by Pesi Fonua, Editor, Matangi Tonga

The Tongan Government has launched a nation-wide campaign to counter the growing opposition to its proposed amendment to Clause 7 of the Constitution, which will neutralize "Freedom of Speech" in the Kingdom.

But government has made it clear that they are not seeking the approval of the public, but merely telling the community what they intend to do.

Debate on the Bill for the Amendment to Clause 7 of the Constitution is due to resume in the Legislature on October 6. Meanwhile, during the current two weeks parliamentary break, the campaigns for and against the Bill are warming up.

The People's Representatives to the Tongan Legislative Assembly are organising what they hope will be a big public demonstration to march through Nuku'alofa and present a petition against Constitutional change to the King, in early October.

Meanwhile, in order to get the government view across to the public, a high level team of cabinet members, and their advisors, last week launched a campaign to rally the support of the local officials. They called a meeting on September 19 at the International Dateline Hotel in Nuku'alofa with all the Tongatapu District and Town Officers, followed by a similar meeting in Vava'u on September 20. Government was strongly represented by the Minister of Justice, 'Aisea Taumoepeau, the Solicitor General, 'Alisi Taumoepeau, the Minister of Agriculture Hon. Tuita, the Minister of Labour and industries, Dr Masasso Paunga, the Acting Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Clive Edwards, and the Chief Secretary to Cabinet, 'Eseta Fusitu'a, and in Vava'u the Governor of Vava'u, Hon. 'Akauola.

In Vava'u one man asked what would happen if, "we say that we disagree with the change"”. The Minister of Police, Clive Edwards replied that the government members were not there to get approval but, "we are here to tell you what government will do".”

Journalists who attended the Nuku'alofa meeting reported that even though government was represented by their heavyweights for Constitutional change, the District and Town Officers were more interested in bargaining for a rise in their salaries, rather than to accept the government view on why it is essential to amend the Constitution. In other words if government wants the support of these village officials they will have to raise their salaries.

The meeting in Vava'u on September 20, which was later broadcast on OBN TV in Nuku'alofa the same evening, showed mixed reactions. Apart from those who supported the amendment because of their support for the King and his government, several people wanted to know why there was a need to give government the right to make laws to control freedom of speech and the press. One of the government delegates replied that they wanted to stop the use of bad language in the media, the showing of near naked bodies, and to stamp out the possibility of the introducing of strip tease dancing into the country.

The inclusion of such cultural concerns into the proposed amendment, the Vava'u audience was told, followed the model constitutions of Tuvalu and Singapore.

One man who questioned the need for the law and pointed out that the people were living in peace and said he thought that the new law was to protect people at the top, was told by the Solicitor General, "Well, the media are always targetting people at the top!"