Tonga's civil servants decide to continue strike

Be like Daniel
To all christians in the strike who have deserted their faith
The Wisdom from above is found in James 3:13-18 & James 4:1-7.
Make the wise choice and what matters is your personal relationship with your God.
How many Gods do you worship? Be like Daniel, go to your worshipping corner and praise God and count your blessing.
Jesus loves you - M. Vunipola

Independence and objectivity could be at stake
I, too, am indebted to your publication for its coverage of the strike in Tonga. Malo …‘aupito! Thanks to your paper, I have faithfully followed the strike with much anticipation.

My brief comment relates to the most recent response issued by the Prime Minister…’s Office: …“It is His Majesty…’s pleasure that Government brings an independent auditing company at the earliest convenience to review the actual status of the discontent pertaining to the costs and processes associated with the Civil Servants Salary Raise….”

If I were the PSA, I would be leery to rely solely on the findings of this …“independent…” auditing firm, given the fact that, although, the auditors are labeled …“independent…”, they too have to report to somebody (and that somebody just happened to be the person(s) paying for the audit, the Tongan Government). Independence and objectivity could be at stake here. I hope that I…’m not playing too much of the devil…’s advocate here. If the Government is allowing a foreign auditing firm to access its books, the PSA should consider hiring its own …“independent…” auditors, which I think is a common business practice in the industry; or may be a joint-effort by both parties in the selection of the independent auditors. Should financing the auditors becomes an issue for the PSA, I…’m sure there are hundreds of qualified Tongan-auditors/accountants living overseas and/or locally who will be willing to donate their time and expertise to the cause. - Kepiloni Foliaki, Arizona, USA

Leadership failure
The Inability of the Tongan government to govern. It seems to me that the way the government handles the National Strike so far has expressed their profound inability to run the affairs of the people. In that case, the PSA should propose, apart from the rise in their salary, that the King, PM and all government ministers step down from their official position.

The saddest thing in my view is the indifference of the old King to the whole matter. Doesn’t he know what is happening to his people that they have to bring a letter to him?

Perhaps he should “‘retire”’ from being King and become a pensioner. I guess this whole issue only serves to show the inability and the failure of the royal family as leaders of Tonga. They should not continue on as Tonga’s rulers. God help us. - Rev Dr Ma‘afu Palu, Sydney, Australia

Tu‘u ‘oua ‘e ngaue
‘Oku ou kole ke fakakau atu ‘a e tohi ni ‘i he peesi ‘a e “Talanga ‘i he lea faka-Tonga” ‘i ho’o makasini ko e Matangi Tonga.

Ko e fie poupou pe ki he tukungaue ‘a e kau ngaue fakapule’anga, ‘i ho’o mou to’a mo lotolahi ke fakahoko ‘a e me’a ni.
Neongo ko kimoutolu kuo mou tali ‘a e fo’i pulu koeni, ka ko hono lelei mo e melie ‘e ‘inasi kotoa ai ‘a e fonua fakalukufua, kae tautautefito ki si’etau fanau mo e kaha’u ‘o Tonga. Kuo mou a’u mai ki he tu’unga koeni, mou tu’u ma’u ai ‘o ‘oua ‘e toe holomui he kuo “kite mai ‘a e fonua”.
‘Oku ou fakamo’oni ki he tui ‘oku pehe, “everything happens for a reason”, pea na’a ko hono taimi pe eni mo e founga ke fakahoko ai ha liliu ‘a Tonga mei he ta’efiemalie mo e fe’amokaki ki he nonga mo e fiefia.
‘Oku ‘ikai keu ma’u ha me’a ke ‘oatu ka ko e lotu pe mo e hufaki’i kimoutolu mo homou ngaahi famili. Fakatauange ke hokohoko atu ‘a e tataki ‘oku fai mei Langi na.
‘Oku ou tui ta’e veiveiua ‘oku faka-‘Otua pe ‘a e feinga ‘oku mou fakahoko, he ‘oku ‘ikai ko e ‘uhinga pe ke hiki homou vahenga, ka ko e me’a tepuu, ke ma’u ‘a e fakamaau totonu (justice) - ‘oku entitle kiai ‘a e me’a mo’ui fakatupu kotoa pe na’e ngaohi ‘e Sihova. - Moeakiola Tunitau, Canberra, Australia

This has gone on much too long
I am not without feeling for the strikers and their belief, feelings so strong they are in the streets demonstrating their frustrations.

