Lopeti Senituli from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has written a response to what they term "personal'" attacks on the Prime Minister from Mrs 'Akaneti Lauti, Director of the Friendly Islands Human Rights and Democracy Movement (FIHRDM.)

The personal attacks are said to making the rounds in print materials including Taimi 'o Tonga, the Kele'a, and the Tau'ataina.

According to Mr. Senituli:

1. The aired grievances by Mrs Lauti are in direct contradiction of what she was directed to release by the Executive Committee of the FIHDRM.
2. The grievances seem to be related to failed Squash Prices from last year (2005) which Mrs Lauti is unfortunately/incorrectly blaming on the Prime Minister.

Read the Article @ The Prime Minister's Office website: English, Tongan.

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English:

Press Release Last Updated: Jun 9th, 2006 - 04:58:11 Response to Personal Attacks on the Hon. Prime Minister Jun 9, 2006, 08:50 Email this article  Printer friendly page “Response to Personal Attacks on the Hon Prime Minister by the Director of the Friendly Islands Human Rights and Democracy Movement” The Prime Minister’s Office is concerned about the continuing personal attacks on the Hon Prime Minister by the Director of the Friendly Islands Human Rights and Democracy Movement (FIHRDM), Mrs. Akanete Lauti. The substance of her personal attacks focuses on the Prime Minister’s business interests, and his role in the Tonga Squash Growers Council. These personal attacks have appeared in various publications including the ‘Taimi ‘o Tonga’, the ‘Kele’a’ and the ‘Tau’ataina’ newspapers and on public television. Speaking on behalf of the Prime Minister’s Office, Lopeti Senituli (Press Secretary) said, “We welcome constructive criticism of the Prime Minister, but we would encourage those making the criticisms, including Mrs. Akanete Lauti, not to personalize the criticisms based on real or imaginary personal grievances.” Mr. Senituli further explained that the Executive Committee of the Friendly Islands Human Rights and Democracy Movement decided in their meeting on the 13th of April to publicly endorse the appointment of Dr. Feleti Sevele as Prime Minister whilst at the same time remind him of the aims of FIHRDM of which the Hon Prime Minister continues to be a member. Mrs Lauti, as Director, was then asked by the Executive Committee to prepare a public statement to be released to the media conveying its decision. Mrs Lauti refused to prepare a draft of this statement saying that she did not agree with the Executive Committee’s decision. Mr. Senituli also explained that the FIHRDM Executive Committee had asked Mrs Lauti at the same meeting to explain the reasons why she had made a personal statement in the ‘Taimi ‘o Tonga’ newspaper (6 April 06) under the byline “ ‘Ikai tonu ke taki ha taha pisinisi he fonua”. In her explanation she said she was really angry with the Prime Minister because she and her husband had suffered heavy financial losses last year because of the poor prices for the country’s squash exports. She further claimed that as the Prime Minister was also the Chairman of the Squash Exporters Council he should be blamed for the poor prices. According to the Hon Prime Minister it is unfortunate that Ms. Lauti blames him for something that is beyond his control as he cannot control squash prices. He also said that he had asked the Squash Exporters Council last year to be relieved of his responsibilities as Chairman of the Council but he was re-elected by the members anyway because they felt he had an integral role to play for the squash export industry. Again this year, after the confirmation of his Prime Ministerial appointment, he offered to step down as Council Chairman, but the great majority of the exporters wanted him to stay on because they valued his experience and leadership. The Secretary of the Squash Exporters Council, Mr. Steve Edwards, confirmed the fact that the majority of the squash exporters have asked the Prime Minister to stay on as Chairman of the Council. Mr. Steve Edwards also said that Mrs. Lauti had approached him last year on behalf of her husband, who is the Secretary of the Kolokakala Squash Growers, seeking a squash export license. After explaining to her the conditions under which a license could be issued, including the payment of a $10,000 license fee and the signing of a levy agreement, which all exporters must sign, Mrs. Lauti did not pursue the matter any further. In conclusion, Mr. Senituli said, “Quite clearly there is a conflict of interest between Mrs. Lauti’s personal grievance over her financial loss as a squash grower and her advocacy role with the Friendly Islands Human Rights and Democracy Movement” Ends Please contact Lopeti Senituli on ph: 24644 or via lsenituli@pmo.gov.to for further information. © Copyright by Government Information Unit

Tongan:

