Democratic movement in Tonga

Leader: Man or Woman of Integrity - Manulea ‘i Pangai
I do applaud Kava’s letter re: the Democratic Movement in Tonga. However, instead of saying the “‘demo-boyz” and their supporters have no idea what they are talking about, I would rather say they do not fully understand the principles and practices of democracy. Had they known them, by now or even earlier on, they would have been able to draw and to come up with a clear and concrete definition to what degree, and to what form of democratic government they want in Tonga. The question is, what takes them so long to come up with one?

Could one of the following answers be true?

1. Like what Kava stated, "they have no idea what they are talking about!"

2. Fear of proposing a model that doesn't reflect true meaning of democracy, but instead will reveal some "self" searching for power.

Whether the democratic movement in Tonga will be successful or not, I care less! I would rather ask, “Give me a more honest leader! A man or a woman of integrity!” - Manulea-‘i-Pangai

Fiema‘u ha kau taki fo‘ou - Devil Dog Kava, Pagopago
Fakatapu atu, pea tuku mu’a ke hao atu e motu’a nofo hili koau he Tutu’ila ‘o e Tu’i Manu’a. ‘Oku ou lave’i koe kelekele kehe ‘eni ‘oku ou feinga keu a’a atu kiai.

Ka ‘oku toe ongo ange he ko e vaka teu ngaue ‘aki ‘oku fe’unga pe ia mo kinautolu poto’i lea he lea faka Tonga. ‘Oku ou manako ke nofo pe ki he lea fakpapalangi he ‘oku ‘ikai keu ilifia au hono laiki mo nusi noa’ia e lea keheni. Ka ko e ‘uhi ko e kole mai ‘e hoku kau nga poupou teu feinga atu he’etau lea, ‘e fai e feinga.

‘E fakamatatu’a e tohini ia he ko e tu’a au. ‘E ha ngali kaaimu’a mo ta’emingao e fakahoha’ani he fanautama au ‘a e Faa’imata pea ko e Fofo’anga. ‘E ha fie lahi atu hoku le’o he ko e Tu’anuku-Kolomotu’a kuo ‘aka ‘aka maka mei Lepanoni ki Iran pea mei Iraqi ki Kuwait. Ka ‘oku ou kole atu keke manatu’i ange ko e toto ‘oku tafe he kalava tu’ani ko e Tonga. ‘E kei ‘a’akimui holo ai pe e faka’apa’apa mo e loto ma’ulalo mo’oni.

Hao’uli kuo ke fofola e fala pea ‘oku ou kole atu keke tangutu si’i hifo keta talanga.

‘Oku ‘i ai e mo’ua lahi ia ‘o Tonga kia ‘Akilisi mo e kau Demo. He konautolu na’a nau fuofua loto to’a ke nau lulu’i e ‘ulu paini ‘o Pangai pea ue’i ‘ulu toa ‘o Mala’e Kula, pea ngangana mo e’a ai e ngaahi tonounou mo e me’a ‘oku totonu ke liliu ‘i he fungavaka ‘o e kau taki ho tau fonua. Ne nau tu’uta ‘i Falealea ‘o ‘eke’i m oe fehu’ia e me’a na’e ‘ikai malava he ngaahi ta’u ki mu’a he to’onga ‘e tau fe faka’apa’apa’aki faka fonua.

Ko e me’a ko e ‘oku ou fokotu’u atu Hao’uli, ne lava e fatongia ia ‘o ‘Akilisi mo e kau Demo he 1990 pe kimu’a ai. Kuo ‘alu hake ‘a Tonga ia ki he tu’unga hono hoko ‘ene tupu fakapolitikale. Pea ‘oku fiema’u e fa’ahinga maheni mo e taukei ngaue makehe ia ke kei ma’uma’uluta ai pe e laka kimu’a ‘a e liliu faka politikale ‘a Tonga.

