15 Jun 2007

No word from Tonga as emergency rule ends at midnight

3:14 pm on 15 June 2007

The Tonga government is yet to say whether it will extend the state of emergency regulations which are due to expire overnight.

The Tongan government imposed the regulations in response to widespread rioting in the capital, Nuku'alofa, on November the 16th last year.

The regulations apply for 30 days at a time and have been extended six times.

Last month, the restrictions were only made to apply to the island of Tongatapu.

In previous months, the authorities announced the extension of emergency rule several days before the expiry of the notice.

The pro-democracy movement has been critical of the emergency provisions because they have prevented its members from holding meetings.