For that I commend them, their conviction and the high need they to better their financial position in their profession which for a large number of them, the education of our young minds in Tonga.

I hear them reject offers from government and we go on. Can it at all be possible that in the larger scope our small economy just cannot accommodate the full extent of increase they require?? People are now taking sides and utilising our cultural figure heads as whom leads whom.

For example, again His Royal Highness Prince Tu'ipelehake is being viewed as against the Monarchy since he marched with the strikers to give their petition.

Is it always about that? Or is it about what ideology you can live with? We must not detract from the real issue by bringing this family lineage into play. Many things have been done to His Royal Highness also but no one says, what about family?? So let's end that for one.

The issue is the strikers want relief and parliamentary representatives may choose whether to champion the course or sit on the fence or reject.

Secondly, can Tongan economy afford the rise in the requested scale??

Can the upgrade for other sectors be lessened in order to accommodate the public servant rise?

Can we find a middle ground for the rise if another sector will accommodate to a degree?

I know Tongans are 90 percent feelings and the remainder objective (hopefully). This has nothing to do with whether they (government) hate the people or love the people to a very large degree? Figures have no heartbeat it only coldly reports its status. DO WE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY IN OUR ECONOMY TO DO WHAT THEY ARE BEING ASKED?

If everyone wants to discuss political issues THEN be open minded. Whether one identifies oneself or not is beside the point. Knowing the nature of Tongans to identify oneself is just silly firstly, because, if someone disagrees with you, they get personal and nothing but RUBBISH comes out of the conversation and the real issue is forgotten. I hope my rambling has not sidetracked you from your issue. I pray an end is in sight as this has gone on much too long for the struggling economy that is Tonga and her people. A half full glass is better than an empty one, sometimes we just need to take up the olive branch we so proudly display on our royal flag and see our half full rather than half empty and move to the future to fill it to the brim. The longer the strike the worst off our economy, the less likely anyone will get anything they want and all will suffer. - AK from Australia

Popoaki ‘ofa ki he kau ngaue faka-pule‘anga mo e kainga Tonga
‘Oku ou fakamalo ma’u pe ki he Planet-Tonga Website ‘i hono fakaongo mai e ongoongo mei hotau ki’i fonua. ‘I he ngaahi ongoongo kuo tau fanongo kiai, kuo mahino leva ‘ae kehe ‘ae kuonga ko ‘eni ‘oku tau laka atu kiai.

‘Oku ou fakamalo foki ki he kau taki ‘o e PSA (Public Servants Association) pea moe kau fakafofonga falealea ‘oe kakai ‘i hono poupou’i e me’a ‘oku loto kiai e kainga ‘oe fonua. Koe ngaue lahi ‘oku fai ‘ehe kaungaue fakapule’anga, kainga ‘oe fonua, pehe ki he fanauako foki. ‘Oku ‘ikai koe ‘ai ma’a moutolu pe ka koe tofa atu ‘eni ‘oe hala ke fiemalie ai mo e toenga ‘etau fanau ‘oku kei tutupu hake. Ke vahevahe tatau e me’a kotoa ‘i hotau ki’i pule’anga ke lave ai ‘etau fanau kae ‘umaa ‘ae kau toulekeleka ‘oku ‘ikai malava kenau toe ma’ungaue.