‘I he taimi na’e kamata ai e Demo, na’a nau faifatongia he loto-tonunga kiha taumu’a ‘oku ma’olunga pea taau ke fakahikihiki’i. Kae ‘alu atu pe taimi ia kuo hange kuo nau afe ‘o pukea kinautolu he feinga sauni. Na’anau langilangi’ia he ‘e nau hikitanga e ngaahi tonounou ‘a e Pule’anga. Ka nau toe maumau’i pe ‘e kinautolu ‘e nau ngaue lelei ‘aki ‘e nau fakaili e anga sauni me’a pea mo e loto ke fetongi ‘aki pe nifo e nifo.

Ko e ‘ulungaanga ‘eni na’ane fakakuihi e demo he ta’u lahi ‘i ho nau vaha’a moe Minisita Polisi kuo pekia ko ‘Akau’ola. ‘O a’u mai ai pe ki he vaha’a mo Neti ‘i he’ene kei Minisita Polisi. Ko e mole lahi e pa’anga ‘a e Pule’anga (tax ‘ae kakai) pea maumau mo e feveitokai’aki he ngaue fakapule’anga he tau’aki tangata pe ia ‘a e toko ua pe. ‘Oku ‘ikai keu a’usia ‘e au pe ko e ha ha lelei ki he kakai ‘o e fonua na’e ma’u he tau’aki fakafekiki na’e fai. ‘Ikai ngata ai kuo ne ta tu’o fiha fakamahino mai ‘e he Pule’anga ‘e nau fehalaaki he taimi ‘o ‘Akau’ola. Kae ‘ikai pe ‘ulutukua e kau Demo ia ke ‘oange ha loto fakamolemole.

Na’aku pehe ‘e ngata he mafuli e tepile pea fakataha e ongo fili ‘o e taimi ko e. Kae hala pe ‘eku ma’u. Hanga hake e Demo ‘o faka’ilo e Ta’ahine Pilinisesi ko ‘enau pe he ‘oku ‘ikai ha’ane totonu ke ne fakaava e falealea. ‘Oku a’u ki he ‘ahoni ‘oku ou kei fifili pe koe ha ‘enau fakalaka faka politikale na’e ma’u mei he’enau fo’i laka ko’eni? Pea ko e mahu’inga ange, ko e ha e lelei kuo ma’u ‘e he kakai ‘o Tonga mei he’enau laka ne fai.?

Kuo nau maumau’i lahi e tu’unga faka pa’anga ‘a e fonua ‘aki ‘e nau tu’uaki mo paasi e peseti 60, 70, 80 ki he hikivahenga. ‘Oku ou fakapapau’i ‘e au teu mate pe ‘oku te’eki keu a’usia pe ne anga fefe e fakakaukau ‘a e kau ‘Atamai’ia ‘o nau a’u ki he ngaahi peseti ‘oku tau lavea kotoa ai he ngaahi ‘ahoni. Ko e hiki vahenga faka’osi ‘a e sotia ‘Amelika na’e fai ia he 1998 ko e hiki 4%. ‘Oku ou nofo mo faka’amu atu kapau na’e malava ke hiki 30% pe hoku vahenga he taimi ni ‘e ‘ikai toe hela ‘eku Tamai ‘aku ‘i Tonga he ‘alu ki ‘uta. Huanoa kapau na’e hiki 60%, kuo fouloa ‘eku drink kava Tonga ‘aku mo ‘eve’eva noa holo ‘i Tonga.

Ko e fakamo’oni ‘eni kuo nau a’u ‘eni ki he tu’unga ma’ulalo taha ‘o e feohi mo e fakasosiale ‘i he lau ‘ae kau kavatonga. Kuo ‘osi ‘e nau kato pea kuo nau fakatupu ke mo pole tau. Na’aku ‘i Tonga he taha ‘o ‘enau ngaahi fakataha ‘i Pangai Si’i. Na’aku ‘ohovale he ongo fakalaumalie ‘e nau kamata kae toki maumau’i ‘e Puliki’uvea ‘i he’ene pehe ‘e ia ke nau sio ki he me’a kuo fai ‘e ‘Alani Laione ke nau fakataha kiai. Pea toe tanaki atu ki he maumau ko e lea ‘a e ‘Ofisa Kolo ‘o Folaha ‘i he’ene pe he ka a’u ki he aho koia ‘oku ‘ikai fai ‘e he Pule’anga ha me’a pea mavahe leva e kau taki ki tafa’aki ka nau faka’osi ‘e kinautolu. Neu pehe pe he ‘aho koia ‘oku ‘i ai e me’a ‘ia ‘oku fehalaaki he fakakaukau ‘a e kau demo mo honau kau poupou. Na’e toki mahino kia au ‘oku ‘ikai pe ke ‘ilo’i ‘e he kau Demo ‘e nau me’a ‘oku fai he ko e hili e himi mo e lotu faklaumalie ne taa’i mai he’e Dj e “Kolokesa ‘o Palataisi” ko e fo’i hiva ki he fu’u fokisi ‘o e ‘aho atu ko e ke nau fakamafana ki ai.

