11 Aug 2005

Tongan strikers to march on palace for second time in a week

8:57 pm on 11 August 2005

Striking public servants in Tonga will march to the royal palace tomorrow to present their demands to King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV.

It will be the second such march in a week.

On Monday, more than 10,000 people marched to parliament as part of a three week strike calling for large wage increases.

They were then met outside the palace gates by the King's daughter who accepted the petition.

A response was released on Wednesday, proposing independent auditors from overseas to help resolve the situation.

However that suggestion has been rejected by the Interim-Public Servants Association and our correspondent, Mateni Tapueluelu, says they are determined to see the King.

"They're not happy with the response they've got and they want the King to know that they are not happy with it. It is widely believed by the committee that the response they got is not the King's reply and they want the King to know what is happening to the civil servants."

Mateni Tapueluelu.