FROM OUR ARCHIVES

Interview with Prince Tu'ipelehake, by Pesi Fonua on November 11, 2005.

Tonga's Prince Tu'ipelehake, who has been labeled as the Prince of the Reform Movement, believes that the new National Committee for Reform, established by parliament, will bring about a peaceful political transition to a more democratic form of government.

The prince, a nephew of King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, is happy that the Tongan Parliament agreed to the formation of the National Committee for Reform to look at submissions from the people for political change. He says that if he had not been returned to parliament in a second parliamentary by-election early this year, his motion to establish the Committee would have been swept away into the dust. The prince said it was a battle to regain his seat in the House, but in the end he was victorious, "it was a hard battle but it was worth it."

Prince Tu'ipelehake expects the committee to meet for the first time before Christmas 2005, and he believes that ultimately it will bring about the peaceful political reform that Tonga wants.

The following are excerpts from an interview with Prince Tu'ipelehake, by Pesi Fonua on 11 November 2005.

Pesi Fonua: Has the National Committee for Reform been formed?

Prince Tu'ipelehake: The committee was actually formed by the House Resolution 2004...this is not a knee jerk reaction by the House, this was formed before any trouble happened.

What went through the House this year was the terms of reference for the formation of that committee. The terms of reference spell out who should become members and its function, and that was approved in the Whole House Committee. Now, as far as we are concerned, that was as far as it needed to go.

Who are the members of the committee?

As with the terms of reference that was approved by the House, we are waiting for a minister to be appointed by the Prime Minister as the government representative. There are two members of the nobility and two members of the People's Representatives, selected by them. Then the committee selects four eminent persons from outside, who must be Tongans.

Has this committee actually been formed?

The House approved the formation of the committee and its membership, the rest of the procedure was left to the discretion of the committee by the House.

So you have Nobles', People's and government representatives?

No, not the government, and that is what we are waiting for. We have no power to enforce that, as I said this was done in a co-operative spirit, and we are waiting for an appointment by the Prime Minister.

You already have two Nobles and two People's Representatives?

No, one from the Nobles, two from the People, and we are still waiting for one from government.

Who is the Nobles' Representative?

It was originally Veikune, but on second thoughts that since he is the Speaker of the House, and we are reporting to the House, then it seems inappropriate that he should be a member.

So there is no Nobles' Representative?

I am a member, because under the rules, the member who introduced the motion is an automatic member of that committee, and the thinking now is that I am sufficient.

The People's Representatives are 'Akilisi Pohiva and Clive Edwards?

When I got the list, it was 'Akilisi Pohiva and Clive Edwards in brackets, (temporary), and I asked why temporary and they said because he has a submission and he said it may appear to be a conflict of interest if he sat on the committee, and he has his own submission to be made to government, but I don't know.

So this committee has not been formed and it is not in operation yet?

No, we can't because we have not got all the members together yet. Under its term of reference it is a quorum of four, but we need to have the member from government, because we get four from within the House or some members from outside house.

For you it is still very important to have a government representative in the committee?

Yes, absolutely, we need them for our credibility and they need us for their credibility, they have got their own problems.

There is a bit of confusion at the moment because another national committee for reform has been established?

Let me say this, that the National Committee for Reform was already formed last year, the constitutional, the legal and the official national committee.

But you are aware there is another one?

I am well aware of that.

Is there a difference of opinion in the two committees?

As I said before, our approach is that we make this inclusive for everyone and we have the means to do that. So the other committee, even though they go around, is not very efficient. They don't have a methodical way of collecting the aspirations of the people, and let's say they may cover Tongatapu, but that is about it. Whereas we have a working plan that we will start from the Niuas.

There is a lot of talk about the other national committee calling for a political reform to actually take place on December 5. Is your national committee a part of this push?

No, no. We are still getting our stuff together. They can do whatever they want. Our mandate is that we have to report to the House by May. If we need an extension for any reason, it can only be extended by the House.

