Tonga's human rights political party confesses

Just as the IRA has a political wing, Sinn Fein and ETA has Batasuna; the Friendly Islands Human Rights and Democracy Movement also has a political affiliate, the Friendly Islands People's Democratic Party. Although FIHRDM director Mr. Po'oi Pohiva had strenuously and publicly denied that the two entities are remotely related. The regular FIHRDM program on TV now openly discusses the performances of the party's members of parliament and applies pressure on those who step out of line; a somewhat tacit and quiet admission. The current Minister of Justice Hon. Clive Edwards had accused the FIHRDM in 2010 of meddling in the political process but was met with all those fierce and angry denials. The Times of Tonga newspaper had reported then that the office address and contact phone numbers of the party were exactly those of the FIHRDM.

The Tonga Water Board and Tonga's dumb records

Tonga is the only country in the whole world that punishes its students, i.e. those who are Tongan passport holders, by forcing them to memorize ancient proverbs and words that are no longer in use. Foreign students and dual-citizens are exempted. Until the riot in 2006, Tonga boasted the longest-serving police commander in the South Pacific. And barring an unforeseen injection of commonsense, the longest-serving general manager of a public utility; in this case the Tonga Water Board. The TWB keeps renewing the guy's contract despite the fact that he is a geologist and not an engineer. The chairman of the TWB is a former director of health. Five years ago the current publisher of the Kele'a newspaper, Laucala Tapueluelu, had written an article relating that pigs belonging to the then director of health were feasting on human faeces from Tongatapu's many septic tanks. Well there are no such pigs at the TWB main office. There are however two axioms of Parkinson's Law: an official wants to multiply subordinates, not rivals; and officials make work for each other. These should be tested on the TWB staff because tap water is nowadays becoming a luxury in Nuku'alofa. A household's water bill is approximately half  it's electricity bill.   

Gender equality and education in Tonga

In common with most countries around the world, Tongans celebrated last week International Teachers Day. Here the theme was not that clear but it included the following three words: gender, equality, education. Teachers in Tonga are doing very well. Both the prime minister and the leader of the opposition are former teachers. If you listen to radio talk-back shows you will learn, from the teachers who took part and it was mostly teachers who called, that teaching is a very, very difficult profession. One teacher went as far as equating teaching with self-sacrificing. It makes you wonder why at all did they want to be teachers if it is that painful. You do not hear surgeons, emergency ward nurses, plumbers and accountants bleat like that. Only our government lawyers have outdone the teachers in that department, but we'll leave commenting on that to another blog. Two government high schools are located at Tongatapu, the main island; Tonga College, an all-boys school, and Tonga High School, a co-educational institution. Tonga College is the government's biggest in terms of students roll. You are tempted then to ask why isn't Tonga High School an all-girls school? Tonga's ministry of education is adept in importing the latest mantras and catch-phrases. But when the dust settles one thing stands out; secondary education is becoming very expensive here and unnecessarily so. And girls from low-income families are among the first to suffer. Why not use the millions of pa'anga donated annually to this sector by the World Bank, and the governments of Australia and New Zealand to usher in a free distance education program? That would also cater for single mothers. Since wealthier students benefit from extra classes by private tutors and consequently perform well in public exams, why not replace the utterly useless television programs "about education" that we now endure five times a week with free tuition by specialist teachers?   

