18 Jul 2014

Tonga Democrats urged to follow principles

5:28 pm on 18 July 2014

One of the four MPs dropped from the candidates list for Tonga's Democratic Party says he the party should follow democratic principles and stay united.

Sitiveni Halapua, Sione Taione, Semisi Tapueluelu and Sunia Fili were omitted from the list selected by a party committee.

The party's leader Akilisi Pohiva has distanced himself from the move, saying it was the committee's decision alone.

But Sunia Fili says it was clear that Mr Pohiva influenced the decision when the Kele'a newspaper, which the leader has close links to, published the list before the committee itself.

However Mr Fili says constituents will not like how this has been done.

"We've been working for more than 20 years for a democratic system for Tonga. So we should come together. That is what most people in Tonga would like us to do so that we can put the governance system at honour."

Sunia Fili