‘Oku fakafiefia ho’omou tu’u ma’u ‘i ho’omou tui he ‘oku ‘ikai ko ha pule’anga ‘o Tupou tokotaha pe, koe Pule’anga ‘o Tupou mo hono kakai. Kuo taimi pe ke fakatokanga’i ‘ehe kau taki mo e Hou’eiki, ‘oku lanu tatau pe hotau TOTO. There is no KING without his people and he definitely CAN NOT rule a kingdom without them. LEADERS lose power when his PEOPLE are NOT treated with dignity, respect, and equality (for example: Sadam Hussein).

Manatu ki he lea ‘aha Sotia ‘Amelika ‘i he’enau a’u atu ki he taha ‘oe ngaahi palasi ‘o Sadam Hussein ‘i Irag ‘i hono faka’eke’eke mai he World News…… “Na’aku tu’u mei he loto palasi ni, ‘oku ngaohi ‘aki e Koula e me’a kotoa pe, pe au faka’ofo’ofa’ia ‘i hono fa’u, kau mamata atu ki tu’a ki he ‘atakai hono palasi, ‘oku nofo takatakai mai ai hono kakai he efu moe hala’ataa. ‘Ikai ke mahino kiate au ha fa’ahinga tangata loto fefeka pehe, ke lava ‘o sio atu he ‘aho kotoa ki he masiva hono kakai mo ‘enau faka’ofa.”

I pray to our Heavenly FATHER and our KING to give all your families peace and to provide for you all during this time of need. I also pray that our cries will be heard by those that are refusing to listen. - Setaita (Concerned Tongan).

What is going on?
I just wanted to give my 2 cents at the strike that is happening in Tonga. My heart goes out to those people. BUT I am also proud that they are not allowing this issue to pass unnoticed.
The King's People
What is the role of the Royal Family?
Who is taking care of the people? I'm so angry. The King's priority should be his people because without them he would be nothing. - Nau Satini-Willis

Return to Work
The strike verdict is one of wisdom
It must have been one of the most interesting weeks in the history of our beloved country and I believe this is a divine intervention at the right time, at the right place and involving the right people.

PSA and the march

In a first of its kind, Civil Servants have openly and publicly criticized their heads of departments (Level 1), Cabinet and the Privy Council. They don't agree with government's approach to the public sector reform. They don't agree with the figures from the Minister of Finance and his Secretary. They have collectively walked out of their work stations. They ignored Cabinet's call for all to return to work and make use of the existing mechanisms to address their grievances. They ignored Privy Council's decision that their demands cannot be met. They have rejected Cabinet's good will and conciliatory offers of 12.5%, 10-5-20 and the sweeteners for the teachers and health workers.

They have met at Pangai Si'i and sang hymns until someone comes from heaven because 'oku vaivai e fai 'a e church. For the 5 loaves and 2 bread were blessed and fully fed a topono crowd of 5,000 but Tonga is claimed not capable of raising $36 - 39 million in its right hand to give to its left to feed 4,000 civil servants who are so hungry for everything.

Some have spoken to the foreign media about the intention to include in the PSA demands the sacking of the PM and the Minister of Finance, a power which is vested in the king and king alone. They now demand that all the Level 1 be paid out and terminate their contracts - a business of Cabinet and Cabinet alone. They claim to have Unity and Solidarity forever and stand firm on only 60-70-80 or no return to work.

They have marched to the father of the nation calling for justice and claiming that this is the last peaceful means. The People's Prince led the march. HM has sent his one and only one beloved daughter to receive a march led by one of their very own. And the long awaited verdict has been delivered ” … It is His Majesty's pleasure that Government brings an independent auditing company at the earliest convenience to review the actual status of the discontent pertaining to the costs and processes associated with the Civil Servants Salary Raise.”

King Solomon's as the basis

King Solomon's ruling on the two women who fought over a child is one of wisdom (see 1 King 3: 16…ˆ 8). Unlike Pailato's ruling over the fate of Jesus (see John 19: 1-16), King Solomon's ruling was not influenced by the protest march, the strike, the petition letters, the cheers from the crowd, the nicely worded banners, the threat to his crown, the threat of violence and the fakapunake to the media by the woman who claimed to be the mother but did not have the true love for the child. He wanted the truth and the truth only, and in the process, found the real mother and the woman with the heart for the child.

