King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV announced on the government’s homepage that the protest organisers from the Human Rights and Democracy Movement were "lacking support". Furthermore, the propaganda machine of the king was trying to persuade people not to attend the demonstration because a children’s march for the opening of parliament was planned for the same day. The protest had been postponed twice already so that the Crown Prince would be in Tonga to see the people’s dissent.

The Human Rights & Democracy Movement in Tonga has been challenging the feudalist system since the late 1970s. Tonga’s parliament is includes the cabinet ministers, who are appointed by the king, 9 nobles and 9 representatives of the people, most of whom belong to the pro-democracy movement.

more photos: www.matangitonga.to/article/photonews/protest260505.shtml