31 Aug 2005

Tonga's strikers say the Prime Minister and his Cabinet must resign

3:32 pm on 31 August 2005

Tonga's striking public servants are demanding the Prime Minister and Cabinet resign.

They have prepared a petition to this effect and intend presenting it to the King when he returns to Tonga next week.

The strikers also want the Secretary of the Public Service Commission to go.

Our correspondent in Tonga, Mateni Tapueluelu, says the workers are now going from village to village, in a bid to garner support.

"Part of the petition requests they still get up to 60, 70, 80 percent pay rises, but also a constitutional reform as they want the constitution of Tonga to be reformed demographically so that the people can elect all those who enter the parliament of Tonga."

Mateni Tapueluelu.