Editor,

The Tongan Government floats about aimlessly.

1. Abraham Lincoln said:

...‘Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man...’s character, give him power....’

2. Much later, JFK said:

...‘Think not of what your country can do for you, but of what you can do for your country....’

3. The philosopher Simone Weil said:

...‘Only children and the disabled have rights, none of us have rights, only obligations...’.

When Dr. Sevele was confirmed PM I was mildly pleased in that he was at least an elected MP for a start. This is not to say that I endorsed the method of his appointment and that, he was still nominated by the Monarch and not elected by the Members of the Parliament. ( We are playing to the current rules but ...… )

This is wrong.

The way it should be done is that for the Prime Minister (PM) to be elected by all the members of parliament (MPs). (refer my submission here on the MT dated 28/3/06).

Now it seems that the new PM has offered very little other than to bandaid fix things, toe the status quo and hope for the best.

It has been reported shortly after his confirmation that the new PM has said that he will toe the Democracy line and that he fears nothing. Strong words from a storekeeper come captain of the ship.

Let our dear PM show us whether he has any backbone or not, or will he become just another jelly-back like most others before him. Now that he has got the box seat let'’s see ...‘what he can do for his country...’.

The rumblings of his actions do not impress us as actions of a fearless leader. Instead, he behaves more like one who is being told what to do and obediently obliges. He appears to have nothing meaningful to contribute to public policy, nor does he add value to a PM in a leadership position that is strong honest and visionary.

For example, at the same time that he tells us that the govt is broke because of the PSA strike etc, he recommended the appointment of new Ministers while making cuts/retrenching the poor workers. Where is the logic in this ? Soon we will have more chiefs than Indians.

Supposedly the new appointments is of the ...‘new broom sweeps cleaner...’ mentality. But the problem with these new brooms is that they don't have any bristles. It appears like that our fearless new PM has become another puppet on a string.

On the first test of his supposed fearlessness as PM, he has shown fundamental shortfalls.

He should have shown the public his fearless nerves and leaning towards the Democracy movement by appointing all his new Ministers (not necessary but if he must) from the democratically elected MPs and not most from the general public as the Monarch does currently.

This is what we are trying to get away from.

All Ministers must be appointed from the ranks of the MPs. If anyone wants to serve as a Minister he/she must be an elected MP first.

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It's very easy to get loans if you have collaterals, and anyone in middle management can do it.

But why do we need loans for? The $60 million reportedly required to buy back the electricity supply system from Shoreline etc. is not necessary.

There is more than enough money in Tonga to meet our requirements.

The problem is that, long john silver has got the money in his treasure chest.

The challenge for the pm is to ensure that all public monies and assets that are not with the government at this moment, are returned to the government forthwith.

If the PM can manage to do the following then Tonga will have gone a long headway financially and in the new correct direction as well:

Resume the following assets from whomever and return them to where they belong, the govt. and in the public purse for the public good.

1. Return tonga.to back to the govt. This is supposed to be held in the ...‘Country's name and not that of an individual...’s.

2. Return Tongasat back to the govt. Ditto.

3. Return the duty free licence to the govt and put it to public competitive tender.

4. Return all assets improperly giver to Shoreline and put it to public competitive tender.

5. Put the blowtorch on and wipe out corruption at all levels of govt.

6. Create a level playing field for businesses to operate in rather than corruption at the ports for instance.

7.Install the old office of the British High Comm. as the permanent office for the PM as I have suggested before.

8. Pass gender equality legislation regarding land ownership for women.

9. Encourage education for export as I have advocated before.

10. Pass new laws to prohibit the Royal family as defined from engaging in business in Tonga. This is the norm in countries like Britain, Holland, Denmark etc. who have monarchies like Tonga.

I can go on, but if the PM can manage to resume items 1 and 2 immediately then any pending loans will not be necessary.

Item 10 is to be addressed sooner rather than later in order to stop the rot from spreading any further.

Now, why did the previous PM resign his post to stand as a noble's representative only to be humiliated with only 1 vote ?

Did he resign or was he pushed ? There is only authority who can do this.

We can all speculate but what is to become of him ? I would suggest that the new PM ...‘on the string...’ will be told to find him a job and there is a hint of where this might be as well.

There is this new Department for Tongans overseas that the PM has created. Does it need a new Minister ? No, but the new PM will create another new ministerial post.

There is an ex PM currently unemployed. If you read between the lines of the latest developments you will soon see where the arrows are pointing. Watch where the ex PM might end up.

At this time of political turmoil, the Royals would not want one of their own to be blamed when the wheels falls off the govt yet again. Their answer would be to say that it was one of your candidates Dr Sevele that was at the helm, and make him the scapegoat.

But, understand that although Sevele was initially elected by popular vote, he was still nominated by the King to be PM, and now subject to the mercy of the King and not to the voting public. He might be decommissioned tomorrow but he won...’t be, as they want a ...‘perceived commoner...’ to be the fall guy here.

As far as political/constitutional changes is concerned, I agree with the call for a time line and a referandum to get the people...’s voice and approval as this an integral part of this process, but let...’s not be too hasty and make the time too short.

WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT WE WANT AS YET.

Once we know and agree on the model of govt that we would want, then we have the referendum to see if the public would want it or not. As Haouli said, if the people rejects the new model for change then we just have to live with the status quo for longer. But if the people choses to proceed with it then we continue from there.

Please, let...’s all understand that constitutional changes are not like changing one...’s clothing. These kinds of changes takes time and right now for this generation this will be our only chance to take a bite at the cherry. If we fail, then that will be it for our generation.

I can see only two scenarios happening after that:

First, is that we will just have to live with the status quo for another one or two hundred years then maybe have another go.