Male chauvinism in the Friendly Islands Human Rights and Democracy Movement

In the Kele'a, a Tongan weekly newspaper, of  31 August 2011 on page 26 is a letter to the editor by a Solomone Palu. He wrote that the only woman in the four-member Tonga Rugby Union Authority, Aloma Johansson, would not be of much use to the national side unless she joins in massaging the players. This is demeaning to Ms. Johansson who is a certified accountant, a businesswoman and is honorary consul of Sweden to Tonga. The Kele'a is owned by Po'oi Pohiva (it said so on page 6 Kele'a 27 July 2011), the director of the Friendly Islands Human Rights and Democracy Movement (FIHRDM), which pretends to promote human rights here. And received much, much money from kids in Christchurch, New Zealand who call themselves the Christian World Service. Palu proudly stated on page 24 of the Kele'a 24 August 2011 that he is a member of the FIHRDM. Somehow the following actually believe or chose to believe that the FIHRDM is a genuine human rights organization: Imrana Jalal, that so-called brave crusader for human rights; Radio Australia's Bruce Hill (sorry, no comments on this one); the Talaki newspaper (Tonga); journalist and professional noise maker Michael Field whose specializes in getting himself thrown out of countries; Television NZ Pacific reporter Barbara Dreaver; and others who loved to be duped. Obviously they must also believe in tooth fairies and in the existence of Snow White. The FIHRDM seem to believe in legends too. A few years ago FIHRDM spokesman Finau Tutone delved into history and came up with the origin of human rights; it actually, according to this sage, started with a pharaoh and his slave! It took two half-hour programs on prime time television to explain this ridiculous claim.     

Tonga's rugby union team pass endurance test as Tongans sing hymns for a successful world cup

The Tongan national rugby union team, the 'Ikale Tahi, attended a choral-fest on Sunday in Nuku'alofa. The eleven choirs present sang twelve items. Prayers were offered and there were speeches but the Catholic Bishop Soane Patita injected some much-needed common sense by reminding the congregation that other countries are also praying for their rugby teams. It was a time for contemplation and meditation for the players that also tested their power to endure as they sat patiently for the length of two rugby games. The Prime Minister was there. The leader of the opposition was there. As was Rev. Tevita Latailakepa, the new chairman of the Tonga Rugby Union Authority. The TRUA, under previous chairman Bob Tuckey, had backed head coach 'Isitolo Maka unconditionally in the face of numerous calls for his dismissal following a long string of losses by the national side. Maka's position would probably have been untenable under any other administration. On Saturday the public donated over T$50,000 towards the team. A few hours earlier, also in Nuku'alofa, a woman and a man fled from a vehicle that was transporting money from the airport as armed men fired shots and tried unsuccessfully to steal the cash. The $100,000 that was stolen more than a year ago from the Tonga Development Bank has still not been found despite a $20,000 reward for its recovery and the identity of the robbers. Tongans are charitable but can also steal. For those of my generation who continue to miss the "morning gibberish" sessions at Rajneesh ashrams; I have actually found a substitute, just listen to Radio Australia's Bruce Hill on Pacific Beat.  

Tonga's prime minister Lord Tu'ivakano won praise in parliament for inclusion of former captain Nili Latu in rugby union world cup squad

The deputy chairman of the Tonga Rugby Union Authority 'Aminiasi Kefu has assured the International Rugby Board that there is no political interference with the TRUA. But that is at odd with what happened in parliament. On Tuesday several MPs demanded the inclusion of Nili Latu in Tonga's squad. On Wednesday the prime minister informed the House that it is a done deal and the TRUA has let Latu in. That is political interference in my book. All Wednesday Tu'ivakano was feted in parliament; a poem was recited in his honour; the benevolence of his ancestors was highlighted; and his leadership qualities exalted. Member of parliament and ex-local rugby supremo Sangster Saulala pointed out to Tu'ivakano that he too had struggled against the IRB. The Nili Latu affair is the creation of head coach 'Isitolo Maka, who seem to talk out of the two corners of his mouth. In a newspaper interview a few weeks ago he expressed his satisfaction with regular no. 7 Sione Vaiomo'unga's performance in the Pacific Nations Cup. Even the Fiji TV rugby commentator spoke highly of the very physical attribute of his game. However after playing in the first test against Fiji, Vaiomo'unga suddenly fell out of favour. Some reports suggest that Maka had held talks with Latu prior to the two tests; and Vaiomo'unga's fall from grace and Latu's recall were mere formalities. The TRUA had then overruled Maka and Vaiomo'unga was again selected. But following the PM's intervention, Latu is now in the extended squad. And racist parliamentary speaker Lasike told Radio Tonga that the "Nili Latu case is settled." As a non-rugby fan I do not understand what all the fuss is about for according to former All Black and educator John Graham, rugby union matches are won and lost by the quality of possession from the tight five!