Koia ai ‘e Hau’oli mo e kau Demo ‘oku ‘oatu heni e fakamalo ki he me’a kuo mou lava. Ka ‘oku tonu a ke mou holomui atu na’a toe maumau ho’o mou ngaahi ngaue lelei ‘i ho’omou ngaue kovi ‘aki.

‘Oku ou poupou’i ‘e au e Talanoa. Ka ‘oku ou pe he ‘e au ko e Talanoa ‘oku tonu ke kamata ia mei he tu’unga ‘o e ngaahi ‘api ako fakapule’anga mo fakapolitikale (School of Government, School of International affairs, etc) ‘a e ngaahi ‘Univesiti. ‘Oku ou ‘ilo’i pau ‘e tokoni mai a Nu’usila mo Aositelelia ki he fokotu’uni. Na’aku ‘i he President John F. Kenedy School of Government ‘i Havard ‘i he course nounou pe ia ‘ae sotia pea na’aku ‘i ai mo e ‘Ofisa mei he Tau Malu’ifonua ‘a Tonga. Ko e taha ‘eni ‘o e ‘apiako ‘oku tonu ke feinga ki ai e Talanoa.

‘Oku ou tui au ki he fakakaukau ke tomu’a ‘ave e Talanoa ki he kau mataotao te nau lava ‘o ‘analaiso e tu’unga fakapolitikale ‘oku ‘i ai a Tonga, mahino’i hono lelei mo e ‘u me’a ‘oku tonu ke fakalelei’i, fokotu’u mai e ngaahi palani pe ngaahi founga fakapolitikale ‘e fe’unga mo Tonga, ko e ha e lelei mo e nunu’a ‘o e ngaahi fokotu’uni, ko e ha e fakamole ‘i he pa’anga moe taimi, ko e ha e liliu faka taautaha pe fakatokolahi ‘e fiema’u.

Ko e maau pe ‘a e fokotu’utu’u ‘a kinautolu ‘oku nau ‘ilo’i e me’a ke fai pea ‘omi leva ke toki ‘ave ‘o fakamatala’i ke mahino mo mahu’inga malie ki he kakai ‘o e fonua. ‘Oku ou faka’a’apa lahi ki he’eku tamai, ‘i he tu’unga ‘oku ou ‘iai, ‘eke mai ha me’a fakakautau tautautefito ki he faklele e kau tautoitoi, fakalele ha kongatau, ko hono ngaue ‘aki e ‘one (all explosives), ‘eke mai ha me’a kau ki he pule’anga temokalati ko Amelika, teu kau au he lau pea ‘e ‘ilonga ‘eku kau. Ka ‘oku ‘ikai kei ‘ilo lahi fe’unga au ki he tu’uga fakapolitikale ‘oku i ai a Tonga ke ‘aonga ha’aku fokotu’u pe kau he Talanoa.

Pea ko e anga e ‘eku fakakaukau Hau’oli. Ko e palepalma ‘oku kei tofanga ai a Tonga ko ho’omou kei pipiki pe he kau taki ‘oku ‘ikai ke nau ‘ilo ha me’a ki he fa’u mo hono langa ha pule’anga. Ko e ta’u e ‘e fiha mo ‘e tau kei a’a holo pe ‘i namo. Kuo fuoloa taimi ke tau tahataha atu ki he loloto ka ‘oku fiema’u ha kau taukei ki ai.

