Tonga's Prime Minister Hon. Dr Feleti Sevele commented on Tonga's warm diplomatic relationship with New Zealand, the political reform process in Tonga and its stance on the Fijian political upheaval when he spoke at Victoria University on the evening of May 18.

There was an audience of about 200 people for the second 'Pacific Cooperation Foundation Annual Pacific Address' during the Prime Minister's official visit to New Zealand. Earlier at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch on Thursday May 14 he covered the same topics.

Dr Sevele reminded his audience that Tonga was the "Cradle of Polynesia". "We have a 3,000 years history. The first Tongan dynasty was in 950 BC and during that era ruled over a wide territory of the Pacific.

"Two royal dynasties later, King Siaosi Tupou I became king of the Tu'ikanokupolu dynasty during the early 1800s, and following a fact-finding mission to Sydney, Australia, he vowed that Tongans would never live with the homelessness and poverty that he saw in the streets of Sydney at the time. Tonga under Tupou I first established diplomatic relations with France in 1855, which was followed later by other western powers, the Germans and the British. In 1875 Tupou I proclaimed the Tongan Constitution, which became one of the oldest written constitutions in the world."

He said that Tonga, however, became a British Protectorate during the early 1900s and during those years Tonga's foreign relations were taken care of by the British, and during those years there was move for Tonga to fall under New Zealand control but that was not to happen. Tonga ended the British Protectorate agreement in 1970.

The Prime Minister reminded the audience that the Tonga-New Zealand relationship was deeply rooted and very friendly. Two thirds of the Tongan Cabinet had been educated in New Zealand, including himself, and the bond of friendship between the two countries is very strong.

King initiated reform

With regards to the Political Reform in Tonga, he reminded the audience that Tonga's democratization process began in 1875 with the declaration of the Constitution. In 2006 King George Tupou V stepped up a reform process that was initiated by his father King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV in 2005, when four Cabinet Ministers were appointed from the elected members of the House, two from the People's Representatives and two from the Nobles' Representatives.

Dr Feleti Sevele was one of the first four elected members to be appointed Cabinet Minister, he was the Minster for Labour, Commerce and Industries, but less than a year later he was made Prime Minister.

He said that the riot of November 16, 2006, was initiated by a group of political activists "who refused to accept the truth that the king had agreed and has already initiated a reforming program," and instead of accepting the truth tried to force in their own reforming program. "They just refused to accept the truth," he said.

Fiji

With regards to the upheaval in Fiji, the Prime Minister stated that Tonga's stance, which was also agreed to by the Forum in Papua New Guinea in January was for Fiji to set an election date by May 1. If Fiji failed to do so then officials from the present regime would be suspended from all Forum meetings.

Dr Sevele did not think it was warranted for Fiji as a nation to be suspended from the Forum. He reminded the audience of the possible negative impact that such a suspension would have on the people of Fiji, which is the home for the University of the South Pacific, the Fiji School of Medicine and the Pacific Islands Forum itself. He did not support the idea of outsiders interfering with Fiji's reform program.

He said that Tonga would not interfere with Fiji's reform program, "particularly after we have been telling others not to interfere with ours."

Attending the address was a mixture of Tongans, other Pacific Islanders and New Zealanders who have an interest in Tongan affairs, including former high Commissioners to Tonga, Warwick Hawker and Michael McBride.

At the end of the Prime Minister's speech the floor was opened for questions.