A Tongan-born representative of the Utah Legislature was barred from entering this tiny South Pacific kingdom Monday because he planned to attend a pro-democracy convention, the meeting's organizers said.
They said Filia Uipi, who is a naturalized United States citizen, was met by police when he arrived at Fua'amotu Airport on a Hawaiian Airlines flight and ordered to get back on the plane. Police have not commented.Witnesses at the airport said Uipi wept when he was told he could not enter the country of his birth.
The pro-democracy conference is being held by opposition politicians and church leaders wanting to reform Tonga's political system.
Under an 1875 constitution, monarch King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, his royally appointed cabinet and representatives of 33 noble families hold overriding power in a parliament where representatives of commoners are in the minority.
The Tongan government is allowing the convention to proceed on the condition that foreigners, including Tongan-born passport holders do not take part. Foreign journalists have been allowed to attend but its proceedings are not being broadcast on local radio.
Uipi is a Republican member of the Utah House of Representatives from Salt Lake City.