Racism in Tonga's parliament and Bollywood

Bob Tuckey, the chairman and CEO of the Tonga Rugby Union Authority, has resigned and left Tonga; sickened by the racism, by the innuendos, and by the hostility he encountered here in Tonga. Bob's ethnicity became the focus of parliamentary debates last week after it was raised by the Speaker Lord Lasike. Unfortunately for Bob and his family, even from Australia they will continue through their taxes to contribute to this racist's salary; and to the salaries of twelve other MPs who voted to dump him (since Australia provides millions of dollars in budget support to Tonga this year). On Monday Tonga's parliamentarians decided to backtrack and ascribed Bob's departure solely to a disagreement with the head coach of the national rugby union team. In parliament yesterday the head coach became hero and the members of the TRUA became villains. One MP pledged his support to the national side in the morning session; withdrew his support in the afternoon session; then re-pledged his support this morning. Sounds like a toddler misbehaving or the plot from a low-budget masala movie from Bollywood. But the legislature will have none of that; they seem instead to be looking towards Hollywood for inspiration. According to the only member of parliament with a doctorate, Dr. Sitiveni Halapua, rugby union will unite us. You know, "Invictus" style. But it would be an insult to Nelson Mandela, who fought courageously against apartheid and racism throughout his adult life to be associated with this bunch. So it is going to be "Mr. Bean took Tongan MPs to the circus."

Tonga's parliament defy the International Rugby Board (IRB) and the pig

In a rare show of unity, the people's and nobles' representatives in Tonga's legislative assembly voted overwhelmingly to dump the chairman of the Tonga Rugby Authority, Bob Tuckey, but retain him as CEO only. This despite an emotional appeal from deputy Prime Minister Samiu Vaipulu and letters of support for Mr. Tuckey from some senior players and the coaching staff of the Ikale Tahi. The IRB also expressed its approval of Mr. Tuckey's performance and warned that Tonga's participation at the 2011 World Cup, now only three weeks away, could be jeopardized. But Tonga's parliament defied them all. It can be characterized as an act of bravery or tomfoolery or hypocrisy or all three. It was the embattled Speaker, Lord Lasike (pronounced Lar-sick-eh) who led the charge on Mr. Tuckey. Lasike, who is married to the Agriculture Minister's sister and is facing demands for his resignation over allegation that he has a mistress, said that he can tolerate a Tongan being both chairman and CEO of the rugby authority but not a foreigner. So it is his foreignness that is the issue. The problem is that this year's budget, as was last year's, is buttressed by foreign cash supplied by the Australian and New Zealand governments; which contributes to the two salaries that is drawn by Lasike. His salary as a Speaker and another as a noble; in other words, a second salary for doing nothing. I care less as to who chairs the Tonga Rugby Authority but why ridicule, belittle and rattle the national side one day before a test match. I therefore propose a compromise candidate, a pig. A big fat sow. A powerful chief had once crowned a pig as the secular king of Tonga to silence all the contenders. So a pig might just be the solution to all the feuding over the administration of rugby union here in Tonga. And maybe the players and coach will be left alone. The sores that afflicts the sport here is due in part to ex-president of the Tonga Rugby Football Union, Sangster Saulala. He boasted to the Kele'a newspaper on 13 July 2011 of how he had stood up to the IRB and that "the money sent...to Tonga by the IRB is Tonga's money anyway...but it is being portrayed as IRB money."

