Editor,

Messers Mariner and Tuaileva are forgetting they're living in democratic countries; they don't want the same democratic principles applied in Tonga.

Mr. Tuaileva relaxes comfortably in sunny Florida where property rights are paramount to democratically franzy Americans. And so does Mr. Mariner in the U.K. where public land does not belong to certain individuals.

The Pangai Si'i "squatters" are occupying public land; and are refusing to obey the Law of the Land.

Demonstrating and expressing their "contitutional rights" does not give them a blanket ticket to occupy public land.

It would be acceptable in Old Tonga where "faka'atu'i" was respected. Now that they have usurped their private interests over the Law of the Land, they would've been tossed in jail, a bulldozer would have already dismantled their "tent city," long time ago in a democratic government.

Name one democratic government that allows "squatters" to take over public lands?

Sincerely,

Sione Ake Mokofisi