Candidates discuss impact of reform on Tongan culture [1]
Tuesday, October 5, 2010 - 11:26. Updated on Saturday, May 3, 2014 - 20:02.
"What will be the impact of the Political Reform that is about to take place in November on the Tongan culture and the relationship between the Common People and the Monarchy, and the Nobles?" That was the topic for a programme of Candidates Meeting the Press Dialogue on September 29 at the International Dateline Hotel.
It was the third of a weekly program that is being hosted by the Media Council Inc. (Tonga) eery Wednesday evening until the election on November 25.
The four candidates who participated last Wednesday, were Clive Edwards, an incumbent People's Representative for Tongatapu, and a candidate for the Tongatapu Constituency No. 3; Viliami Takau, a former Director of Education and a candidate for Tongatapu Constituency No. 3; Semisi Kailahi, a candidate for Tongatapu Constituency No. 9, and Siosiua Fonua, a candidate for Tongatapu Constituency No. 6.
Clive Edwards did not think that the political reform in November would change the relationship between the people and the Monarchy and the Nobles. He said that the reform was basically for the people to elect people to run the government.
He said that the latest amendment to the constitution would not affect the status of the king and the nobility, "it is just the same as the existing form of government."
Clive said that under Clause 43 of the Constitution, for appointment of the Prince Regent, the king may divest his authority to Cabinet and Privy Council to run the country. The political reform would end this practice because cabinet will be accountable to Parliament, which will be accountable to the people.
"I therefore believe that the status of the king and the nobles would not be affected by the political reform. In addition the issue of land remains the same, but if the land issue were to be altered, our culture would indeed be affected," said Clive. "In addition I believe our country remains in order and safe because we still have our monarch."
Government
Sosiua Fonua, a former broadcaster, said that the political reform is giving people the right to elect their representatives to run the government.
With regards to whether Tongan culture would change because of the reform, he said it would because it is something that is alive and is changing as time goes on.
However, he did not believe that Tongan culture would be affected by the political reform, in particular because the underlying values of the Tongan culture of respect, humility, and obedience would not be affected.
Siua also agreed with Clive that the status of the king and nobility would remain because Tongan culture and values were underpinned by strong religious beliefs.
Constitutional amendment
Viliami Takau, a former Director of Education said that what is most important to him is that the constitution had been amended to start the new form of government, that has been divested to be run by a parliament to be elected by the people.
He said the inclusion of the nobles in parliament was to balance the parliament but he reckoned that the political parties would cause disturbance because who were they going to oppose in a single house.
He said the political reform would not affect Tonga's social political unit with Tonga's clans, family and ties with each other.
Public opinion
Semisi Kailahi a former teacher said he believed that the political reform will have a good and a bad impact on the Tongan culture but he did not think it is a bad thing. He believed that only a communist country could dictate how people should react to such a change.
Semisi believed that the media is having a negative impact on people's minds by using words that affect people's thinking.
"But I am in no doubt our sense of patriotism to our country would not be affected," said Semisi.