Tongans praying for their King

Tongans in Auckland were praying last night for their king who is seriously ill in Mercy Hospital.

King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, who turned 88 last month, has been in hospital for the past fortnight.

Concerns about his deteriorating health were highlighted in Tonga on Tuesday night when the Tongan Prime Minister, Dr Feleti Sevele, interrupted television and radio broadcasts close to 11pm local time to ask people to start praying for the King.

The Prime Minister called on church leaders, prayer groups and for all Tongans to pray, saying he had been informed that the health of the king had deteriorated that evening.

The Matangi Tonga news website said the tone of the Prime Minister's announcement was that only God could save the King now.

The Herald has been told that the royal tomb in Tonga's capital Nuku'alofa has been touched up in the past week and the palace fence freshly painted. The King's daughter, Princess Pilolevu, has also spent most of her time in New Zealand recently to be at his side, adding to speculation that his reign is nearing its end.

The Prime Minister's announcement was the main subject of conversation in Tonga yesterday and people were starting to organise black clothing which they might have to wear for months, depending on the period of official mourning decided by a special committee.

Tongan journalist Taina Enoke said there was some surprise at the Prime Minister's message.

"But it's something that people have been expecting for a while now. People were aware of his condition. The fact it was on at 11 last night took everyone a bit by surprise, because it means maybe we are going through his last days. With the message came the realisation that, yes, it is going to happen, and he may not be around much longer."

She said people would pray for him. "It is probably big in prayers, but he has always been in people's prayers anyway." In Auckland, the chairman of the Tongan Advisory Council, Melino Maka, said he took Dr Sevele's announcement seriously and people should be concerned.

Some Tongans were in denial about the King's frailty, but Mr Maka said it was time they faced up to the fact that his health was poor and he might not live much longer.

Mr Maka said there was a degree of sadness at the King's Epsom compound 'Atalanga yesterday.

The next in line to the throne is Crown Prince Tupouto'a, 58, who has already had to stand in for the King at times. The Herald has been told that according to the Tongan constitution the Prime Minister, as head of the Privy Council, rules Tonga until the coronation of Tupouto'a.

When King Tupou's revered mother, Queen Salote, died in December 1965 it was 18 months before he was made King following a year of mourning when 15,000 yards of black fabric imported into the country failed to meet the demand.


The Monarchy

* Tonga is the South Pacific's last monarchy, where the royal family controls a semi-feudal political system.

* King Tupou IV has ruled the coral islands since 1965.

- Additional reporting by Claire Trevett