Shouting in Tonga's parliament

On Monday 15 August 2011 Tongan member of parliament 'Akilisi Pohiva told the legislature that the people no longer trust the House; least of all the speaker. According to a letter in the Taimi 'o Tonga newspaper parliamentary speaker Lord Lasike has a mistress. Yesterday's proceedings rapidly degenerated into a shouting match and then a screaming one between 'Akilisi and Revenue Minister Clive Edwards over the satellite company Tongasat. 'Akilisi and colleagues are resurrecting a dispute that was settled long ago between the Tongan government and Tongasat, a company in which Princess Salote Pilolevu is a significant partner. But why raise it now? Well there is a by-election next month and trumpetting alleged injustices and royal family bashing is always a vote winner. The anti-Chinese rhetoric is likely to intensify as the campaign picks up pace. It is also likely that Radio Australia's Bruce Hill will turn up soon and sniff around and probably report back on how a favourite politician has been wronged. A few weeks ago Bruce interviewed a Niuean community leader on the prospect of a race riot on their island if Chinese families settle there. Dear Bruce the ingredients for a race riot is rather simple: xenophobic politicians and stupid journalists.  

'Akilisi Pohiva, Dr. Sitiveni Halapua, the reconstruction and mice of Nuku'alofa, and pity the All Blacks

The de facto leader of the opposition 'Akilisi Pohiva and his de facto deputy Dr. Sitiveni Halapua have been appointed to look into the state of the money borrowed from the People's Republic of China and how it has been spent in the reconstruction of Nuku'alofa. As elected politicians are notorious for self-promotion, it would be a disaster if their report would be replete with references to letters and petitions written by Mr. Pohiva in the past or articles in the Kele'a, the newspaper he founded. If you are not convinced, just look at the appendices in the submissions to parliament by the opposition. But as the loan is being rapidly depleted, the mice of the central business district are fast becoming the fittest rodents in the world. Restricted to exercising and racing in the Uata Building since its opening in 1981, the mice now can choose between the Royco Building, the Lalita Building, or the taller and grander O G Sanft Building and Taumoepeau Building, where whole floors are available for mice-sprint, mice-aerobics, mice-cartwheels, and mice-banquets, courtesy of the loan from the PRC. For the really, really adventurous there is the extension to the heavily guarded Royal Palace, which cost millions. Then there is always the mini-racetrack also called the Tonga Rugby Football Union's trophy cabinet which is perenially devoid of any silverware. Tongan players have however exploited other facets of the competitions they were involved in. At the recent Commonwealth Games, Tonga's rugby sevens team was a disappointment but they made up for it in the dining hall where, according to the Kakalu newspaper, they ate and ate so much food that they returned home heavier than when they left. But those are amateurs, Tonga's team for the Rugby World Cup is a professional outfit and they will be in Auckland on September 2011 to break the will of the All Blacks and the hearts of all Aotearoa from Cape Reinga to Invercargill. Beware New Zealand!! The Tongans are coming!!!     

Tonga's police commissioner return to New Zealand; Tongan solutions to problems

On the evening of 16 November 2006 in Nuku'alofa, two brothers from the family that owned the Taumoepeau Building watched nervously as fire engulfed the Molisi Tonga store next door. Also watching were firemen who said that a fire engine parked nearby is full of water. But as flames started to flicker on the edge of the roof facing Molisi the firemen made no move to hose it down. The appointment of Chris Kelley as police commissioner was still two years away or we would have known definitively what they were saving the water for or if there was water at all in the fire engine. An HSBC Bank advertisement emphasizes that local knowledge is invaluable. And a key fact that Kelley should have learned from day one is that the Friendly Islands Human Rights and Democracy Movement is not a human rights organization. There are things in this country that can only be understood in that context. Unfortunately Kelley's days as police commissioner ends this Friday. Today the Minister of Police tried to rationalize the government's decision not to renew Kelley's contract and failed miserably. The honour for the most comical decision however belongs to the Tonga Water Board. To counter a rising tide of complaints from water consumers the TWB hired a public relations officer. These are engineering problems that need engineering solutions. Another problem that is not tackled is the bastardization of the Tongan language. The use of pidgin Tongan is on the ascendancy and one of the worst offenders is the Ministry of Education, Women Affairs and CULTURE. A new Miss Heilala was crowned last week; and a heartening and positive development is that those judging the talent contest in the pageant now include dancers, singers and artists. The principal judge in another year was a fresh diplomat from NZ whose previous career was farming, probably dairy. That is not so unusual here. The last general manager of the Tonga Broadcasting Commission came straight from the Ministry of Agriculture where she handled livestock, fertilizers and tractors. A professional farmer might be just what the Talaki newspaper need. Its edition on 25 March 2009 talked of the Catholic church's generosity in letting students from other faiths enter the Australia Pacific Technical College. The Talaki's editor forgot that the APTC is owned by the Australian government.      

