'Isileli Pulu
Encyclopedia
'Isileli Pulu is a Tonga
n politician and Member of the Tongan Parliament
. He is a member of the Human Rights and Democracy Movement
and the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands
.
Pulu was first elected to Parliament for the island of Tongatapu
at the 2002 election
. He had previously run in the 1999 election
, but was unsuccessful.
In 1999 Pulu was convicted of defamation and fined $1,500 for a letter to the Times of Tonga
in which he referred to the king as a pig.
In 2002 Pulu was charged with sedition
and forgery over the publication of a letter claiming king Taufa'ahau Tupou IV
had a secret fortune. He was acquitted by a jury in may 2003. In 2003, he challenged then-Police Minister Clive Edwards
' use of police housing. He also opposed government plans for a media clampdown aimed at preventing criticism from the Times of Tonga
.
After the 2006 Nuku'alofa riots
Pulu was accused of encouraging the riot and inciting two men to burn down the Shoreline building, in which eight people were killed. He was arrested in January 2007 and charged with abetting murder and arson, and sedition. He was acquitted of the former charges by a jury in July 2008. The sedition charges against him and a number of other pro-democracy MPs were dismissed in September 2009.
Pulu was elected to the seat of Tongatapu 4
in the 2010 elections
. Following the election and selection of a Prime Minister he accepted the position of Minister of Education in the new Cabinet. On September 1, 2011, he was reshuffled to the Ministry for Labour, Commerce and Industries.
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
n politician and Member of the Tongan Parliament
Legislative Assembly of Tonga
The Legislative Assembly of Tonga has 30 members, 9 members elected for a three year term in multi-seat constituencies via the single non-transferable vote system, 9 members elected for a three year term by the 33 hereditary nobles of Tonga, 10 members of the Privy Council and 2 governors. The...
. He is a member of the Human Rights and Democracy Movement
Human Rights and Democracy Movement
The Human Rights and Democracy Movement is a political party in Tonga. Its leader is Uliti Uata.The HRDM was founded in the late 1970s as an informal group of Tongans interested in democratic reform. It was formalised in 1992 as the Pro-Democracy Movement, and contested several elections under...
and the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands
Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands
The Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands is a political party in Tonga. The party's leader is 'Akilisi Pohiva....
.
Pulu was first elected to Parliament for the island of Tongatapu
Tongatapu
Tongatapu is the main island of the Kingdom of Tonga and the location of its capital Nukualofa. It is located in Tonga's southern island group, to which it gives its name, and is the country's most populous island, with approximately 71,260 residents , 70.5% of the national population...
at the 2002 election
Tongan general election, 2002
Parliamentary elections were held in Tonga on March 7, 2002 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga. Supporters of the Human Rights and Democracy Movement won seven of the nine seats for people's representatives...
. He had previously run in the 1999 election
Tongan general election, 1999
General elections were held in Tonga on 10 and 11 March 1999 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga. Voter turnout was 50.7%. Pro-reform candidates won a majority of seats, despite receiving fewer votes.-Results:...
, but was unsuccessful.
In 1999 Pulu was convicted of defamation and fined $1,500 for a letter to the Times of Tonga
Times of Tonga
The Times of Tonga also known as Taimi o Tonga is published by the Taimi Media Network Ltd from Auckland, New Zealand. It started publication in April 1989. It is published twice a week. The newspaper's owner and publisher is Kalafi Moala, a Tongan-American citizen.The newspaper has been a...
in which he referred to the king as a pig.
In 2002 Pulu was charged with sedition
Sedition
In law, sedition is overt conduct, such as speech and organization, that is deemed by the legal authority to tend toward insurrection against the established order. Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent to lawful authority. Sedition may include any...
and forgery over the publication of a letter claiming king Taufa'ahau Tupou IV
Taufa'ahau Tupou IV
Tāufaāhau Tupou IV, King of Tonga, GCMG, GCVO, KBE, KStJ son of Queen Sālote Tupou III and her consort Prince Viliami Tungī Mailefihi, was the king of Tonga from the death of his mother in 1965 until his own death in 2006...
had a secret fortune. He was acquitted by a jury in may 2003. In 2003, he challenged then-Police Minister Clive Edwards
Clive Edwards (Tonga)
William Clive Edwards OBE is a Tongan Cabinet Minister and former Deputy Prime Minister of Tonga. He is a member of the People's Democratic Party and currently serves as Minister for Justice and Minister for Public Enterprise....
' use of police housing. He also opposed government plans for a media clampdown aimed at preventing criticism from the Times of Tonga
Times of Tonga
The Times of Tonga also known as Taimi o Tonga is published by the Taimi Media Network Ltd from Auckland, New Zealand. It started publication in April 1989. It is published twice a week. The newspaper's owner and publisher is Kalafi Moala, a Tongan-American citizen.The newspaper has been a...
.
After the 2006 Nuku'alofa riots
2006 Nuku'alofa riots
The 2006 Nukualofa riots started on 16 November, in the Tongan capital of Nukualofa. The Legislative Assembly of Tonga was due to adjourn for the year and despite promises of action, had done little to advance democracy in the government. A mixed crowd of democracy advocates took to the streets in...
Pulu was accused of encouraging the riot and inciting two men to burn down the Shoreline building, in which eight people were killed. He was arrested in January 2007 and charged with abetting murder and arson, and sedition. He was acquitted of the former charges by a jury in July 2008. The sedition charges against him and a number of other pro-democracy MPs were dismissed in September 2009.
Pulu was elected to the seat of Tongatapu 4
Tongatapu 4
Tongatapu 4 is an electoral constituency for the Legislative Assembly in the Kingdom of Tonga. It was established for the November 2010 general election, when the multi-seat regional constituencies for People's Representatives were replaced by single-seat constituencies, electing one representative...
in the 2010 elections
Tongan general election, 2010
Early general elections under a new electoral law were held in Tonga on 25 November 2010. They determined the composition of the 2010 Tongan Legislative Assembly....
. Following the election and selection of a Prime Minister he accepted the position of Minister of Education in the new Cabinet. On September 1, 2011, he was reshuffled to the Ministry for Labour, Commerce and Industries.
External links
- Profile at Parliament of Tonga.