Government considers national reconciliation a priority [1]
Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 11:02. Updated on Monday, July 20, 2015 - 13:24.
Cabinet has approved the appointment of Viliami Afeaki as "Adviser to the Prime Minister on Reconciliation and Civic Education" for an initial period of two years, beginning 2nd April 2007.
National Reconciliation is about the restoring of broken relations and healing hearts and minds. National Reconciliation cannot be achieved through the drafting and adoption of legislations. It can only be achieved through peaceful dialogue.
Reconciliation cannot be forced on anyone - it must be agreed to by all parties to any conflict. Building this consensus requires continuous dialogue. It will also require the cooperation of all the different sectors of Tongan society.
However the process of national reconciliation will not be allowed to usurp or interfere with the quest for justice through the Courts of law. Reconciliation and Justice are not alternatives - they complement one another.
To supplement this essential process of reconciliation will be a series of civic education programs that will, amongst other things, focus on human rights and good governance. They will also seek to revive people's pride in their Tongan-ness and the cultural traits that make us Tongans - Fe'ofa'aki (mutual love and caring, generosity), Fefaka'apa'apa'aki (mutual respect), Feveitokai'aki (reciprocity, cooperation, consensus; maintenance of good relationships) Mamahi'i Me'a (loyalty, commitment), Lototoo (humility, generosity), Fetokoni'aki (sharing, cooperation, fulfilment of mutual obligations) etc.
Such civic education programs will include; regular radio and television programs; regular write-ups in the print media; educational competitions for schools such as essay writing and public debates; community workshops involving organizations of civil society; inter-denominational activities; revival of festivities that marked historical days in Tonga's calendar; regional conferences in each of the main islands culminating in a national conference on reconciliation.
Mr Afeaki brings with him a wealth of experience. He is a former People's Representative from Ha'apai to the Legislative Assembly from 1987 to 1992. Prior to entering Parliament he was an Administrator with the LDS Church Schools in Tonga from 1978 to 1985. From 1996 to 2005 he was the Director of the Utah State Office of Pacific Islanders Affairs and from 2004 until this year he was a member of the White House Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Prime Minister's Office, 11/04/07.