Tonga king passes away in Hong Kong
Source: Agencies |
March 20, 2012, Tuesday
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TONGA'S King George Tupou V, who gave up most of his powers to bring a more democratic government to his Pacific island nation, died on Sunday at a Hong Kong hospital. He was 63.
Tongan Prime Minister Lord Siale'ataonga Tu'ivakano said in a brief radio address yesterday that the king died at 3pm on Sunday during a visit to Hong Kong. He didn't give a cause of death, but said further details and funeral plans would be released when available.
The prime minister said the king's younger brother and heir to the throne, Crown Prince Tupouto'a Lavaka, was at the king's side when he died.
Paula Mau, a spokesman for the Tongan government, said the king had been traveling in Europe and elsewhere since late November and appeared healthy in photographs taken a few weeks ago when he met with the pope in the Vatican. Mau said the king underwent an operation in the US last year to remove cancer.
Mau said the king was a bachelor who had a daughter out of wedlock - but that she didn't have a claim to the throne under Tonga's constitution, which recognizes only children born in wedlock as legitimate heirs.
Tupou reigned over the island nation of 106,000 in population since his father, King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, died in 2006.
The father long resisted ceding any powers of Tonga's absolute monarchy during his four-decade rule. But after his death, rioters unhappy with the pace of reforms took to the streets and destroyed the center of the capital, Nuku'alofa.
Against that backdrop, the new king delayed his official coronation until 2008 while he put together the framework for sweeping political reforms.
Three days before the coronation ceremony, Tupou announced he was ceding most of his executive powers to a democratically elected parliament. The king remains head of state, and some parliament seats are reserved for nobility.
Tongan Prime Minister Lord Siale'ataonga Tu'ivakano said in a brief radio address yesterday that the king died at 3pm on Sunday during a visit to Hong Kong. He didn't give a cause of death, but said further details and funeral plans would be released when available.
The prime minister said the king's younger brother and heir to the throne, Crown Prince Tupouto'a Lavaka, was at the king's side when he died.
Paula Mau, a spokesman for the Tongan government, said the king had been traveling in Europe and elsewhere since late November and appeared healthy in photographs taken a few weeks ago when he met with the pope in the Vatican. Mau said the king underwent an operation in the US last year to remove cancer.
Mau said the king was a bachelor who had a daughter out of wedlock - but that she didn't have a claim to the throne under Tonga's constitution, which recognizes only children born in wedlock as legitimate heirs.
Tupou reigned over the island nation of 106,000 in population since his father, King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, died in 2006.
The father long resisted ceding any powers of Tonga's absolute monarchy during his four-decade rule. But after his death, rioters unhappy with the pace of reforms took to the streets and destroyed the center of the capital, Nuku'alofa.
Against that backdrop, the new king delayed his official coronation until 2008 while he put together the framework for sweeping political reforms.
Three days before the coronation ceremony, Tupou announced he was ceding most of his executive powers to a democratically elected parliament. The king remains head of state, and some parliament seats are reserved for nobility.
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