Tongan democrats seek support

Leading Tongan democracy activist Akilisi Pohiva has indicated that the pro-democracy movement is changing its strategy.

Pohiva said on April 28 that, instead of pushing for more democracy solely from within Tonga's parliament, he and his colleagues will now go out to the kingdom's villages to win support. The aim will be to raise the people's consciousness and awareness.

Pohiva says a purely parliamentary campaign for democracy has been going on for six years and has now reached an impasse. Tonga's parliament is dominated by the kingdom's hereditary nobility and by ministers appointed by the king.

Pohiva is one of the minority of members of parliament elected by popular vote. He says he will tell people in the villages that commoners should elect all 30 of parliament's members and that eventually the king should become a wholly ceremonial figure.
[Pacnews via Pegasus.]

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