Tonga's diplomats,politicians and the late Fineasi Funaki

Most of Tonga's senior diplomats have one thing in common; they are former military-men. Here they are: Tonga's ambassador to the People's Republic of China, Tonga's ambassador to the United Nations and the US, Tonga's high commissioner to Australia, the CEO of Tonga's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tonga's consul general in San Francisco. Only the high commissioners to the UK and New Zealand did not serve in the Tonga Defense Services. The prime minister who heads the government is a former secondary school teacher. The leader of the opposition in parliament is a former primary school teacher. His experience in teaching little children between the ages of 6 and 12 without a doubt stood him in good stead for he has been a member of parliament for 25 years. He however is unable to stem the deterioration in the use of the Tongan language in parliament. As members, especially the younger ones, continue to gratuitously adulterate their speech with English words; probably to impress but makes it hard to understand what actually they are barking about. Communicating in the Tongan language was one of the strengths of the late minister of tourism Fineasi Funaki, himself a former high school teacher. Gifted with a sharp mind Fineasi was often responsible for causing some of the fiercest debates in the legislature; accompanied by the inevitable rise in pitch, in temperature and in the blood pressures of his opponents. Another area in which Fineasi excelled was his defense of human rights; in particular, the rights of minorities and religious freedom. His passing last year was a huge loss to human rights, i.e. to genuine human rights, here in Tonga.

Tonga's costly civil service payrise; wet dreamers; and deputy PM behaves during NZ foreign minister's visit

Dr. Sitiveni Halapua, a member of parliament, admitted last week that the settlement he helped negotiate in 2005 between the Tongan government and striking civil servants was economically unsound. The superintendent of prisons complained to Radio Tonga News that he has not enough money to run the prisons. Of his department's T$2.1 million budget, sixty percent of which will be spent on wages and salaries. That is the net result of the 60%, 70%, 80% pay rise. But, according to Dr. Halapua, he did it for peace. What peace? One year on and a much bigger crowd assembled on the same spot and tried to hold the government to ransom. Quite a number of familiar faces from the previous year, many from the Friendly Islands Human Rights and Democracy Movement, were there. When their demands were not met, they started burning the Chinese-owned businesses. In her speech at the Tonga Broadcating Commission fiftieth anniversary, TBC chairperson Lady 'Eseta Fusitu'a said that the establishment of her organization came about because " a dreamer dreamed the right dream." More often it is the dream or dreams of the advisers to the decision-maker. The problem arises when the advisers dream wet dreams. Aside from the Cabinet members, Tonga's Prime Minister is also advised by three wise men: a former pilot, a former journalist and a town planner. Let us hope they are not whispering fantasies in the PM's ears. Last week NZ foreign minister Murray McCully visited and was seen listening attentively to Tonga deputy PM Samiu Vaipulu. This was worrying to some as there was a petition against him three months ago alleging that Vaipulu showered kava drinkers in Neiafu with expletives one evening; then went to a nearby village where he tried unsuccessfully to solicit a kiss from a girl who was serving kava.there. In front of Mr. McCully however and to everyone's relief Vaipulu behaved honourably and did not do either.  