Kimu’a pea toki kamata e tau he Kulifa ‘o e 1990, neu taki holo he kau asiasi (recon) ki loto Kuwait. Ko homau fatongia ko e mape’i e tu’unga ‘e ngaahi me’a kotoa pe ‘oku mahu’inga fakakautau, feinga ke fakapapau’i e tokolahi e kau tau ‘a e fili mo e ngaahi me’a tau ‘oku nau ngaue ‘aki. Ne lava hoku fatongia ‘oku ‘osi pe ‘eku lipooti ki he kau taki he command Post. Taimi lahi ‘oku ‘eke mai pe ko e ha ha’aku palani ki hano ‘ohofi e ngaahi taketi ko’eni. Ka ko e me’a mahu’inga kuo lava hoku fatongia he lava pe ‘eku lipooti. Ko e toenga ko e me’a ‘ia ‘a e kau tama kehe. Teu loto ma’ulalo au keu holomui ki mui ‘o tali ki ha toe ui mai. - Devil Dog Kava

Differing views on King - Sefita Haouli, Auckland, New Zealand
Thank you Kava and everyone on this thread. I know that we have come to know something of each other through this and other fora on the ‘net and in the main there has been diverse views and many have been strongly expressed but it doesn’t detract from the fact that we’ve remained above name calling! I am pleased however that you’re prepared to retain the a dignified approach and here’s a hat-tip your way. I have learnt to be thick-skinned because you don’t put yourself out in the public arena and not be able to take the flak so I’m comfortable with fair criticism and being taken to task when I’m wrong.

I appreciate that we have differing views on the perception of our king. I don’t buy that he has God-given rights to rule. Nor do I buy that he is above criticism when he’s clearly in the wrong. If he was a private citizen, we’d have no rights to comment adversely on him. And that goes for your elderly father who isn’t a public person. But as king responsible for the welfare of Tongans, he is no longer entitled to that degree of privacy. Akilisi has also lost that right for the same reason and all elected officials put themselves in that position and we would be remiss if we allow them to go unchecked for whatever reasons or excuses that we can dream up. Some of us have lost respect for the king a long time ago. And I’m bound to say that I do wonder whether those who are prepared to turn a blind eye to all his excesses are just as guilty? By all accounts Kava you’re a sane, rational and God-fearing man but I’ve had to re-read this extract from your letter …

Here is a bold statement: “His Majesty, King Taufa’ahau Tupou the IV, truely God’s representative on earth to lead and direct the Kindom of Tonga”

It is irrelevent whether this statement is true or not. The fact of the matter is, HRH is respected as such by thousands of Tongans and Non-Tongans both in Tonga and abroad. So, for anyone to address HRH with anything less than the utmost respect can only mean two things. First, such person or persons deserve no respect from others.

… It IS RELEVANT whether it is true or not so you’re obliged to choose between what you know to be the truth and what you’re NOT PREPARED TO ACCEPT in your heart. If you’re able to sort out the enemy in the most dangerous hotspots on earth, what courage do you need so that you can remain true to yourself on a simple issue such as this? We have given HM and his household god-like status by taking leave of our sanity. He is no more human that you or I. His decisions affect the lives of thousands. He should be made to be accountable and that’s not asking for too much. Your American constitutional studies would speak volumes to you on this issue and no need for me to reiterate. Just because thousands give away their respect easily, it doesn’t follow that we too should follow without question. The story of that King without any clothes is an apt metaphor for the situation you’vejust described. I know that our fellow pilgrim Mokofisi contends that I’m a liberal and apparently not prepared to accept responsibilities. I can only say that I could be accused or much worse but turning a blind eye so that you can be respectful? As the kids would say today - gimme a break.

Sincerely - Sefita Hao’uli

Freedom of Speech - Sione Ake Mokofisi, Salt Lake City Utah, USA
May I respond to Mr. Hao’uli’s most recent letter (July 21, 2006) to Sione Kava in which he made reference to my referring to him, and his colleagues, a “liberal” instead of a “pro-democrat”.

