

The first Marijuana case for 2004 was dismissed by Chief Justice Ward at the Supreme Court Nuku'alofa on January 20 because of the irregularities and unreliable evidence provided by the police.

The capital's rubbish dump at Popua near Nuku'alofa, has been the source of headaches for the residents in the nearby areas with frequent burning and smoke as experienced on Christmas day.

Tongan Police raided village shops in Tonga last week confiscating copies of the Taimi 'o Tonga newspaper, and also seizing cash from shops that had sold newspapers.

A national 7-a-side Rugby League team to represent Tonga at the World Sevens League tournament in Sydney at the end of January was announced in Nuku'alofa on January 8.

Tonga's Prince Tu'ipelehake, in an unprecedented move by a member of the Tongan Royal Family, has called on the Australian Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, to use his influence to pressure the Tongan government to further democratise its Constitutional Monarchy system of government.

There was no Christmas cheer for the Tongan media from the Tonga Government this year. In the Christmas Eve mail postmarked "Nuku'alofa December 24, 2003" were the Gazetted copies of the government's new Media Legislation, which had been withheld from the eyes of the local press after being signed by the King in November this year.

Between 2,000 to 3,000 Freedom Marchers gathered at the Catholic Basilica of St Anthony of Padua, Nuku’alofa, at mid-day on October 6, and marched to the Tongan Parliament to present petitions calling for protection of Freedom of Speech, threatened by a Government Bill to change the Tongan Constitution. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 18, no. 3, December 2003.

How they voted in the House, the 16 members who voted to curb free speech were: Prince ‘Ulukalala Lavaka Ata, James Cecil Cocker, William Clive Edwards, Dr Masasso T. Paunga, Dr Viliami Ta‘u Tangi, Hon. Fielakepa, Siosiua Tupou ‘Utoikamanu, ‘Aisea Havea Taumoepeau, Paula Sunia Bloomfield, Hon. Tuita, Hon. Malupo, Hon. ‘Akau‘ola, Hon. Fohe, Hon. Nuku, Hon. Havea Tu‘iha‘angana, and Hon. Tu‘i‘afitu. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 18, no. 3, December 2003.