Tonga: Hunger Strike To Oust PM - Continues

From Radio New Zealand International:

A daylight hour protest fast involving about 800 women in Tonga is continuing.

Tongan Women’s National Congress members have been fasting for about three weeks between six am and six pm to protest against what they describe as poor governance of the prime minister, Feleti Sevele, and to call for his and his deputy’s resignation or removal.

However, the Congress head, Mele Amanaki, says she has ended her hunger strike and is now also fasting only during daylight hours.

“I believe it’s the Lord speaking to me telling me to eat. So I broke the fast on Monday evening at 6 o’clock after 21 days, but I still continue fasting daily from six o’clock in the morning to six o’clock in the afternoon.”

Mele Amanaki says they won’t give up until they reach their goal.

Tonga: Hunger Strike To Oust PM

From Radio Australia:

A Tongan women's rights activist says she is prepared to continue a fast until the country's prime minister and deputy prime minister step down. Mele Amanaki, who heads the Tongan Women's National Congress, has been fasting for two weeks to protest what she says is injustice carried out by the government of prime minister Dr Fred Sevele. These include the 2006 riot which destroyed much of the capital, Nukualofa, the Princess Ashika ferry disaster and the refusal of the government to ratify a United Nations convention which prohibits discrimination against women.