Samuela 'Akilisi Pohiva
Encyclopedia
Samuela 'Akilisi Pohiva is a Tonga
n politician and a leading member of that country's pro-democracy movement. He is a former teacher, broadcaster, and newspaper publisher, and a founding member of the Human Rights and Democracy Movement
and Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands
.
before joining the Tongan Teacher Training Staff. He became active in Tonga's pro-democracy movement in the late 1970s, and in the early 1980s contributed to their monthly radio programme, "Matalafo Laukai". In 1984 he was dismissed from the civil service as punishment for his criticism of the government; he subsequently sued them successfully for unfair dismissal
. He then became assistant editor of the democracy movement's monthly newsletter, Kele'a.
'Akilisi Pohiva is married to Neomai Pohiva.
, having first been elected in 1987. His political career has been marked by constant battles with the Tongan monarchy over democracy, transparency and corruption. In 1996 he was imprisoned for contempt of Parliament on the order of the Legislative Assembly for reporting on Parliament's proceedings. He was subsequently released after the Supreme Court ruled that the imprisonment was “unlawful and unconstitutional". In 2002 he was charged with sedition
over an article published in his newspaper Kele’a alleging the king had a secret fortune, but was acquitted by a jury.
On 18 January 2007 Pohiva was arrested over his role in the 2006 Nuku'alofa riots
. He was subsequently charged with sedition. Hearing of the charges has been repeatedly delayed and is now not expected to occur until August 2008.
In the 2008 election
he was re-elected for an eighth term as the No 1 Tongatapu People's Representative with 11,290 votes.
In September 2010, he established the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands
along with other Human Rights and Democracy Movement
People's Representatives, in order to contest the 2010 elections
. He was elected as People's Representative, with 62.5% of the vote in the constituency Tongatapu 1
. His party secured twelve of the seventeen seats for People's Representatives (the other five going to independent candidates, while representatives of the nobility held an additional nine seats). He announced his intention to stand for the position of Prime Minister. Following constitutional reforms, this would be the first time the Prime Minister was elected by Parliament, rather than appointed by the monarch. The election for the premiership was held on 21 December, between Pohiva and nobles' representative Lord Tuʻivakanō. Pohiva obtained twelve votes, but was defeated by Tuʻivakanō, who was duly elected with fourteen.
Following the election and selection of a Prime Minister he accepted a position in the new Cabinet, as Minister for Health. On January 13, however, he resigned from Cabinet, in protest against the inclusion in Cabinet of members from outside Parliament (to positions which he stated could have been entrusted to members of his party), and also to express his refusal to sign an agreement which would have prevented him from voting (in Parliament) against measures endorsed by Cabinet, based on the principle of collective Cabinet responsibility
.
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 a leading member of that country's pro-democracy movement. He is a former teacher, broadcaster, and newspaper publisher, and a founding 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 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....
.
Personal life
Pohiva worked as a teacher and later studied at the University of the South PacificUniversity of the South Pacific
The University of the South Pacific is a public university with a number of locations spread throughout a dozen countries in Oceania. It is an international centre for teaching and research on Pacific culture and environment. USP's academic programmes are recognised worldwide, attracting students...
before joining the Tongan Teacher Training Staff. He became active in Tonga's pro-democracy movement in the late 1970s, and in the early 1980s contributed to their monthly radio programme, "Matalafo Laukai". In 1984 he was dismissed from the civil service as punishment for his criticism of the government; he subsequently sued them successfully for unfair dismissal
Unfair dismissal
Unfair dismissal is the term used in UK labour law to describe an employer's action when terminating an employee's employment contrary to the requirements of the Employment Rights Act 1996...
. He then became assistant editor of the democracy movement's monthly newsletter, Kele'a.
'Akilisi Pohiva is married to Neomai Pohiva.
Political career
Pohiva is the longest-serving people's representative in the Tongan ParliamentLegislative 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...
, having first been elected in 1987. His political career has been marked by constant battles with the Tongan monarchy over democracy, transparency and corruption. In 1996 he was imprisoned for contempt of Parliament on the order of the Legislative Assembly for reporting on Parliament's proceedings. He was subsequently released after the Supreme Court ruled that the imprisonment was “unlawful and unconstitutional". In 2002 he 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...
over an article published in his newspaper Kele’a alleging the king had a secret fortune, but was acquitted by a jury.
On 18 January 2007 Pohiva was arrested over his role in 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...
. He was subsequently charged with sedition. Hearing of the charges has been repeatedly delayed and is now not expected to occur until August 2008.
In the 2008 election
Tongan general election, 2008
Parliamentary elections were held in Tonga on April 23 and 24, 2008 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly. The nobles were elected on 23 April, and the nine people's representatives on 24 April. A total of 32,000 people turned out to vote, giving a turnout of 48%.71 candidates had filed for...
he was re-elected for an eighth term as the No 1 Tongatapu People's Representative with 11,290 votes.
In September 2010, he established 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....
along with other 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...
People's Representatives, in order to contest 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....
. He was elected as People's Representative, with 62.5% of the vote in the constituency Tongatapu 1
Tongatapu 1
Tongatapu 1 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...
. His party secured twelve of the seventeen seats for People's Representatives (the other five going to independent candidates, while representatives of the nobility held an additional nine seats). He announced his intention to stand for the position of Prime Minister. Following constitutional reforms, this would be the first time the Prime Minister was elected by Parliament, rather than appointed by the monarch. The election for the premiership was held on 21 December, between Pohiva and nobles' representative Lord Tuʻivakanō. Pohiva obtained twelve votes, but was defeated by Tuʻivakanō, who was duly elected with fourteen.
Following the election and selection of a Prime Minister he accepted a position in the new Cabinet, as Minister for Health. On January 13, however, he resigned from Cabinet, in protest against the inclusion in Cabinet of members from outside Parliament (to positions which he stated could have been entrusted to members of his party), and also to express his refusal to sign an agreement which would have prevented him from voting (in Parliament) against measures endorsed by Cabinet, based on the principle of collective Cabinet responsibility
Cabinet collective responsibility
Cabinet collective responsibility is constitutional convention in governments using the Westminster System that members of the Cabinet must publicly support all governmental decisions made in Cabinet, even if they do not privately agree with them. This support includes voting for the government in...
.
External links
- Profile at Tongan Parliament.