Clive Edwards (politician)

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William Clive Edwards

Cabinet Minister and acting Deputy Prime Minister. He is a member of the People's Democratic Party
.

Life and education

Edwards was born in Kolofo'ou, Nuku'alofa, Tonga. He was educated at Tonga High School and Auckland Grammar School in New Zealand in 1953 where he gained NZ University Entrance. He studied law at the University of Auckland[1] and practiced in both New Zealand and Tonga before returning to Tonga permanently in 1994.

He was awarded an Officer of the Order of the British Empire by the New Zealand government in 1995 for services to the community.[2]

Political career

Edwards began his political career in New Zealand. He stood in the

Citizens & Ratepayers ticket. His political career in Tonga led him to be labelled "the most detested man in the kingdom", and rumours consistently associated him with corruption, nepotism, intimidation, abuse of power and indifference to legal process.[4]

Cabinet minister

In 1996, Edwards was appointed to the

'Akilisi Pohiva
and other democracy activists for defamation.

In 1996 Pohiva and two Times of Tonga journalists, Kalafi Moala and Filokalafi 'Akauola, were found guilty by the

Taufa'ahau Tupou IV. He was Government spokesperson on the passing of media laws which saw the Times of Tonga banned from the country in 2003 as a seditious publication,[11] but the ban was overturned by the Supreme Court.[12] Later in 2003 he laid a defamation complaint against the Times of Tonga after it published an article questioning his use of police housing.[13]

In 1996 he ordered the police to visit Falisi Tupou for writing a letter to a newspaper that was critical of Edwards' contradictory viewpoints. Tupou was ordered to meet with Edwards, who shouted at Tupou for not knowing his position in society.[14]

In 2004 Edwards was sacked from Cabinet by

Ulukālala Lavaka Ata after the collapse of Royal Tongan Airlines.[15] Edwards later claimed that he was unfairly sacked for opposing the government's one airline policy and for plotting to overthrow the government.[16]

Member of Parliament

Following his sacking Edwards became a critic of the government and became a founding member of the People's Democratic Party.[17] He contested the 2005 election, but failed to win a seat. However, he was subsequently elected as a People's Representative for Tongatapu in a by-election following the appointment of Feleti Sevele to Cabinet.[18][19] As a people's representative, Edwards advocated democratic reform,[20] and criticised the practice of appointing MPs to cabinet, arguing that it was a way for the government to silence its critics.[21]

In 2007 Edwards was charged with two counts of

2006 Nuku'alofa riots.[22] This was later reduced to a single charge of uttering seditious words.[23] The trial was repeatedly delayed.[24][25] Despite the charges, Edwards was re-elected at the 2008 election. Finally in May 2010, the sedition charges against him were dismissed.[26]

In 2010, Edwards announced that he would be promoting a private members bill to abolish

death penalty.[27]

Edwards stood for the seat of Tongatapu 3 in the

Sunia Manu Fili.[29]

Edwards stood for the seat of Tongatapu 3 in the 2014 election, but was unsuccessful.

References

  1. ^ "William Clive Edwards OBE". Edwards LaW. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  2. ^ "The Queen's Birthday Honours List 1995". The Queen's Birthday Honours List 1995. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  3. ISBN 0-475-11200-8
    .
  4. doi:10.1080/00223340600652326
    .
  5. doi:10.1080/00223344.1996.10540500
    .
  6. ISBN 9781877314759
    .
  7. ^ "Tonga pro-democracy MP raises concerns about police surveillance of their meetings". RNZ. 2 October 2003. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  8. ^ "Tongan pro-democracy politician and journalists win case against government". RNZ. 7 December 2002. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  9. ^ Field, Michael (1996). "The contempt case of the 'Tongan Three'". Pacific Journalism Review. 3 (2).
  10. ^ "Tonga newspaper publisher thrilled that Crown Prince is speaking out over failed media law changes". RNZ. 26 January 2005. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  11. ^ "Tonga Government bans independent newspaper". RNZ. 26 February 2003. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  12. ^ "Taimi O Tonga bans lifted...papers due on sale in Tonga on Wednesday". RNZ. 26 May 2003. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  13. ^ "Tonga police minister lays complaint over Taimi O Tonga story". RNZ. 12 July 2003. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  14. ISBN 9781877314759
    .
  15. ^ "Tongan royals order three ministers to quit – report". RNZ. 26 August 2004. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  16. ^ "Former Tongan minister claims his sacking linked to alleged coup plot". RNZ. 19 January 2005. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  17. ^ "Tonga's new People's Democratic Party elects officials". Matangi Tonga. 18 April 2005. Archived from the original on 27 May 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2010.
  18. ^ "Tongatapu by-election 5 May 2005". Matangi Tonga. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2010.
  19. ^ "Former Tonga police minister returns to parliament in by-election". RNZ. 6 May 2005. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  20. ^ "Newly-elected Tonga MP says democratic reform is a key priority". RNZ. 6 May 2005. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  21. ^ "Former Tongan cabinet minister says appointments to cabinet a way to silence critics". RNZ. 29 March 2005. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  22. ^ "Tonga's former police minister charged with two counts of sedition". RNZ. 3 February 2007. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  23. ^ "Crown withdraws six charges against five People's Representatives in Tonga". RNZ. 11 September 2007. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  24. ^ "Sedition trials in Tonga delayed by nine months". RNZ. 5 November 2007. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  25. ^ "Trial of five Tongan MPs postponed". RNZ. 20 August 2008. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  26. ^ "Tonga: Power to the People". Sunday Star Times. 14 November 2010. Retrieved 16 November 2010.
  27. ^ "Whipping as a punishment for crimes in Tonga should be wiped". RNZ. 18 February 2010. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  28. ^ "Tonga's prime minister names his cabinet". Radio New Zealand International. 31 December 2010. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  29. ^ "Cabinet quietly reshuffles portfolios", Matangi Tonga, 7 September 2011
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