Tongan Ex-Minister Bailed, Barred From Leaving Country

Text of report by Tongan magazine Matangi Tonga website on 5 February

William Clive Edwards, the Tongatapu No. 3 People’s Representative [commoner MP], has been released on bail but is not allowed to leave the country.

Tonga’s acting police commander, Taniela Faletau, said today that Clive, a former minister of police, was arrested on Friday 2 January [in fact 2 February] and charged with two counts of sedition. The charges were related to the destruction of the Nuku’alofa central business district by a mob on 16 November 2006.

Clive was released on bail on Saturday afternoon, after spending Friday night in prison. Clive’s bail included 2,000 pa’anga that was guaranteed by him. There were also two sureties at 1,000 pa’anga each, and Clive was prohibited from leaving the country.

Clive is the fourth People’s Representative to the Tongan parliament to have been arrested, charged and released on bail in connection with the events of 16 November 2006. The other three People’s Representatives were ‘Isileli Pulu, ‘Akilisi Pohiva and Lepolo Taunisila.

Taniela said that Clive would appear in the Nuku’alofa Magistrates’ Court on 19 February.

(c) 2007 BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.