Pro Demos kill the spirit of Christmas [1]
Monday, December 25, 2006 - 06:47. Updated on Tuesday, January 27, 2015 - 12:18.
Editor,
With a heavy heart, I left Tonga with my children, on the first flight allowed after 16/11. My children and I sadly watched, from behind the AVIS Car Rental fence, as the Stars Cinema building which housed our business, go up in flames. We witnessed some of Tonga's oldest business family's businesses burn to the ground, looters going crazy while Tongan families and their neighbours, help each other fight neighbouring flames from reaching their homes. While my children and I cried for what we had lost, my 9 year old said, "There seems to be more than 50 people who did this mom, does this mean, prison will be full"? The same child, on the next day said as he woke up, "Mom, I had a nightmare that your office burned down" That was it for me, I had to take my son away from here. While in Australia, we heard that the Tongan prison actually became very full with looters & rioters. My children laughed and said to their cousins, "See, the Tongan police are just as good as the Australian police, it's just that this doesn't happen, ever, in Tonga" . Little did I know that my children were starting to be mocked by their cousins for coming from Tonga. When my husband joined us later and we made the decision to return to Tonga, my 9 year old asked my husband if the Australian Police was still in Tonga. I realised that my son is still traumatised. We asked him if he wanted to stay back, and his reply is, "as long as our police is strong, I want to be go back".
Let me give you our little story. My small family moved to Tonga after my husband completed a Tongan government scholarship in Australia in 1999. Before we made the big move to Tonga, I asked him if we could stay in Australia, it is a better option for schooling for our children, etc. His reply was "My government helped educate me, I have to give this back", though I knew this was required of all those who complete Tongan government scholarships, he genuinely wanted to help his country. Well, we came to Tonga, and adjusting to a starting salary of TOP$8K with government was just too much to take, we then realised that 2 incomes were necessary and I had to join the Tongan workforce in 2000. 7 years later, we've managed to stay in Tonga with a better income compared to our humble beginnings. My husband no longer holds a government job, but is truly the best at his field, helping Tongans near and far. The key to our contentment is hard work, preserverence, changing our options, and attentive to our business. Our hopes for the future crashed the night of 16/11. But, my husband with his unwavering faith in Tonga, again persuaded us to return after this dreadful night. I realise that my husband will always be tied to the country he loves and is truly Pro-Tonga.
My message is.
Pro Demos, "How dare you do this to not only our business but to our children" We have worked hard to make sure the stories of hardships we hear from our grandparents, dont come to our children. But, thanks to you, our work is now even harder. I do not trust your lot one bit with any decision in Parliament that would effect my family. We go about our merry way daily, deciding the best options for our families, and let me add that destroying your businesses and your cars are nowhere near these plans. This year is the first time in our small family's history, we did not put up our Christmas tree, you've killed our spirit for nice things. We will bounce back eventually, but until you pay for what you've done, we will never feel the same. "We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law." Yes, we are also believers of this, but for you and your followers to dare bring in a sacred article of faith in this ugly mess you've made is disgusting. You don't deserve the religion mate. Please stay well away from my family and our business or you will see one angry - hard working Tongan couple defend their properties and their children.
As for the government, why were the police force slow to react, why was the army slow to react? I would like to rest assure that our government will be working at replacing key positions with people that would react quicker and provide better security assistance to the Tongan community. I encourage the government to pour more money into the police force, to better train, better manage, and get a larger, intelligent police force. The government has been paying peanuts to these key roles long enough, (how do I know? I managed an office for a Finance company in Tonga 2 years ago - I saw the salaries of these key people), since you paid peanuts, you certainly at the end ended up with the monkeys, these individuals decided they were. I know it takes alot of money to do this, and I seriously trust it will be money well spent. We need law and order once again, so my children can once again feel safe.
Merry Christmas to all and God Bless Tonga!!!
Ese
kava [dot] family [at] gmail [dot] com