Dear Editor:

I have been analyzing and writing about Politics in Tonga for several years. Most is published only in my personal file and shared only with my classmates for the Tonga High School Class of 1967. Today, after much frustration in the District Court of American Samoa dealing with Immigration procedures (the lack of it) here in American Samoa to the disadvantages of the members of the Tongan Community, I am determined that I should be yelling at a higher level. But not about us here. I wanted to through in my hat to the political debate going on in Tonga. I'll submit that I was young wanna-be politician at Kolomotu'a hanging around Professor Ilaisa Futa and his 'Atenisi Deciples back in the late 1960 to early 1970. With the support form the late Dr. Amanaki Havea and Bishop Halapua, Akilisi assume the responsibility of being the spokesperson what we now loosely refer to as the Tonga Democratic Movement. The basic marching order for the professor and his disciples were to challenged the status quo. To a mountaineer, he or she has a mission in mind before climbing the mountain. To Futa and his disciples, "let's climb the mountain, and figure out why as we climb or hope to find a reason why by the time we get to the top."

Unfortunately, this attitude is still with the Demo and is probably one of their major downfall I was in Lebanon in 1984 and I got the hint from a few fellow Fijian Military Officers of the pending 1987 Coup in Fiji. Of course this was all jokes around the Tanoa. I got interested in the development from my background as a graduate student of International Affairs and Global Politics. All I hear is that there is going to be a change. No one ever mentioned what is it to be changed in Fiji and what is it that Fiji is going to change into. I left Lebanon thinking that may be this indispensable part of any change is being kept a mystery from me as an outsider. Well, those who kept up with the Fiji Coup of 1987 should remember that it took less than and hour to take over the government but it took forever for Rapuka and his Officers to agree what type of government is Fiji going to have. As far as I know, that has never been determined.

While I was at the University, I talked to one of my instructor, Professor Admudson (was at this time a member of President Reagan's Foreign Affairs committee) about the situation in Tonga. She was very interested and thought that it will be an excellent case study to analyze what Tonga has, determined what and if there is a need for a change and to make recommendation I wrote Professor Helu and Akilisi Pohiva. Some of the question asked was ..give us a organizational chart of the political arrangement in Tonga...what is wrong with this organization?...what changes would you advocate?...how would your organization look like?...do you have people (names) for the positions? What would you say to people who has known nothing but a monarchy all their lives? How can you manage to push aside generation on traditions and cultures overnight? You mentioned democratic movement...after what model? USA? Britain? France? I got no answer to my inquiries but with the latest development, I agree with TamaFoa, They don't know and I am not surprised. Of all the leaders of the Demo-Movement, none of them has lived or study in a leading democratic country except for Honorable Fineasi. With all due respect to Professor Helu and the Demo-Movement. You are great in your own field but as makers of government, obviously the past years has proven you wrong.

It is like being in combat..you can read and write about war all your lives, you can watch all the movies on war, but until you are actually in the battlefield to witness bullets tearing flesh out of your buddy and grenades ripping bodies apart..until you lay there with burning flesh around you, the remainder of what was ten minutes earlier a human being, you will never know exactly what war is all about.

When Military Officers and leaders are evaluated, the most important is that of Loyalty. It is important because you are either Loyal or

Not-Loyal..nothing in between. It is almost like being pregnant (with due respect) you are either pregnant or not pregnant. There is no loyalty in any of the Demo-Boy z. And with no Loyalty, there is is no honor among thiefs. they pledge their Loyalty to the almighty $$ and fame.

After a long period of cogitation, I am of the feeling that may be we are expecting too much from our Demo-Boy z in Tonga. One of my responsibility is the Petroleum Office for the Government of American Samoa answering directly to the Governor. My Office make sure that

American Samoa has an uniterupted supply of high quality fuel at the most reasonable price and that the Petroleum Facilities is maintained to meet the demand of the islands and to comply with all EPA and other regulatory agency's regulation. On my first negotiation with the suppliers BP Oil and BP SWP, we were hammered from every corner. It was a disaster and when I reported to the governor, he seems to be in sympathy with me, "after all Kava, look at who went with you to the negotiation. Two high chiefs and a golfer. What did you expect?" Bp and Mobil brought in their high powered financial advisers and lawyers to the meeting.

Well, with all due respect to our elected officials in Tonga. What political training does any of the demo-boys brings to the table? What does any of them know about democracy and the making of a government?

Very little to none at all. TamaFoa you are correct again, they'll split up and fight for one thing today and split again to go against the same thing the next day.

The Demo harbors on election for all major position in government. In a normal country where the electors are more in tune with what is going on, it is argued that election would avoid political appointments as a payoff for services (votes) to the administration. However, in small underdeveloped countries like Tonga, being the most electable and popular canditates, does not necessary make the canditate the best person for the job. History reminds us of Hitler of Germany, Idi Amin of Uganda and Khomeini of Iran. All were popular in their country, but evil as a leader.

We, as the public in Tonga must realize that the demo-boyz and their supporters have no idea what they are talking about.

Devil/Dog Kava

slkava [at] samoatelco [dot] com