Tonga broadcasting Commission turns fifty and the managers of state-owned enterprises

Last week the Tonga Broadcasting Commission celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. At the commemorative dinner TBC chairperson Lady 'Eseta Fusitu'a paid tribute to her predecessors then thanked Prime Minister Tu'ivakano for appointing her to this lofty position; in fact the first woman to head a state-owned enterprise. But as is the fashion here Lady 'Eseta in her moment of fame and happiness indulged herself in a Tongan dialect that consists of standard Tongan littered with English words, English phrases and even whole English sentences. In short pidgin Tongan. It seems odd that the lingua franca of the once far-flung Tu'i Tonga empire is now considered unfit to express happiness in. Thankfully TBC general manager Nanise Fifita did not forget her mother tongue throughout her brief and eloquent speech. But Nanise is a journalist through and through; just as Mr. Timote Katoanga, the managing director of the government-owned Tonga Communications Corporation, is the quintessential telecommunication engineer. How come then that the general manager of the Tonga Water Board is a geologist in a field where the expertise of a civil engineer or a chemical engineer or a public health engineer, is required. It is not unusual to find two long queues in the TWB office, one for paying bills and the other for filing complaints. That's not quite a surprise isn't it? It is not just engineers, often confused with motor mechanics and electricians, who are slighted; most models on television ads and on billboards are Fijians. What is wrong with hiring Tongan models?

Tonga's parliament picked on the country's Chinese community

Tonga's parliament turned racist on Monday 27 June 2011. 'Akilisi Pohiva, secretary of the Friendly Islands Human Rights and Democracy Movement, wanted the Minister of Labour to make the Chinese store owners hire Tongan shop assistants in place of employing Chinese labourers that they bring over. The Minister replied that he has asked the immigration department to let the Ministry of Labour decide which applicants gets a work permit. The Minister and his staff should be very busy with their own workload and they are not trained to deal with immigration matters. The potential for abuse is very much there especially in exchange for financial and sexual favours. I am not suggesting that the Minister and his CEO are eyeing this negative but profitable side of issuing visas. One member of parliament complained to the Labour Minister that Chinese shops sometimes raise the price of mutton flabs. The Minister warmed to the idea of controlling the price of this piece of fat. Another member wanted the Minister to acquaint the Chinese business owners with our customs and practices. Funnily the Tongan adherents of the Jehovah Witness faith do not even observe some of our own cultures and traditions. But Radio Australia's Bruce Hill, who appears to subscribe to this nonsense, would be delighted to interview the MP. Tonga's Minister of Finance contributed to the debate or rather the Chinese bashing exercise by telling the House that there used to be six Chinese-owned shops in his constituency of 'Eua, now there are only three. Two days after this orgy the Deputy Prime Minister warned members of the consequences of what they say in parliament; according to him, a rock was thrown the night before at a truck, used by Chinese nationals who are building roads here, breaking the windscreen.

New laptops for Tonga's parliament; birthday guest-list is news for Radio NZ International; and a code of ethics for Tonga's teachers

Each member of Tonga's new parliament has at his disposal a new laptop, courtesy of the People's Republic of China. The Speaker was so overjoyed at the gift that he forgot which language to express his gratitude in and ended up switching back and forth between the English and Tongan languages while talking to journalists. When the Speaker was still an ordinary member of parliament he once complained that he could not understand the then minister of health, who used to decorate his speeches with English phrases. The Speaker talked of the many advantages a laptop brings, including ease of access to the internet; but he overlooked the mere fact that these toys are also useful for watching porn, a diversion that can help MPs bear with the long and aimless speeches that dominate parliamentary debates. What will happen to the laptops in four years? We do not know yet, but in parliament this year veteran MP 'Akilisi Pohiva wanted to know the fate of 10 motorbikes, 40 desk fans. and 100 green-colored chairs that belonged to the legislature but have mysteriously disappeared. Every weekday at 8.40 am we get to hear a news bulletin in the Tongan language from Radio NZ International, relayed via FM 89.5. If the news reader had been to a wedding or birthday party, that too would often feature in the news. But Tevita Finau who read the news from Wellington took it to an absurd level on 22 February 2011 when he actually read out the guest-list at a birthday party. By the sixth minute (I timed it) Tevita started on who lit the birthday cake, but thankfully local announcer 'Anolo Manu has heard enough and turned it off. Today the Friendly Islands Teachers Association president Finau Tutone told Radio Tonga news that they are working on a code of ethics for teachers here. What I as a parent want is equal opportunity for all students. In 2005 Mr Tutone's then 12-year old grandson, a Form 2 student, sat the Maths paper in the Tonga School Certificate exams, which was and is only available to Form 5 students. This country teems with youths who unwisely left school early without any qualifications; why not not give them the same opportunity as that enjoyed by the young Tutone. Anyway Finau Tutone is a very active member of the Friendly Islands Human Rights and Democracy Movement that purports to promote human rights here in Tonga.     

