23 Oct 2006

Many Tongans not impressed with government proposals for political reform - Akilisi Pohiva

7:22 pm on 23 October 2006

A member of Tonga's People's Committee for Political Reform says most of its members don't support new proposals on reform from the government.

Another report, from the National Committee for Political Reform, has recently been presented to Parliament.

But the government has now suggested a smaller parliament with fewer popularly elected MPs and for a third of the cabinet to still be chosen by the King.

The long time pro-democracy MP, Akilisi Pohiva, whose People's Committee is still consulting over its own reform proposals, says the government's position is a major deviation from the National Committee's recommendations.

"This is a new feature which isn't part of Prince Tu'ipelehake's committee and also our People's Committee for Political Reform. but general feeling of most of our members, they didn't support that proposal."

Akilisi Pohiva says that they'll take the next two weeks to review the ideas.