The Chief Secretary to the Tongan Cabinet, 'Eseta Fusitu'a is disputing and discrediting the US State Department's 2003 report that cited Tonga's "poor record" on Human Rights.
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Results for Parliament
Thursday 1 April 2004
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Tuesday 2 March 2004
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Political activist Lopeti Senituli, has left his job as Director of the Tonga Human Rights and Democracy Movement after disagreements, and on March 1 became the new Director of the Tonga Community Development Trust.

Thursday 19 February 2004
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
There is an urgent need to improve the current status of the Tongan government, Prince Tu'ipelehake said in Tonga, on Friday 13th, referring to what he called black clouds over the community. "What is most important to be done right now is for the chiefs, the government and the people of Tonga to be united in our search for the ultimate solution to the problem, which is beginning to come over us like a band of black cloud. It is urgently needed for us to decide on ways to improve the current status of our government," he said.

Wednesday 7 January 2004
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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.

Tuesday 30 December 2003
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
Now that they are illegal, Tongan adoptions will not be recognised by other countries From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 18, no. 3, December 2003.

Tuesday 30 December 2003
Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
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.
Tuesday 30 December 2003
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
Democratic reform will help to preserve the dignity of the King, and his links with his people, says Taimi ‘o Tonga publisher, Kalafi Moala. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 18, no. 3, December 2003.

Monday 1 December 2003
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Democratic reform will help to preserve the dignity of the King, and his links with his people, says Taimi 'o Tonga publisher, Kalafi Moala. - Matangi Tonga, Vol. 18, No. 3

Monday 1 December 2003
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Tonga government has introduced one of the heaviest penalties for drug offenders imposed by any government in the region. -Matangi Tonga, Vol. 18, No. 3

Monday 1 December 2003
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A study of the level of corruption in Tonga is expected to be completed before the end of the year, and made public by March 2004. Dr Peter Larmour, from the National Centre for Development Studies at the Australian National University, the institution carrying out the study, said in Nuku'alofa at the end of October that they will use the National Integrity Systems approach that was pioneered by Transparency International, and had been successfully carried out in 18 countries. -Matangi Tonga, Vol. 18, No. 3

Monday 1 December 2003
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Tongan Parliament's decision to do away with use of the British Civil Liberty Law will hurt some Tongan families who were hoping to emigrate to New Zealand and Australia. Now that they are illegal, Tongan adoptions will not be recognised by other countries. -Matangi Tonga, Vol. 18, No. 3

Wednesday 26 November 2003
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Tonga government has introduced one of the heaviest penalties for drug offenders imposed by any government in the region.

Friday 24 October 2003
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Disregarding strong public protests and the opposition of People's Representatives, the Tongan Government pushed through a bill for Constitutional change on October 16. The changes, which have yet to be signed into law by the king, will allow government to control freedom of speech. The 16 members who voted in favour of the controversial Bill were: Prince 'Ulukalala Lavaka Ata, James Cecil Cocker, William Clive Edwards, Dr Masasso T. Paunga, Dr Viliami Ta'u Tangi, Fielakepa, Siosiua Tupou 'Utoikamanu, 'Aisea Havea Taumoepeau, Paula Sunia Bloomfield, Tuita, Malupo, 'Akau'ola, Fohe, Nuku, Havea Tu'iha'angana, and Tu'i'afitu.

Thursday 2 October 2003
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The campaign by seven of the nine people's representatives to win public support to oppose the Tonga government's proposed changes to Clause 7 "Freedom of Speech" of the Constitution is in full swing, and they are calling for people to turn out for a national demonstration on Monday 6 October 2003 .

Tuesday 16 September 2003
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Tongan parliament closed early on Tuesday, September 16, after a heated quarrel broke out between the Tongatapu No. 1 People's Representative, 'Akilisi Pohiva, and the Vava'u No. 2 People's Representative, 'Etuate Lavulavu.

Saturday 30 August 2003
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
It was business and leisure for the Speakers and Clerks of Pacific parliaments when they met in Tonga for their 34th conference from June 28 to July 3. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 18, no. 2, August 2003.

Saturday 30 August 2003
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
The Tonga Government’s Budget for 2003-04 of $156.2 million is the highest ever, and it is $37.5 million more than last year’s $118.7 million budget. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 18, no. 2, August 2003.

Saturday 30 August 2003
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
The Vava‘u no. 2 People’s Representative to the Tongan Legislative Assembly, ‘Etuate Lavulavu, filed a motion for a writ, with the Tongan Legislative Assembly on June 25, calling for the impeachment of the Chief Justice, Hon. Mr Justice Ward. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 18, no. 2, August 2003.

Saturday 30 August 2003
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
The Tongan way of life is not based in the right of the individual but that of the extended family, the church and the whole country. We have a collective peoples value, and that is where our strength is, and we do not want to give that up, says ‘Alisi Taumoepeau, Tonga’s Solicitor General. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 18, no. 2, August 2003.

Saturday 30 August 2003
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
Several controversial and hastily-prepared bills that were introduced to the Tongan legislature when its 2003 session opened in June, have provoked international outrage and local concern. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 18, no. 2, August 2003.
