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Canberra: Tonga's king reassured his people yesterday that he remained committed to political reforms, a week after violent pro-democracy riots destroyed up to 80 per cent of businesses in the South Pacific nation's capital.
His comments came as a chartered plane left Nuku'alofa carrying 193 Chinese nationals whose businesses were among those torched during the November 16 riots.
King George Tupou V, who succeeded his late father in September, said the riots and looting in Nuku'alofa which left six people dead had brought shame on Tonga, which now had to rebuild its reputation and its capital.
"We have to rebuild our sense of mutual responsibility to each other, so that never again will we see violence, arson, looting, death - and such shame," the king said in an address to mark the close of Tonga's parliament for the year.
He urged Tonga's lawmakers to reach a consensus on democratic reforms and to agree on a time frame for their introduction before parliament resumes next year.
Australia and New Zealand sent about 150 troops and police to help maintain order after the riots, sparked when parliament went into recess without voting on democratic reforms.
"It was all calm and quiet today," Tongan police commander Sinilau Kolokihakaufisi said yesterday.
He confirmed that the death toll from the riots remained at six, and not the eight authorities had feared last weekend.
Tupou V said in a rare public statement after succeeding his father that Tonga's semi-feudal political system was not evolving quickly enough.
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