Royal nephew speaks out over 'banana republic' misgivings

By ANGELA GREGORY

A prominent member of the Tongan royal family fears his country will end up a banana republic if his uncle, King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, succeeds in changing the constitution.

Royal nephew Tu'ipelehake said in Auckland yesterday that he was deeply concerned at efforts to curtail freedoms in Tonga and that he would vote against the move.

King Tupou has come under attack for what is seen as his bid to tighten even further his near-absolute rule in the Pacific nation.

The Tongan Government has put a bill before the country's Parliament which would limit freedom of the press and expression and quash the right to seek review of legislation in the courts.

Despite his royal connections, Tu'ipelehake, who chairs the Tongan Legislative Assembly, said he was opposed to the changes, which would bring the country into disrepute.

Tu'ipelehake did not believe a coup was likely but he predicted civil disobedience if the proposals became law.

"If the judiciary loses its credibility ... then we're talking about a banana republic."

But Tu'ipelehake, whose late father was the King's brother and a former Prime Minister, was also careful to defend the ailing 84-year-old monarch.

While acknowledging the adverse publicity surrounding the King's role in the proposed changes, Tu'ipelehake suggested the monarch was in a no-win situation, with a split Cabinet.

"We are a monarchy ... Anything the Government does can be attributed to the monarch. If you make the buck stop there then it is true, he must take ultimate responsibility."

Tu'ipelehake, who returns to Tonga today, said he would do his best to sway Parliament's vote against the proposed changes.

He believed he had the full support of the people's representatives in the Parliament, who have one-third of the votes.

Eleventh in line to the throne, Tu'ipelehake has been in Auckland for a fortnight to receive laser treatment on his eyes for side-effects of diabetes.

He also opened a youth forum, the Tongan Youth Fono, last Friday at Mt Roskill, where he was said to have been well received by the Tongan community who supported his stand.

Tu'ipelehake has been credited with the lifting of a ban on the New Zealand-published newspaper Taimi 'o Tonga ( Times of Tonga) after his views were broadcast on New Zealand radio and television.

The first copies of the paper to be allowed into Tonga since February reportedly sold out in an hour.