Chris Kelley should stay on as Tonga's police commissioner; Tongans' penchant for writing reports

Chris Kelley can clean up the Tonga Police Force. In one of the trials relating to the riot in 2006, a key piece of evidence, a videotape, went missing. When it was finally recovered, part of it had already been deleted. Its trail through the police department was tracked down to a cadet officer and a constable. The defendants were of course acquitted but what happened to the two police officers? A member of the then small Tongan community in the UK, i.e. before rugby union turned professional, related to me in 2006 of his shock when an inspector from the Tonga Police boasted of how he had punched a prominent Nuku'alofa woman unconscious and then raped her. The inspector completed his course of study, then returned to Tonga where he spent many more fruitful years serving King and country. And write reports. Tongans have a weakness for writing reports. The editor of the Matangitonga news website write reports for Transparency International. After the submission of one such report, TI rated Tonga as one of the world's most corrupt countries. Reports were already written about the MV Princess Ashika before it sank.. Even on the day it sailed on its final voyage, the vessel was inspected by an independent marine engineer for yet another report. The director of the Friendly Islands Human Rights and Democracy Movement also write a report; unbelievably, it is on the state of human rights here in Tonga. Since the FIHRDM only pretends to be a genuine human rights organization, you would expect the director to be writing a report for Stupidity International. But no! The report is actually read, dissected, digested, filed and probably memorized by a group of idiots from Christchurch, New Zealand who call themselves the Christian World Service, They seem to specialize in giving away money to unworthy causes. This week the FIHRDM announced its displeasure that Lt. Col. Tevita Mara, who alleges serious human rights abuses in Fiji, has been given a Tongan passport. No doubt the FIHRDM director will include the Mara passport in his report to the preschoolers at the Christian World Service.

Tenth anniversary of campaign to expose the Friendly Islands Human Rights and Democracy Movement; Ngalu Fusimalohi heads Tonga's Olympic team; hero Sepp Blatter; and more advice for Radio Australia's Bruce Hill

2011is the tenth year since I came to the conclusion that the FIHRDM is an organization that devours human rights and decided to do something about this madness. In 2001 I hand-delivered a letter to the editor of the then Matangitonga magazine, outlining my reasons as to why the FIHRDM cannot qualify as a human rights organization. That letter was never published but the Tonga Chronicle and Taimi 'o Tonga newspapers accepted letters that dared to challenge the status of the FIHRDM.. There is no doubt about the cleverness of the FIHRDM in putting on a respectable front and its ability to attract funds from overseas sponsors. There is also no doubt about the failure of the Tonga Media Council to detect a monstrosity right under its nose. The Tonga Amateur Sports Association (TASA) has appointed Ngalu Fusimalohi as chef de mission of Tonga's team to the 2012 Olympics. Last year Ngalu was suspended by FIFA for three years. TASA administration manager 'Ahosivi Kaitapu told the Tasimi 'o Tonga that Ngalu has university degrees and experience in journalism and these will come in handy if there is a need for negotiations. 'Ahosivi is probably unaware that Ngalu is disciplined by FIFA because of comments he made to British reporters who had posed as American soccer officials. Ngalu is seeking to divorce his Fiji-born wife on grounds that are not recognized by the laws of Tonga. Nevertheless I trust TASA's judgment. FIFA under hero Sepp Blatter's leadership had built a multimillion dollar soccer complex here in Tonga. Ngalu, then secretary general of the Tonga Football Association, oversaw that project. As for Radio Australia's Bruce Hill. Well, poor old Bruce should first visit Atenisi University when he is in Tonga; because there, academics and students disinterestedly analyze significant events in the local scene. That should help Bruce distinguish between bread crumbs and bird droppings when he interviews Tongan politicians and political activists.  