The PSA approached HM seeking fairness and justice. HM has ruled that fairness shall prevail but we should first seek the truth from the claims by both Cabinet and the PSA.

Next Step

HM's ruling must be respected. The PSA marched to him seeking justice and he is saying that we pursue the path to justice by seeking an independent and a third party view. It would be foolish for anyone to expect HM to give the demanded 60-70-80 without further investigations, as a nation's interest is at stake.

For the PSA to put further demands now would be seen as disobeying the country's father, which is logically, morally, culturally and biblically wrong (uncharacteristic of people who gathered to sing hymns and prayed). Furthermore, to disobey would be seen as a vote of no confidence on the monarchy, which many sections of society would strongly object to and dilute the support to the PSA.

It is now a win-win situation for the PSA and the Cabinet and the verdict must be celebrated if they are confident on their numbers and their claims.

An honorable move for the PSA

An honorable move for the PSA and its members now is to return to work and await the outcome of the independent assessment. To continue with the strike is meaningless and will bring more suffering on its members and the general public. I can understand that the strike leaders would like some immunity to cover their tails before the return.

An honorable move for Cabinet

An honorable move for the Cabinet is to ensure the independence and the transparency of the assessment by inviting representatives of the PSA (and the private sector) to take part in the drafting of the Terms of Reference and the selection of the consultant(s).

'Elohimi foaki ki he Tu'i ho halanga fakamaau, 'io ki he 'alo ho'o motu'a tu'i, ho'o faitotonu (Saame 72:1) - Sailosi Finau, Auckland, New Zealand

Ko hai ‘oku mo‘oni pule‘anga pe koe pule‘anga? 25 miliona pe 36 miliona
Ko e ki’i fifili pe pe ‘oku mahino nai ki he Pule’anga moe PSA ko e fakafekiki ko ‘eni ko e fo’i tafa’aki pe ‘e taha, Pule’anga mo ‘ene kau ngaue? ‘Oku hange ‘oku fepakipaki lolotonga ‘oku nau fehangahangai pe pea pehe tokua ko e kakai ‘oe fonua moe pule’anga. Ko e ki’i mahino vaivai pe ‘oku ha mai ko e Palemia moe kau Minisita mo ‘enau kau ngaue ‘oku ta’efemahino’aki mo e founga ‘enau fokotu’utu’u ngaue. Ko e fehu’i leva ko fe’ia ‘a e totonu ‘a e kakai ‘oku ‘ikai ke nau ngaue ki he Pule’anga ka ‘oku uesia ‘enau pisinisi mo ‘enau mo’ui faka’aho hange ko ia ‘oku hoko ‘i falamahaki Vaiola, ‘i he palopalema ‘oku hoko? ‘Oku hange kiate au ‘oku fai ‘a e felakuaki moe fetukuaki pe ko hai ‘oku mo’oni ‘i he lotolotonga ‘oe Pule’anga (‘oku ‘ikai koe fonau) kae fua ‘a hono kanongitamaki ‘e he si’i matu’a (‘ikai ngaue faka-pule’anga)’oe fonua.

