23 Jun 2008

Tonga MP says commission on political reform will fail because it will not be independent

5:43 am on 23 June 2008

A leading pro-democracy advocate in Tonga says the make up of a commission being established to consider political reform means it will lack independence.

Legislation setting up the body is before Parliament and the Government says it reflects their unequivocal support for more democracy.

The four man commission, to be appointed by the Privy Council on the advice of the Cabinet, will consider various proposals for reform, consult the public, and draw up draft legislation within a ten month time frame.

It will include a Cabinet appointee, a member chosen by the Legislative Assembly and two selected by the Judicial Services Commission.

But Akilisi Pohiva, the number one People's Representative on Tongatapu, says this will allow the Government to completely dominate the supposedly independent body.

"I think the best thing to do is to get the Representatives of the People to select two and the Government to select two. That will make a balanced composition of the committee and also a balanced decision. I don't think that the one proposed by the Government is going to work."