With due respect Mr. Hao’uli, as a fellow journalist, I’m sure you are fully aware of the scope of our right to “freedom of speech.”

What angers some Tongans is our (journalists) misuse of that right in making false accusations, unsubstantiated claims, and even distasteful references to His Majesty, and to others.

In addition, Mr. Hao’uli and his colleagues do accuse anyone who disagrees with them, and their tactics, just as “guilty” as the King.

It’s your right to “lose respect for the King long time ago”, and to criticize him “when he’s clearly in the wrong,” Mr. Hao’uli.

And it’s your right not to believe in God’s blessings to annoint His Majesty as leader of the Kingdom.

But why don’t you respect our rights, as we respect yours, to form our own opinions, and to exercise our freedom of expression?

I’m sorry we’re not members of your “elite club” of intellectual Tongans. However, we do reserve the right to agree or disagree with your opinions.

Sincerely - Sione Ake Mokofisi

Ta loto lelei pe ke ta loto kehekehe - Devil Dog Kava, Pagopago
Tuku pe mu’a keu toe fakatapu fo’ou atu ki he tu’unga kotoa ‘oku tonu ke
fakatapua kau toe lava atu he matapa ‘oku kei fakaava mai ‘e Sefita Hao’uli.

Teu feinga keu fakanounou pea ke ‘oua teta sisina e taimi mo e faingamalie ke hu mai ai ha taha kehe mo ha toe fakakaukau kehe. Ko ‘eku lave faka’osi ‘eni ki he he’eku fakakaukau ki he Tu’i mo hono langilnagi.

‘Oku ou kole heni ke ‘oua na’ake taku ko ha’aku malanga faka ului ‘eni. Mole ke Mama’o. Ko e faka’amu pe ke mahino atu e tu’unga mo e tui ‘oku ou ‘i ai pea tuku ki taimi kene toki fakamo’oni’i pe ‘oku ‘i ai hano ‘aonga.

‘Oku ou tui…’ikai..kataki…’oku ou ‘ilo pau ne tali ‘e he ‘Otua ‘ae kole ‘a Siaosi Tupou 1 ke tuku atu a Tonga ki he Langi. ‘Oku ou ‘ilopau ai pe ‘e au koe Tu’i moe kau taki ‘oe fonua kuo pani mo tapuaki’i ia mei Langi ke nau hoko koe kau taki ‘o Tonga. Pea ‘i he’ene pe he ‘oku ou ‘ilo pau ka ‘iai ha me’a ‘oku ‘afio’i ‘e he ‘Otua ke liliu ‘i he tu’unga faka e taki ‘i Tonga, ‘e fai pe ia ‘i hono taimi pea ‘e fai pe ia mei Langi pea ‘e fakahangatonu pe ia ki he Tu’i mo hono fale.

‘Oku mahino ki a au ‘oku ‘ikai keke ma’u ‘e koe e tui tatau mo au. Pea ‘oku ‘ikai mahu’inga ia ki he ‘isiu ‘oku ta felafoaki ai.

Koe mahu’inga ke mahino kia koe ‘oku ‘iai me’a matelie ‘oku mahu’inga ki ha fa’ahinga kakai. Hange nai koe tohitapu, falelotu moe temipale ki he kau Kalisitiane. ‘Oku ‘iai foki moe ngaahi tefito’i tui ‘oku toputapu ki he fa’ahinga kakai ‘e ni’ihi. Hange nai koe ouau ‘oe mali temipale ki he kau Mamonga, pea moe Sakalameniti ki he ngaahi siasi Faka Kalisitiane lahi. ‘Oku ‘iai mo ha kakai ‘oku faka’apa’apa’i makehe koe tu’unga ‘oku nau ‘iai. ‘Oku kau heni e kainga fefine (fanga fa’e moe fanga tuofafine), koe kau tangata’eiki moe kau fine’eiki ‘oe nofo fakakolo moe famili, kau faifekau pea moe kau taki taki ‘oe pule’anga.

