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How Tonga Aids New Zealand

M.P. Claims System In Tonga As ‘Tonga Democracy’

M.P. Claims System In Tonga As ‘Tonga Democracy’

The speech by Lata Soakai headed ‘Tonga Should Be More Democratic’ and published by the chronicle was probably what sparked off the controversies, criticisms and eventual prosecution involving the Chronicle.

In the cross examination of the plaintiff regarding the plaintiff's comprehension of page 31 democracy, the court was informed that there exists in Tonga a system known as Tongan democracy.

Crown Solicitor raised the question of why plaintiff saw fit to apologise to the noble who first criticised Lata's speech in the House, and attempted to find out whether plaintiff did not agree with the contents of the schoolgirl's speech. Plaintiff, however, stated that he was not concerned about the contents of Lata's speech, what he was concerned about was the fact that the nobility had criticised in the House a member of the constituency he represents. He saw it his duty therefore to apologise on behalf of Lata and pointed out that the noble concerned should blame the editor for allowing the speech to be published.

The questioning then led to democracy and Mr Tupou asked the plaintiff whether he was familiar with the conditions of democracy as practiced in overseas countries. Plaintiff said he was and counsel asked whether this is not what is happening in Tonga. Plaintiff then said that although Tonga is a Constitutional Monarchy, there is also democracy involved in the system which is just a “Tongan democracy”.