Tonga 'has own rules'

By THERESA GARNER in NUKU'ALOFA

A senior Tongan Government minister has not ruled out greater democracy for the kingdom - but not for many years.

Minister of Police Clive Edwards, a former Auckland lawyer, told the Weekend Herald: "Whether the people overseas like it or not, this is a monarchy and it has its own rules."

Mr Edwards was speaking following the uproar over a Tongan Government move that could limit freedom of the press and expression, and quash the right for citizens to seek a review of Government legislation in the courts.

Yesterday, the New Zealand High Commissioner to Tonga, Warwick Hawker, delivered a message that the Government in Wellington was concerned about any move that would reduce freedoms in the island nation.

Mr Edwards told the Weekend Herald that he believed Tonga would one day move away from a system dominated by a monarch, to embrace more democracy.

"I don't think it will come in my lifetime."