5.00pm
An Auckland resident arrested in Tonga for distributing an unlicensed publication has returned home but is due back in the kingdom next week to prepare for his court case.
Tongan-born pro-democracy activist Alan Taione flew back to Auckland yesterday after Tongan authorities gave him back his passport.
Mr Taione was arrested last month after handing out copies of the Taimi 'o Tonga (Times of Tonga), which is printed in Auckland.
The Auckland-based mechanic, who had gone to Tonga for his father's funeral, appeared in the Tongan Magistrate's Court on Wednesday and was further remanded on bail.
His case is expected to be heard in the Supreme Court in the next month or so.
Taimi 'o Tonga editor Kalafi Moala said today that Mr Taione had his passport returned after his mother vouched that he would be present at his next court hearing.
Late last year, the Tongan government changed the constitution and brought in legislation regulating the media.
In January, an application for a licence to publish Taimi 'o Tonga was turned down.
Mr Moala said the Taione case showed that Tongans were not recognising the new laws.
"They are saying whatever laws were passed and whatever amendments there were to the constitution were done unconstitutionally," he said.
"Therefore, there is the notion that unjust laws are laws to be broken. That's where Mr Taione is coming from, and not just him. There are lots of people."
Mr Moala said Mr Taione told him he had been able to move about in the community while in Tonga to gauge public opinion.
"He felt a lot of people were frustrated and angry at what has happened and he felt his actions were widely supported."
Mr Moala said he understood the pro-democracy movement was planning major civil disobedience action in Tonga next week.
- NZPA
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