Political Reform and Common Sense

The various political reform committees are leaping forward with courage and while their intentions and energy are perfectly aligned, we are faced with such a seismic moment in this strange chaos where follies are blended with all sorts of crimes. Even though this movement for political reform is shocking to the monarchy, it is an opportunity for the citizens to contemplate redress.

The Constitution and present government of Tonga as we all know was arisen over the people and not out of the people. King George Tupou I founded his government through conquest and power where he established monarchical absolutism and hereditary government. Like that of William I of Normandy, known as William the Conqueror who invaded England in 1066 and became its king, his government was founded through power, human butchery and wretchedness. This type of government was to avail Kings with every engine in their favor.

Necessity for change

The necessity for change in the government has created its own reality and while these reform committees approach the need for changes differently, the public still has to decide whether they believe the existing system is worthy of preservation? Or should they aim to retain the best quality of the existing system while infusing it with values and principles that are effective, practical, new, innovative and forward-looking? Or does the existing system need a radical change (a bas de Roi)? Political, religious and economic regimes rise and fall and like that with the history of buildings, it is one of constant change. However in architecture, we strive for innovative design and social intentions not to be at odds and even with old buildings, they are transformed to serve new generations, not destroyed. Thomas Paine (a free thinker) quoted, "When we are planning for posterity, we ought to remember that virtue is not hereditary".

Clearly, the existing system has lost its value and structural integrity and has wearied out the patience, faith and exhausted the citizens. We all learn from history that civilization, commerce and happiness of the citizens can only be accomplished by a revolution in the government, incorporating fundamental principles, accountability, transparency and civilization of common interest and rights of the citizens and eliminating despotism, fraud, injustice, corruption, prejudice and oppression from those given social privileges.

Presumptuous leap

The National Reform Committee (NFC) is making a radical leap by dictating to the citizens and demanding from the King what type of government Tonga needs. This action is a dangerous social engineering and outright presumptuous. The peoples' representatives, 'Akilisi Pohiva and Clive Edwards who are unsure of what committees to best serve but are active members of the NFC, are flattering themselves by promiscuously forcing and precariously advocating society to accept NFC's proposal based on the emolument or aggrandizement of particular individuals without the expense of the citizens supporting it. Is their sense of their own superiority beyond arrogance?

NFC's action and itchiness for government reform would not be so radical, arrogant and dangerous if they had the wisdom to consult and dialogue with the general public in all level about their proposal. Their energetic cause of action extended to change of persons and measures but not of principles; it is an action of opportunity of circumstances. They are putting the effect before the cause (or strictly speaking, having the chickens before the eggs). They are exercising the same caprice, arrogance and absurdities they despise in the present government.

Sit down with the citizens


The King has demonstrated in good faith and willingness to seek out the opinions of his subjects by establishing the National Committee for Political Reform (NCPR), chaired by Prince Tu'ipelehake and including members with diversified professions. NCPR is committed to sit down with the citizens (residing in Tonga and abroad) and focus on improvements and hopefully a revolution in the principles and practice of governments through reflection, reason and common sense.

The effort of the NCPR combines private, public and commercial objectives. This project is in several phases and it requires time and money. Most importantly, we trust that NCPR understands the value of the past and is devoted to the present and the future. Citizens will be given an opportunity through dialogue to be fair and candid in their reflection. The procedure and process exercised by the NCPR will no doubt generate, encourage and cultivate great ideas without harming society and dispossessing citizens of their rights.

Time to collaborate

This morass of competing political reform committees begs for an organizing and collaborating framework. They ought to consort not as enemies but as a group as naturally as gravitation acts to a center. These various committees should rejoice in their cause and partake in the greatness of their contemplation not by dividing themselves to act on their individual desires and opinions but conceding to the whole.

Competition and selfish acts increase the risk of poor education and health system, squalid environment, wretchedness and injustice that the citizens are desperate to improve. There are villages in Tonga who are exposed to asbestos and hazardous material through their water system that should be a priority to remedy. With no disrespect, the King and the Crown Prince are not in the best of health and with the recent royal cow feud Samoa may claim the crown when the time comes. If the reform committees are not united with the citizens to address what is best for the nation, a government reform may result in another human butchery and bloodiness.

NCPR does not decide what government and legal system should be, but it has a critical role to play in shaping public deliberation that will be influential in government, economic and the legal system. It is in the nations best interest that Tongan citizens (at home and abroad) support and show great interest in NCPR's project because any hope for government reform is likely to be changed by political circumstances and practical considerations. NCPR has a deadline to meet and with the supports of New Zealand and Australian governments and now the Commonwealth, it certainly casts a ray of light through the political fog.

With this collaboration, there is great hope for a transformation that will leave us respectful of the past, have faith in the future and bolster the spirit of Tonga.


Mele Payne Lynch

Moss Beach, (Northern) California