‘Oku ‘iai hoku fanga tuofafine moe fanga fa’e ‘oku nau ngaue ki he nusipepa moe letio ‘i Amelika Lahi. Koe taimi lahi ‘oku ‘ikai ke mau loto taha ‘i ha fa’ahinga fakakaukau tautautefito ki he Demo-Movement ‘i Tonga. Koe ‘ita ia kuo lele hake he taimi ‘oe fakakikihi, ka ‘oku ke pehe ‘e ngali poto mo au keu ‘oange ha ngaahi lea ta’e fe’unga pea ta’efaka’apa’apa ki hoku tuofafine ‘o hange ko ho’o lave ‘oku sai pe ia he koe natula ia ‘oe ngaue ko ia.

Koe me’a ia ‘oku ta kehekehe ai. ‘Oku ou tomu’a fakakaukau loto pe koe ha nai e fakakaukau ‘ae kakai ‘oku nau poupou’i? ‘E anga fe fe ‘eku pukepuke ‘e nau falala moe faka’apa’apa kapau ‘oku ‘ikai keu faka’apa’apa’i ‘e au hoku tuofefine. ‘E anga fe fe ha’aku fakaului mai ha kakai ke nau poupou’i au ki ha tu’unga fakataki kapau ‘oku ‘ikai keu faka’apa’apa’i e au e kau taki lolotonga.

Sefita, ‘oku ‘ikai keu lave’i pe koe ha ho’o taukei ki he anga ‘e tau nofo fakafonua. Ka ‘oku ‘ou taukave’i heni ke ‘oua na’a takihala’i koe ‘e ha taha kuo mole kotoa e ‘ulungaanga ‘oku ‘iloa ai ‘e ‘Otu Motu Anga’ofa. Koe me’apango ia ka ‘oku ‘ikai puli kuo ‘iai e e liliu lahi mei he taimi na’aku kei tupu hake ai ‘i Tonga. Ka koe tokolahi e kakai ‘oe fonua ia ko Tonga ‘oku nau kei laulau noa ‘eiki pe mo faka’apa’apa ki he ngaahi tapu ‘o ono ‘aho. Koe toko si’i pe ia, pea pango ‘oku kau ai e kau Demo ‘oku ha mei ai e mole ‘ae laumalie faka’ofo’ofa moe koloa mahu’inga koia ‘a Tonga koe faka’apa’apa.

‘Oku ou “Siasi Kehe Au (Taki e kau Satusi he fakhua ‘ae matu’a). ‘Oku ou taki ‘i he faikava tali ‘oe Tangata Malanga ‘i he palepale ‘oe Kalapu Fofo’anga ‘i Nuuuli, Amerika Samoa he efiafi Sapate kotoa. ‘Oku fakataha heni e kau faifekau mei he ngaahi fungavaka kehekehe pea ‘oku ai e taimi lahi ‘oku ki’i vevela e alea. Ka ‘oku ou tokanga’i ke ‘oua pe na’a mole e faka’apa’apa moe fetoka’i ‘aki.

Teu afe a he na’a kuo fuoloa ‘e osi hoku taimi na’e fakaafe’i mo fiema’u ai au. Ka ‘oku ou faka’amu ange au ki he kau fakafetau (fakatokanga’i ‘oku ou ngaue ‘aki e fakafetau kae ‘ikai koe fakaanga) ki he Tu’i mo’ene taki ke mou ‘a ‘o sio pea fakatokanga’i ange me’a ko’eni ‘oku tangi ai hoku loto pea lililili mo hoku toto.

Kuo mou lea ta’efaka’apa’apa ki he Tu’i ‘oe ‘Otu Tonga, kuo mou tutu e kolosi hotau Fakamo’ui moe fakafofonga ‘o Hono Ta’ata’a koe makatuliki ‘o ‘e tau tui fakakalisitiane moe faka’ilonga ‘oe Fonua (Fuka Tonga), kuo mou maumau’i ‘e tau ‘ekonomika (hiki vahenga peseti 60,70,80) pea kuo uesia ‘e tau nofo ma’uma’uluta ‘aki ho’omou lakafakahaha, fakatupu ke pea mo poletau ki he kau taki ‘oe fonua.