Press Release Last Updated: Jun 9th, 2006 - 04:58:11 Tali ki he Ngaahi ‘Ohofi Fakafo’ituitui ‘o e ‘Eiki Palemia Jun 9, 2006, 09:04 Email this article  Printer friendly page “Tali ki he Ngaahi ‘Ohofi Fakafo’ituitui ‘o e ‘Eiki Palemia ‘e he Talekita ‘oe Kautaha ‘a e ‘Otu Motu Anga‘ofa ki he Totonu ‘a e Tangata mo e Temokalati” ‘Oku tokanga mavahe ‘a e Ofisi ‘oe Palemia ki he ngaahi ‘ohofi fakako’ituitui ‘oe Eiki Palemia ‘e he Talekita ‘o e Kautaha ‘a e ‘Otu Motu Anga’ofa ki he Totonu ‘a e Tangata mo e Temokalati, ‘Akanete Lauti. Koe kaveinga ‘o ene ngaahi fakaanga koe ngaahi pisinisi ‘a e ‘Eiki Palemia mo ‘ene fekau’aki moe Kosilio ‘a e Kau Uta Hina. Na’e ‘asi e ngaahi ‘ohofi fakafo’ituitui ko eni he ‘Taimi’o Tonga’, Kele’a, ‘Tau’ataina’ pea mo e televisone foki. Na’e pehe ‘e Lopeti Senituli (Sekelitali Faiongoongo), “Oku mau talitali fiefia ha ngaahi fakaanga’i ‘oe ‘Eiki Palemia ‘oku ne paotoloaki e lelei fakalukufua. Ka ‘oku mau kole atu heni ki he kau fakaanga, ‘o kau ai ‘a ‘Akanete Lauti. Tuku mu’a e tausino. ‘Ikai ngata ai ‘oku ‘ikai totonu ke hoko ‘ete loto tangia ‘i ha‘ate palopalema fakafo’ituituti ke ne kapui ‘a ‘ete fakaanga mo ‘ete fakakaukau lelei.” Na’e fakamatala ‘a Senituli ‘o pehe na’e felotoi e kau memipa ‘oe Komiti Pule ‘oe Kautaha Totonu ‘ae Tangata mo e Temokalati ‘i he ‘enau fakataha he ‘aho 13 ‘o Epeleli ke talaki atu ‘ihe ongoongo ke mea’i ‘e he fonua ‘enau poupou ki he fakanofo ‘o Dr. Feleti Sevele ke ne hoko ko e ‘Eiki Palemia pea ke fakamanatu kiate ia e ngaahi taumu’a ngaue ‘ae Kautaha ‘a ia ‘oku ne kei memipa kakato ai. Na’e tu’utu’uni leva e Komiti Pule kia ‘Akanete Lauti, koe Talekita ‘oe Kautaha, ke ne teuteu’i e ongoongo ko eni ke tufaki atu ki he mitia. Na’e ‘ikai loto ‘a ‘Akanete kene fai e fo’i ngaue ko eni, ‘aki e ‘uhinga ‘oku ‘ikai ke tatau ‘ene tui moe tu’utu’uni ‘a e Komiti Pule. Na’e toe pehe ‘e Senituli na’e ‘eke ange ‘ehe Komiti Pule kia ‘Akanete Lauti, ‘ihe fakataha tatau, ki he ‘uhinga ‘o ‘ene lea fakafo’ituitui na’e asi ‘ihe Taimi ‘o Tonga (6 Epeli) ‘o ‘ulu’i tohi ‘aki e “’Ikai totonu ke taki ha taha pisinisi he fonua”. Na’e kau ‘i he ‘ene tali ki he Komiti ‘ene pehe, na’a ne fu’u loto mamahi ‘aupito ‘I he ‘Eiki Palemia he na’e fu’u lahi ‘aupito ‘a ‘ena mole fakapa’anga mo hono husepaniti ‘ihe to hina he 2005 koe’uhi ko e kovi e totongi e hina. Pea ‘oku ne tukuaki’i e ‘Eiki Palemia ki he kovi e totongi hina e ta’u kuo ‘osi he ko ia ‘oku Sea ‘i he Kosilio ‘ae Kau Uta Hina. Na’e pehe ‘e he ‘Eiki Palemia ‘oku ne fakame’apango’ia ‘i hono tukuaki’i ia kihe kovi e totongi hina he ta’u kuo ‘osi he ‘oku ‘ikai ko ha me’a ia ‘oku ne mapule’i. Na’a ne toe pehe foki na’a ne kole ange he ta’u kuo ‘osi ki he Kosilio ‘ae Kau Uta Hina ke fakataua’ataina’i ia mei hono lakanga Sea ka na’e kei fili pe ia ‘e he kau memipa ke ne hoko atu ko ‘enau mahu’inga‘ia ‘ihe ngaue mateaki ‘oku ne fai ma’ae sekitoa ngoue hina ‘i Tonga ni. ‘I he ta’u ni hili hono fakanofo koe Eiki Palemia, na’a ne toe kole kene fakafisi mei hono lakanga koe Sea ‘oe Kosilio ka na’e kei loto pe ‘a e tokolahi ‘oe kau uta hina kene hoko atu he lakanga ko ‘ene taukei ngaue mo ’ene leva’i lelei e ngaue he ta’u lahi. Na’e fakamo’oni ki heni ‘a Steve Edwards, ko e Sekelitali ‘oe Kosilio ‘a e Kau Uta Hina ‘aki ‘ene pehee ko e loto pe ia ‘oe tokolahi ‘o e kau uta hina ke kei hoko atu pe e ‘Eiki Palemia ko e Sea he Kosilio. Na’e toe pehe ‘e Steve Edwards na’e fakafe’iloaki ange kiai ‘a Akanete Lauti he ta’u kuo ‘osi ‘o fakafofonga’i ange hono husepaniti, ‘a ia ‘oku Sekelitali he Kautaha To Hina Kolokakala, ‘o faka’eke’eke e founga ke ma’u ai ha’anau laiseni uta hina. Hili hono fakama’ala’ala kiate ia e ngaahi fiema’u, ‘o kau ai e totongi laiseni ‘o fe’unga moe $10,000 moe fakamo’oni ki he aleapau tukuhau (levy) ‘aia ‘oku pau ke fakamo’oni kiai e kotoa e ngaahi kautaha uta hina, na’e ‘ikai ke toe fetu’utaki ange ‘a ‘Akanete ‘o fekau’aki mo ha laiseni uta hina.. Na’e faka’osi ‘e Lopeti Senituli ‘aki ‘ene pehe “‘I hono fakalukufua ‘oku fehangahangai e ngaahi fiema’u fakafo’ituitui ‘a Akanete Lauti koe tokotaha to hina pea mo hono fatongia taukapo ma’a e Kautaha ‘a e ‘Otu Motu Anga’ofa ki he Totonu ‘a e Tangata moe Temokalati.”   Kataki ‘o fetu’utaki kia Lopeti Senituli he telefoni 24644 pe koe lsenituli@pmo.gov.to ki ha toe fakaikiiki. © Copyright by Government Information Unit