Tongan Affairs

For those interested in Tongan Affairs, a few interesting developments
lately.

The Prince Regent, Crown Prince Tupoutoa, has accepted the surprise
resignation of his younger brother Prince Lavaka Ata as Prime Minister.
He resigned all his other ministerial appointments at the same time,
and has been replaced by a commoner acting PM, the first in Tongan
history. No reasons for the resignation are available.

Dr Feleti Sevele, the new acting PM, was a staunch campaigner for
political reform before being appointed to his ministerial post last
year.

The official announcement is available at:

Tongans have been battening down the hatches because of a cyclone, so
not much information is going to be available for some days.

Only last week The Hon Veikune, Speaker of Parliament, was stripped of
his titles and officer after his conviction for embezzlement.

In December, the widow of the King's second son, The Hon 'Ula
Tuku'aho, returned to her native Samoa taking her youngest son with
her. She had been taking an increasingly high profile but quarrelled
with Prince Lavaka Ata, soon after the King's departure for further
medical treatment in New Zealand.

Quite amazing developments for this sleepy little kingdom.