Siaosi Taimani ʻAho

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Siaosi Taimani ʻAho
ʻAho in 2009
Minister of Police, Prisons and Fire Services
In office
17 May 2006 – 2009
Prime MinisterFeleti Sevele
Preceded bySitenimoa Valevale
Attorney General of Tonga
In office
24 September 2004 – 17 May 2006
Prime MinisterFeleti Sevele
'Ulukalala Lavaka Ata
Preceded byBaron Fielakepa
Succeeded byʻAlisi Afeaki Taumoepeau
Commissioner for Public Relations
In office
2001–2004
Prime Minister'Ulukalala Lavaka Ata
Preceded bynone (office established)
Succeeded byPenisimani Fonua
Personal details
Died27 April 2018

Siaosi Taimani ʻAho (died 27 April 2018)[1] was a Tongan diplomat, civil servant, politician, and Cabinet minister. He was Tonga's first Commissioner for Public Relations.

In 1982 he was appointed Secretary to the Cabinet. He was later made secretary for Foreign Affairs.[2] In July 1987 he was appointed Tonga's ambassador to the United States of America.[3]

In 2001, he was appointed as Tonga's first Commissioner for Public Relations, with the task of investigating complaints about maladministration in government departments.[1] In 2004 he asked for the Commissioner's office to have more powers to compel government agencies to release information.[4]

In 2004 he was appointed Attorney General of Tonga and Minister of Justice, replacing Baron Fielakepa who had been in the post for only a month.[2][5] During the 2005 Tongan public service strike he accused the Tongan Public Service Association of holding the country hostage.[6] A cabinet reshuffle in 2006 saw him surrender his portfolios and become Minister of Police, Prisons and Fire Services instead.[7] He was police minister during the 2006 Nukuʻalofa riots, and was responsible for the prolonged state of emergency which followed.[8][9] Following reports that many of those detained after the riots had been abused by police and soldiers, he called the reports "one-sided".[10]

In March 2009 he was appointed as Tonga's first High Commissioner to New Zealand.[11] The High Commission was closed in 2011 for financial reasons.[12]

ʻAho died on 27 April 2018 following an undisclosed illness.[1]

Honours[edit]

National honours

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Kalino Latu (1 May 2018). "Staff pay tributes to Ombudsman pioneer Siaosi Taimani 'Aho". Kaniva Tonga. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Tongan King appoints third justice minister in two months". RNZ. 25 September 2004. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  3. ^ "Diplomatic Representation for Tonga". US Department of State. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  4. ^ "Tonga's Commissioner for Public Relations asks for greater powers". RNZ. 23 June 2004. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  5. ^ "Siaosi Taimani 'Aho appointed Attorney General, Minister of Justice". Matangi Tonga. 24 September 2004. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
  6. ^ "Tongan justice minister says strikers holding country hostage". RNZ. 29 August 2005. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  7. ^ "A cabinet reshuffle takes place in Tonga". RNZ. 17 May 2006. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  8. ^ "Tongan police minister says police should continue to have extra powers". RNZ. 8 July 2008. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  9. ^ "Emergency powers in Tonga's capital won't go until people assure Government they feel safe". RNZ. 25 February 2009. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  10. ^ "Tongan minister questions rights of those caught in riots". RNZ. 17 May 2007. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  11. ^ "Tonga opening High Commission in Wellington because of growing links - Prime Minister Sevele". RNZ. 3 March 2009. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  12. ^ "Tongan consulate plans on the table". New Zealand Herald. 27 August 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  13. ^ "Royal orders presented at Palace". Matangi Tonga. 1 August 2008. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
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