Editor,

Please allow me to share my comments with your readers on Joe Smith's letter of 26 Jan, which he emailed me a copy.

As a Tongan, I have been enjoying my full constitutional freedom to everything I have, own and possess in all the years of my life and so as with my ancestors in the last 131 years. I have also enjoyed thoroughly the democratic principles that has been practiced in the government departments, between the head of department and the staff. As such, I totally agree that Tonga is already a democratic country and there is nothing that can stop adopting the democratic principles into our lives whether it be in the government, church or family. I don't call that nonsense. That is my life. By the way, my democracy in my own simple way may be different from yours and that is not nonsense.

I certainly do not believe in civil war, for one simple reason and that is, I hate to be defeated once more, since my great, great, great, grand fathers were defeated by George Tupou I, I prefer to remain a humble and loyal follower of the one that defeated my ancestors and fought for my freedom. Joe is quite right that the Tonga police and military are not big enough to deal with an insurgency because Tonga did not need a big police force or military as Tonga was the proud Friendly Islands until the 16/11. You misfits must be proud of what you did to Nuku'alofa and the business people who are the backbone of our economy. Hail yourselves victory as our families are suffering financial needs for school supplies of our children. Please take note that your demo version with 'Akilisi and the gang have been flushed out and demolished together with remainings of torched buildings of 16/11, for that is what your democracy is worth. Tonga needs a new version of democracy, and I recommend that a more systematic and logical approach to the political change such as that recommended by Inoke Hu'akau would be ideal and most appropriate. Thanks for your demon which is past and gone now.

Have the royals not stolen Tongasat and Shoreline from the people? Joe, I would be more delighted if you had given examples of the contribution made by the people to the establishment of Tongasat and Shoreline companies. Did the people or you and I contribute to the cost of forming these companies in order for you and I to claim that these are ours. You and I did not spend a cent on these companies, and how can you claim that the royals stole these companies from the people. I call this, as earning what they deserve. You always look at the benefit from the company but not at the costs as all business successes are results of hard work and a lot of sacrifice. If these companies were not successful, you would not be interested as you cannot make the sacrifice that it deserves. Tuku e loto kovi. The government was not interested in the satellite business on that day, and TEPB was not able to maintain the level of power needed to generate and distribute to the community. You and me could have formed the tongasat and bid for the power but we did not.

Just one last reminder, if your strategy for political change is to report all the wrong decisions and actions (according to your thoughts) of the royals, to cause anger in the minds and hearts of Tongans, and you may draw the verdict that the royals are sinners and criminals, I wish to remid you something, you got to be more ma'oni'oni than George Tupou I.

Kings Tupou II, III, IV and V were kings for what George Tupou I did, which was well accepted in accordance with the will of God, and for you who believe that Tonga needs political change, you need to be more ma'oni'oni than George Tupou I and if you cannot be more ma'oni'oni than George Tupou I, then your political change is hopeless.

Respectfully,

Taasi Holiday