Siaosi Taimani ʻAho explained

Office5:Minister of Police, Prisons and Fire Services
Primeminister5:Feleti Sevele
Term Start5:17 May 2006
Term End5:2009
Predecessor5:Sitenimoa Valevale
Office6:Attorney General of Tonga
Primeminister6:Feleti Sevele
'Ulukalala Lavaka Ata
Term Start6:24 September 2004
Term End6:17 May 2006
Predecessor6:Baron Fielakepa
Successor6:ʻAlisi Afeaki Taumoepeau
Office8:Commissioner for Public Relations
Term Start8:2001
Term End8:2004
Primeminister8:'Ulukalala Lavaka Ata
Predecessor8:none (office established)
Successor8:Penisimani Fonua
Death Date:27 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

National honours

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Staff pay tributes to Ombudsman pioneer Siaosi Taimani ‘Aho . Kaniva Tonga . Kalino Latu . 1 May 2018 . 7 August 2022.
  2. Web site: Tongan King appoints third justice minister in two months . RNZ . 25 September 2004 . 7 August 2022.
  3. Web site: Diplomatic Representation for Tonga . US Department of State . 7 August 2022.
  4. Web site: Tonga's Commissioner for Public Relations asks for greater powers . RNZ . 23 June 2004 . 7 August 2022.
  5. News: Siaosi Taimani 'Aho appointed Attorney General, Minister of Justice . 24 September 2004 . Matangi Tonga . 2018-07-01 . en.
  6. Web site: Tongan justice minister says strikers holding country hostage . RNZ . 29 August 2005 . 7 August 2022.
  7. Web site: A cabinet reshuffle takes place in Tonga . RNZ . 17 May 2006 . 7 August 2022.
  8. Web site: Tongan police minister says police should continue to have extra powers . RNZ . 8 July 2008 . 7 August 2022.
  9. Web site: Emergency powers in Tonga's capital won't go until people assure Government they feel safe . RNZ . 25 February 2009 . 7 August 2022.
  10. Web site: Tongan minister questions rights of those caught in riots . RNZ . 17 May 2007 . 7 August 2022.
  11. Web site: Tonga opening High Commission in Wellington because of growing links - Prime Minister Sevele . RNZ . 3 March 2009. 7 August 2022.
  12. Web site: Tongan consulate plans on the table . New Zealand Herald . 27 August 2012 . 7 August 2022.
  13. Web site: Royal orders presented at Palace . Matangi Tonga . 1 August 2008 . 2 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210121030307/https://matangitonga.to/2008/08/01/royal-orders-presented-palace . 21 January 2021.