Editor,

THANK you for your report on the "undemocratic" developments in our political transformational process (Kolofo'ou forum . . . 7 Jun 2010; Political Reform . . . 13 Jun 2010).

English writer Charles Dickens explained this political scenario in 1859, in A Tale of Two Cities:

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times . . ."

"Culture" of Corruption

Our organizational "culture" in Government similar to Dickens' political cultures in England and in the French Revolution reveals the aggregate lack of ethical values and moral governance in this body of politicians and civil servants we trust as our "government." This culture of corruption reveals their true character in the service of The People.

The gross lax in ethical and moral responsibilities manifested themselves in the Princess Ashika Independent Commission Inquiries: The ship and her victims are trapped in infamy, but their plights surfaced to indict the gross corruption in the system. Even Parliamentarians felt they are above the law to short circuit legal procedures.

". . . It was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness . . ."

"Hallmark of True Democracy?"

Mr. Lopeti Senituli claims that a "credible government" is the "hallmark of true democracy?" Is this the "true democracy" the Prime Minister's Office finds suitable for Tonga? It is the same model that failed in the old communist Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), and many Banana Republics in developing countries.

It will be the China model. It has a "credible government," but it is a socialist, and an authoritarian regime centralized in the Communist Party. They claim to serve the people's "true interests" by the "rule of a few over the many" (democratic centralism).

"It was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us".

Conclusion

It is clear that Tongan leaders are neither bringing the Aristotlean Participatory Democracy model known as "the rule of the many." Nor do they plan for a Representative Democracy model (egalitarianism).

King George Tupou V keeps His veto power, the control of Cabinet, and the control over the Judiciary Branch of Government. Those "few" elite Executives will rule two of the three branches of government, to overpower the Legislature, which represents "the many."

" - in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only," - Charles Dickens.

Sione Akemeihakau Mokofisi