Tongan activist rams gate of King's Auckland Residency

Early yesterday morning prominent Tongan democracy activist Alani Fisher Taione drove his car into the front gate of the Tongan King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV's Auckland residency and then set it on fire.

Taione was then arrested and charged with wilful damage and arson. His bail conditions include having to stay at least 1km from the King's Epsom home and 200 m away from him when he is out of his home.

Taione says his protest was to highlight reports of soldiers being on patrol in Tonga and that he worried that there might be violence in the future. "The people of Tonga must fight for democracy," he said.

According to the Herald on Sunday the Police opposed the granting of bail because of concerns Mr Taione would reoffend and that according to the anti-terrorist Police Threat Assesment Unit his safety was at risk. The Threat Assesment Unit handle threats to foreign dignatories. A 1999 Ministry of Justice Report says the Threat Assesment Unit takes part in the:

'Collection, collation, analysis and dissemination of intelligence on activist groups and potential threat nationally and internationally. Management of dossiers on activist groups and persons

He told Herald on Sunday reporters that supporters of the Tongan King were patrolling the streets around the King's residence just minutes after his fence crash. Two of Mr Taione's supporters said that they saw men in a late model car with guns which parked behind the crowd who had come to cheer the protest on. Mr Taione's partner claims one of the men in the car said "I'm going to shoot you".

Last year there was a huge strike by public service workers in Tonga. Passionate solidarity protests were held outside the King's Epsom home. Recently there have been large marches for democracy and against Tonga joining the WTO.