‘Oku ‘i ai ‘a e ki’i manavasi’i he kuo ha mai ‘a hono tukuaaki’i ‘oe kau Palesiteni mo e kau faifekau tokua ‘oku ‘ikai ke nau poupou ki he palopalema ‘oku hokoo. Ko e ki’i faka-maama pe ‘oku ha mai, ko e ‘uhinga ‘oku ‘ikai ke kau ai ‘a e kau Taki Lotu he koe palopalema ko enii ‘oku ‘ikai ko e palopalema ‘a e kakai moe Pule’anga ka koe palopalema ‘ae Pule’anga ‘ata’ataa pe mo ‘enau kau ngaue. ‘Oku ou kole faka-molemole atu pe na’a ‘oku ta’e mahino ‘a e faka-kaukau, ka ‘oku ‘ikai mahino kiate au pe koe ha ‘oku ‘ikai ‘ilo ai ‘e he PSA moe Pule’anga koe fo’i ‘iuniti pe kinautolu ‘e taha ‘o hange ha fo’i famili kuo nau toe tu’u hake pe ‘o fakafekiki, ka e fokoutua pe ‘a e si’i matua tauhi fonua. - Siosaia Moimoiangaha

Pray for a solution
Re: Leadership Failure
Perhaps we should all have the relevant facts before we make a viable comment.
I note your concern which is directly related to the inability of the Royal family to handle such crisis. However, the King is in a difficult position to mediate between his people and the Government. Of course his heart goes to his people but he must act fairly in best interest of the nation.
Let say if he agrees to the PSA demand, what will be the consequences to the nation in years to come? Do we have the resources and funds to accommodate for the above pay rise from time to time? Will the PSA demand of 60%, 70% and 80% pay rise bring fairness to all public servants at all levels? The answer is no.
It looks so fancy and caring to suggest that 80% pay rise is given to low income earners, i.e 80% of $3000.00 per annum which bring them up to $5400.00. What about the 70% pay rise to middle level income earners i.e 70% of $9000.00 per annum which bring them up to $15300.00? And how about the top level income earners i.e 60% of $15000.00 which give them a new figure of $24000.00. Does the above equation bring justice and fairness to low income earners.
I believe the PSA demand only benefit the two top level and still ignore the poorest staffs. Psalms 41:1 “Happy are those who are concerned for the poor, the Lord will help them when they are in trouble”.
I agree with the Royal Command for an immediate recruitment of an independent auditor.
For the strikers, we are praying for a solution that will bring happiness to each and all of you. Rev Palu is respectfully requested to please pray with us for the Royal Family to meet their obligation harmoniously and deliver their duties honestly and lovingly. We also need to pray for a solution to bring happiness and stability to the Nation. - James, New Zealand.

Captivating to see history unfold
Social Change
Thank you sir for your continual comprehensive coverage of developing events there in Tonga. It is captivating to see history unfold before our very eyes.

The current situation in Tonga appears to have all the elements of a major social change and may in fact change our political structure. Every major socio-political change in history is traceable backyard through sequence of events leading up to the final event, which in our case appears to be an eminent national crisis. We are in a defining moment in Tonga’s future history that generations from now will look back and say: that civil servant strike was the point of no return for political change.

The ruling establishment is completely oblivious to the seriousness of the strong sentiment swelling up within the populous, being galvanized by the civil workers. This is evident by the PM’s refusal to engage in an open dialog with mediators when he was presented with an opportunity early in the strike to negotiate a compromise, followed by half-hearted offers that were all turned down. Now, the King’s one sentence respond is for an audit that will take weeks, if not months for the results.

Our highly stratified social structure has not come to grips with the real existence of a highly educated elite class to whom the government is up against. This social class has earned their legitimacy in our society and now makes demands that the government has no real choice. - Thomas Monson Uata, Nevada, USA

Suggest reverence and humility
Re: Leadership Failure
I just wanted to say that I was rather disappointed to read that a Reverend, let alone a scholar could make such broad comments on political and ecconomical events in Tonga. Perhaps as Reverend Dr Maafu is such a close associate of the “old king”, witnessing his indifference first hand that perhaps he should bend His Highness’ ear and lend some advise as to how the Reverend Dr Maafu would deal with such a simple problem.

I suggest that the Reverend Dr Maafu take up the offer from James to pray for a solution, not only for the leadership of our country Tonga, but for also his own leadership as a Reverend and upstanding person in his community, exercising reverence and humility. - Ms Auliola, housewife, mother, churchgoer and Tongan.