Kae si’i fakalongolongo pe Tama Tu’i. Hala ha’ane mofisi mo fie’eiki tapu mo ia. ‘Ikai ha mai ha loto taufehi’a pe ‘ita pe feinga ke sauni mo fakafepaki mei he Taloni.

‘Oku ou ‘ilopau koe tu’utu’uni ‘oku fai ki he ‘Ofisi ‘oe Palasi moe kau taki ‘oe Pule’anga moe ngaahi Potungaue kehekehe ‘e fai ‘i he faka’apa’apa taupotu taha hono tali kiha fiema’u ‘ae kakai. Fielau koe Tu’i. Pea koe fakafofonga ‘oe ‘Otua. Tuku mu’a ‘eta fakanga ke hoko atu kae fai he founga faka’apa’apa pea ‘oua ngalo e toka’i. Ta loto lelei pe loto taha ke ta loto kehekehe.

‘Oku ke pe he na’e mei fe fe nai a Tonga moe kau Demo kapau na’e tu’i ha taha hange koau pe koe? Koe anga pe fakakaukau.

Tu’a ‘Ofa Atu - Devil Dog Kava

Let us pause for a reflection - Sulifa Fonua, USA
I am writing this letter with regards to that of Hao’uli’s adamantly putting the King in the wrong.

The government has progressed politically with the peoples representatives becoming Ministers and the first commoner for a Prime Minister etc. The King and his household are NOT given god - like status… He’s our ruler, the King, if you have forgotten. All country leaders especially Kings in other countries are given the highest of respects and honours. The pope is given much more god-like treatment than our poor King. Yes, his decisions affect the lives of thousands… As far as I last checked with Tonga, people still have their freedom to their hearts content. I am all for a pragmatic type of government that befits Tonga, but with King in power. As far as people taking over? I would say the same thing to u, gimme a break.

I have no more confidence on the pro-demos parties… As Abraham Lincoln comment on Frederick Douglas, the Black African orator, this country needs men of greatness in hearts. My question for Hao’uli is that, if you have loved Tonga so much, have you ever once bent a knee in praying so fervently for Tonga? What have you and I personally sacrificed for our beloved country or are we only wasting Matangi Tonga’s space here?

No matter how much love you and I profess publicly for Tonga, the Kings love for his people still surpasses ours… Just because thousands and thousands in Tonga and overseas are impacted, doesn’t always mean
> validation (neongo ‘a e matamata lelei). After all, the motives, the intentions and the spirits hidden behind it all, only the Almighty knows and weighs.

If I were u, I wouldnt be too hasty with accusations of His Majesty, rather, I would take this opportunity, as no one is exempted to pause, and reflect upon the lessons we all been unexpectedly confronted with…. My greatest fear is, the ‘Otua mo Tonga ko hoku Tofi’a will become void and foreign to our hearts and minds as Tongans.

Respectfully - Sulifa Fonua

Thank you Sulifa Fonua - Maile ‘o Pangai, USA
Thank you Sulifa Fonua, for your powerful letter and clear directions pointing out to Hao’uli, 3 main criteria of politics: a) government b) peoples c) ruler that binds us together by the law of the land.

I don’t think Mr. Hao’uli contributed his 2 pennies on any of these categories. He knows how to yell and corrected the Tongan Majesty, which the Tongan ruler is very fragile at this point after many years of exhausted research around the world for his country . After all, no one loves the Tongan people and the country but he who rules the land. He was a God appointed person, we don’t produce commodity or entity to have our Tongan peoples benefit from but broadcast defamed stories and dialogue on issues that Hao’uli don’t have anything to contribute for the welfare of the country.

Last week, I was blessed to listen to our beloved People’s Prince Tuipelehake on a Tongan program from the Seattle area, the Prince made a very clear statement of how he wished for the Tongans people overseas to voice out their concerns on gov’t issues and he also represent the parliament of Tonga. He was building a bridge upon himself for the people of Tonga and the Gov’t of Tonga. I think to Hao’uli and others out there, let us build bridges but not burning bridges for the sake of our future generation to have our childrens arrive safe to the other side at the sunset.

Lotu ma’a Tonga Hao’uli.

‘Ofa atu,

malieopangai