So your committee is not going to be any duplication of what people like Clive Edwards and Laki Niu are trying to do?

No, we do not form an opinion of our own, nor do we put up a model of government and a constitution. We collect submissions of the people, put those into some logical report with recommendations derived from that, practical recommendations, and hopefully in the form of legislation, draft legislation and submit that. Something that government can discuss and implement.

So the obvious difference is that this other group already has ideals and models, which they are trying to sell, then on the other hand you are collecting information to formalize ideals?

Yes, yes, and most of those models that they are talking about will come through us, then we will forward it to His Majesty.

Looking at time schedules. If you are going to present your findings to government in May, which may call for legislation to be drafted to amend the constitution and so forth?

Remember we are submitting our finding to the House and to His Majesty in Council, so both will be aware of our submissions.

Do you think that this other National Committee people will join you once you get your committee up and running, or do you think the two committees will run in parallel?

They can do as they please, they can run parallel to us, we can check them and they can check us, or they can come up with their findings and submit them to us.

You mentioned that Clive Edwards is a temporary member of your committee because he has a proposal of his own. Don't you think that it is the same with 'Akilisi Pohiva since he and the Temos have a model government?

It does not make any difference, so long as they keep coming to our meetings. We will be very busy, this is not an 'Eva noa'ia committee, once you are on it you have to work, so I don't think that any of the members will have to join two committees.

Government is recruiting a constitutional lawyer, will that lawyer be working with your committee?

No. His Majesty told me when I went to seek his approval. He said he wanted to give me his blessing, and he explained that the government is going to seek a source of funding through the Commonwealth for a constitutional lawyer. This lawyer is going to look at submissions that people have already made three months ago, a model that was submitted by the People's Party. He may also be looking at submissions that we will make to government.

The proposal for the people to elect all members of parliament then those members elect a Prime Minister, and the Prime Minister appoints his ministers, is that the sort of outcome that you have in mind?

Yes, I think that is the way it should be, leaders should be elected.

How long do you think it will take to collect submissions from the people and to implement a reform program?

Once we receive full funding, we plan to put out a document in both Tongan and English to assist the people in their submissions, in what they should be thinking of, and this is what the committee is after. We will use the media and distribute articles, we will also put out an internet address for those who will not be able to be personally be here. I am looking at six to eight weeks, to let that sink in, answer queries, then we launch our committee hearing. In the north we will split into two groups Two groups will do the two Niuas, simultaneously. Then Vava'u, Ha'apai, 'Eua and Tongatapu. It should be done in four or five weeks.

With our funds permitting, our terms of reference says that our committee shall hold hearings in Tonga, it may in its discretion, hold hearings in New Zealand, Australia and the United States. In two and a half months all hearings are done, another two and a half months, submissions in. We expect to start working before the Christmas break.

The desire of the people to have more say in the government's decision making process, and to share power with the king?

I think it is realistic and correct to share power with the king. The question then how can we do it, and I suggested these stages.

You are a part of this monarchial system, how was it taken by the King and the Crown Prince when you talked this kind of language?

Both of them, particularly the Crown Prince, accepted that change must come, and as I said before, how do we implement these changes, and that is what we are trying to do. The transition must be as smooth as possible.

It is obvious that government doesn't want to participate in this committee. What did government say?

I heard when I came back from New Zealand, their objection as it was expressed by the Deputy Prime Minister (Hon. Cecil Cocker) is that they are having problems, they have got rules, they even raised constitutional impediment to the formation of this committee.

It was the Deputy Prime Minister and two 'umosi (Acting) ministers, 'Aisake Eke and Va'inga Tone, and the Minister for Forestry, Hon. Peauafi Haukinima. The Minister of Police and Health abstained, but Feleti [Sevele] voted for the formation of the committee. Tu'ivakano and Siaosi 'Aho also voted for it.