The Catholic Church believes it is unlikely there will be a referendum on whether Tonga should ratify the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
In an interview on Radio Australia Father Seluini Akauola said opposition to ratifying CEDAW is very strong.
Akauola said the suggestion that there should be a referendum is a “diversion from having to talk about the issues.”
He said he saw little point in having a referendum because “all you need to do is to look at the petitions the people are making.”
“It is going to be a very expensive exercise and there is no need for the country to waste its energy on this.”
Akauola denied accusations made on social media calling into question the credibility of petitions made to the Government and to the King in recent weeks.
He said he had not heard anything to suggest the church was threatening to excommunicate those who did not sign the petitions, as had been suggested on the social media.
The church groups are opposing the ratification of CEDAW because they believe it will open the way to the legalisation of abortion and same gender marriage.
Tonga’s Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva believes there will be a referendum and he will be discussing it with the cabinet.
However the prime minister says the exercise will cost time and money.
Tonga currently has no legislation to allow referenda.
The acting Attorney General says there would need to be new legislation and resources for such an exercise.
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