Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Emergency powers in Tonga’s capital won’t go until people assure Government they feel safe

Posted at 07:21 on 25 February, 2009 UTC

The Tonga Government will maintain emergency regulations until the people living within the controlled zone in the heart of Nuku’alofa say they feel safe.

Each month since November 2006 when riots wrecked much of Nuku’alofa laws giving police and the military extra-ordinary powers have applied in a small area in the centre of the city.

The Police Minister, Siaosi Aho, says he makes no apology to those who claim the regulations infringe on their rights and he sees no immediate end to the special laws.

He says in the meantime police are continuing efforts to regain the people’s confidence in the service.

“And this is one of the things that has convinced me that I should continue [with the emergency regulations] is the fact that the people had completely lost faith and trust in the police. We are running a programme now, strategically, to bring back this trust.”