1 Apr 2010

Making people wait for Tonga's Ashika report is a disgrace says relative

11:18 am on 1 April 2010

Relatives of the 74 people who died when the Tongan ferry, Princess Ashika, sank last August say they're upset at having to wait until next week to see a copy of the report on the disaster.

The Royal Commission of Inquiry has presented its report to the King of Tonga and the country's Privy Council, but will not make it widely available before next Tuesday.

Sonia Puleheloto, who lost a niece when the ferry sank, says making people wait is a disgrace.

"Even if they made that extra effort when they had given it to the King and given it to the King's higher people, the families should have been equal with them."

Sonia Puleheloto says by not making the report available, people will think the government is hiding something.

The chairman of the Tonga Advisory Council in New Zealand, Melino Maka, says because media outlets have obtained the report it should be made public now.