Second, and the more likely to happen is that the next generation and the nation will gradually slip into chaos where the people will rise and win out but the Monarchy may disappear altogether and the ...‘Republic of Tonga...’ will have emerged.

The reason why I am engaged in this debate is to try to help Tonga to steer clear of the chaos and upheaval that other countries have encountered in recent times and indeed right now as I am writing this letter.

The people of Fiji taught us cannibalism in the olden days and in recent years, how to conduct coup d...’etats and all that.

In the last two months the Nepalese ran riot in the streets of Katmandu and around Nepal in protest at their King...’s absolute power (similar to Tonga...’s.)

In Honiara, in the last few weeks, the public destroyed most of the businesses in the town due to political corruption that bred social discontent.

Right now Aust troops are in East Timor because of the same thing.

My friends, this is where Tonga is heading and if our changes do not go in the right direction we will have violence big time. That...’s not a threat, it is a reality that will happen if the status quo and political modus operandi is allowed to prevail.

I do not want this to happen to Tonga and this is why I am engaged in this debate.

I have advocated in my submission here in the MT 28/3/06 the following changes in brief:

1.The Monarchy to remain with limited powers.

2.The Nobility to remain basically as is.

3.All MPs to be elected by the people.

4.No special MPs for the Nobles, included with the people.

5.PM and Speaker to be elected by the elected MPs.

6.PM to nominate all Ministers from the ranks of the MPs as he desires.

7.Governors to be made redundant.

8.Monarch to act on the advise only of the PM.

9.Monarch to endorse and swear in Ministers on the advise of the PM.

10.In the event of a conflict between the Parliament and the King, the Parliament...’s wish will carry and not that of the King...’s. A mechanism to be installed.

11.Abolish the Privy Council and to be replaced with a new body (Tongan High Court) whose function is to be the last Court of Appeals and to interpret the Constitution.

12.Provide for a mechanism for a two party system to operate. Not a multiparty system.

13.Have a four year fixed parliamentary term.

The above is a minimalist approach designed to ensure that both the culture and traditions of the nation will be retained but with the power and authority completely transferred to the people who will exercise their power through the ballot box.

The Sione Tapani Mangisi proposal summarised above is the only proposal that cuts out all the root and core of the problem while the current cultural and traditions remain intact.

The Monarch will be busy. He can still open and close the parliamentary sittings, open the Agricultural shows, go and make peace with the Samoans whose princess ...‘na...’a tua tuli koe kaiha...’a pulu...’, organise a few boat races etc, etc.

Take for example a comparison between the Clive Edwards and the Sione Tapani Mangisi proposals as below:

...•Should the Monarchy survive ???

Edwards says, YES.

Mangisi says, YES.

...•Should the Nobles continue with their special voting system ???

Edwards says YES, but their numbers to be reduced to 6 only.

Mangisi says NO, all MPs (Nobles and commoners are all in one system. All equal, no discrimination betw Nobles and people).

...•Are the PM and the Speaker to be elected by the elected MPs ???

Edwards says, YES.

Mangisi says, YES.

...•Should all the Ministers be selected by the PM from the elected MPs?

Edwards says, YES.

Mangisi says, YES.

...•Should the 2 Governors survive ???

Edwards says, YES.

Mangisi says, NO. To be accommodated elsewhere.

...•Should the Monarch be allowed to continue to be the final arbiter in the functions of the House ???

Edwards says YES.

Mangisi says NO. A mechanism should be in place for the House to pass laws in the event that the Monarch refuses to give Royal ascent to legislations passed through the House. The House must be the ultimate law making body and not be subject to veto by the Monarch.

...•Should the Privy Council chaired by the Monarch continue to operate ???

Edwards says, YES.

Mangisi says NO. The Privy Council is to be abolished and replaced by a Tongan High Court whose functions would be, to be the final Court of Appeals and to interpret the new Constitution.

...•Should we have a one, two or multi party system ?

Edwards says, ONE party only.

Mangisi says, allow for a TWO party system so we can have an Opposition Party. Like the US system but not the British, Aust or NZ system where you can have as many as you want.

So, those are the basic differences between the Edwards and the Mangisi models.

Once a model of what we want is chosen, then we go to a referendum for the people to approve or reject the proposal.

If the referendum is passed then we get the experts/Constitutional lawyers in to propose the changes to the current Constitution to accommodate the new changes.

The Afeaki model that was posted on the MT, I do not know about as it appears that it was not meant for public consumption yet. So are most of the others that we only hear about but cannot find them. A secret between their writers and the King I suppose or they possibly have already ended up at the King...’s wastebaskets.

The Afeaki model does not thrill me much with what was on the cover, in that the King will continue to appoint his Ministers at his full discretion and that they will not be MPs. Yet Afeaki entitled his proposal as ...‘Democratic Monarchy...’. How democratic can this be ? From this glimpse from the cover, one can imagine what the content will be. I can only speculate that Afeaki...’s proposal will serve only to entrench further the already unacceptable powers of the Monarchy and the House of Tupou.

My friends, this is not rocket science where PhDs and Extra PhDs may be required.

What is required here is patriotism, honesty, sincerity, courage, integrity, and just a lot of common sense.

Spare a thought for the Prime Minister'’s hour of truth,

...‘the testing of his character...’,



of ...‘what he can do for his country...’,

and of where he will direct his ...‘obligations...’.

Kind Regards,

Sione Tapani Mangisi.

PS.

I want to thank here all contributors to this very important debate and would encourage your continuing participation.

This is the only way to resolve our problems through talk, talk, and more talk. The alternative will be totally unacceptable as it is unthinkable.

I will not want that for Tonga.