To imagine how these less fortunate civil servants survived all these years is astonishing. With power prices increasing, fuel prices in record high and inflation in Tonga, one tends to wonder how the average Tongan who can support 6 children will carry on like this. - William Mariner
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Monday 29 August 2005
Honolulu, Hawaii
In my humble opinion, the leadership and members of the civil servants/PSA, were treated like second class Tongans, (i.e. I quests that's how the "status quo", in Tonga still looks down at us commoners, a second class status, well, I have news for all of you "HOU'EIKIS", we're not, we're all human being and very proud being Tongans), maybe that is some of the "Hidden Unspoken Issues" that has not been brought out in the open, for an honest and frank discussions. - M. T. Tuaileva
Monday 29 August 2005
UK
I was so moved when I was reading about all the uncountable people who have worked as cleaners and rubbishmen for more than ten odds years and yet still earning as much as T$54.00 fortnightly or even less weekly. I have recently visited Tonga just to catch up with family and friends, and to my suprise the inflation is shocking. - Annette Dougal
Monday 29 August 2005
Auckland, New Zealand
A march in support of striking workers and their demands for a fair pay increase and democracy will be held this Saturday (Sept 3rd) at noon. Marchers will gather at the bottom of Queen Street. Tongan Community youth leader, Niulala Helu, said he will be marching. - Mike Treen
Saturday 27 August 2005
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
As the leaders of Tonga's civil service strike are shifting their stance to seek regime change in the kingdom, the Minister of Justice, Hon. Siaosi 'Aho, says they are holding the people of Tonga hostage with unreasonable demands.
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Saturday 27 August 2005
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
New Zealand's Judge Thomas Goddard will leave Tonga tomorrow night, and he said it was unfortunate that parties in the ongoing civil service strike were unable to agree on a process of mediation today.
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Saturday 27 August 2005
London, United Kingdom
His Majesty, the father of our nation, who is abroad while our household is on fire and we the people are in it, speaks volumes than his past history. To abandon your responsibility towards a nation who is currently suffering, indicates lack of conscience or moral emotion towards his subjects. -William Mariner
Friday 26 August 2005
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Although the Tonga government this evening conceded to provide an interim salary scale and to provide a lump sum of money for independently adjudicated salary rises, the PSA has again refused to return to the negotiating table.
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Friday 26 August 2005
Auckland, New Zealand
I can't sit around and ignore what I believe is unfairness toward our beloved king. The king is nothing else but a socio-cultural and political father to the nation. It surely is not fun for him to maintain the highest degree of respectability, be a model and a leader and try to make everyone of his subjects happy.-Sailosi Finau
Friday 26 August 2005
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My spirit has been moved by the situation that goes on in our island paradise Tonga. I am saddened by the fact that our Noble leaders and some of the royal family could take for granted what God had blessed them with. - Kia Fualalo
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Friday 26 August 2005
USA
Think of where will the government come up with the money for the 60, 70, 80% rise. Wake up and smell the coffee. All over the globe have you people ever heard of a country that tried to get a rise for that %, NO, only Tonga. - Angelica Lout
Friday 26 August 2005
Los Angeles, USA
Before you begin to stand for what you think is "right," take a deep breath, consider the possibilities from every corner then make your statement. Years of neglect, struggles, oppression, and WRONG MOTIVES from dictatorship are some possibilities as to why OUR fellow Tongans are taking such actions. Dear editor, I am not agreeing that acts of violence is the solution but can you blame the PEOPLE? - M. ‘Aumoeualogo
Friday 26 August 2005
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Over 100 public civil servants sailed from ‘Eua this morning and marched from the Tu'imatamoana Wharf to join the civil service strike at Pangai Si'i, in Nuku‘alofa.
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Friday 26 August 2005
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Leadership is based on inspiration, not Domination; on Co-operation, not Intimidation," the British High Commissioner to Tonga, Mr Paul Nessling, said today in presenting a $30,00 cheque in support of the Tonga's Youth Parliament for 2005-6.
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Friday 26 August 2005
London, UK
Let me refresh what was inevitable in the start of my letters. The shift now, from this strike has gone to a road where history has taught many nations, that were once ruled by powerful monarchs. Those soverign nations are now super powered nations. The lesson in the past with these nations are simple: Without the people, you do not have a government! and once you have lost the respect of the people, you do not have a nation. What you have; is a nation that wants change. - William Mariner
Friday 26 August 2005
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Ontario, Canada
It seems that little had been said on the third parties to this national strike, which are the public (people in the outer towns, NGOs, foreigners and tourists alike) and also the business community. - Brian Sutton
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Friday 26 August 2005
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The PSA should accept the government's current wage offer for many reasons. - Sifa Citizen
Friday 26 August 2005
Las Vegas-Nevada, USA
They throw around the name of the World Bank to add credibility to this nonsense claim.It is especially appalling that they try to pin the already rising inflation on the PSA demands, when it is caused by their own misguided policies.
The true cause of inflation according to economic principles and empirical facts show that inflation is directly proportional to money supply, which is governed by monetary policies traditionally controlled by Federal Reserve Banks, which I presume is under the Minister of Finance portfolio. - Thomas Monson Uata
Friday 26 August 2005
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
But allow me to inquire the following: Should the children go to school? What are they to learn that is more important than what is going on in their lives outside of school? What are the teachers 'teaching' by standing up for their cause? I believe the students can learn from this situation and develop character through support of a cause - whether it's for or against the strikers. Children are first taught in the home and supplemented by academics that supposedly educate a 'higher' education. The parents are not in question here. But, let me be clear - the 'higher' education appears to be occurring in Pangai Si'i. - Rick Siale
Friday 26 August 2005
Sydney, Australia
Also in the event of the PSA members receive this increase will they be subject to reviews and quality assurance or will they be left to perform as they have until now? What effect will it have on inflation, and those working in the private sector? - F. Auliola