More nonsense from Radio Australia's Bruce Hill about the recent Chinese migrants to the Pacific

On 18 April 2011 Bruce Hill claimed on the "Pacific Beat" program that these latter day migrants from China do not learn the indigenous culture or the language of the countries in which they settle. And that could have contributed to the perpetration of atrocities against them. Mr. Hill got a professor from Malaysia and someone from Bougainville to back those views. He failed however to get someone with an opposing viewpoint. Mr. Hill should tell us the kind of cultures that he meant, since some of these are criminal offenses. As to the language, the Chinese migrants learned and used the Pacific languages in order to reach their customers. Obviously Mr. Hill has got that one wrong. On 5 May 2006 Bruce Hill was in Tonga and I had called him about a spate of robberies against Chinese businesses. Mr. Hill quoted a big shot from the Tonga Media Council as saying that the police are on top of the situation and then discontinued the conversation. Six months later many Asian businesses in Nuku'alofa were looted and destroyed. Mr. Hill descended once more on the kingdom of Tonga and this time interviewed a Dr. Tui Uata. According top Dr. Uata the local Chinese community did not practise certain elements of the Tongan culture and the destruction of their businesses was due in part to what he called the "ripple effect." Mr. Hill did not contest this. But this is problematic since the prominent Chinatown Hotel, the Lily's restaurant, and several other Chinese businesses stood apart from other buildings but were looted and torched. And the Chinese retail stores in the central business district were among the first, if not the first, to be looted. The ripple effect is therefore fiction. Radio Australia should urgently enroll Bruce Hill in a refresher course on responsible journalism.

MV Princess Ashika trial, journalism and human rights in Tonga

Four defendants are being tried in the Tonga supreme court over the MV Princess Ashika tragedy. Almost all of those who died were unaware that the ferry was severely corroded. The question is why wasn't the public alerted to this? The media in Tonga, in particular the Tonga Media Council, did not issue a single sentence doubting the seaworthiness of the vessel before it sank. 'Akilisi Pohiva, former newspaper editor, populist politician and secretary of the Friendly Islands Human Rights and Democracy Movement, told the commission of inquiry that he had informed the minister of finance of his concern over the condition of the vessel. Yet it sailed Tongan waters for a whole month before it sank. According to 'Akilisi he was too busy to go and see the Ashika. But his son Po'oi, who is director of the FIHRDM, should have looked at the Ashika instead. The tabloid-style newspaper Kele'a, which is owned by Po'oi, prospered following the sinking. Its coverage of the tragedy and the sickening photos of the very corroded Ashika, plus all the allegations and finger-pointing made the Kele'a very popular indeed. To be fair the other media companies all profited from the Ashika. But then how can the media here in Tonga discover the un-seaworthiness of the Ashika after just one month of sailing when the FIHRDM has been in existence for over ten years, writing human rights reports while advocating at times outright racism flavoured with traces of human rights jargon. Only the Taimi 'o Tonga newspaper has stated categorically that the FIHRDM is not a human rights organization. The Matangitonga Online should tell its readers what exactly the FIHRDM does, unless of course it too is convinced that the organization genuinely, despite all the evidences, promotes human rights. I wrote last year to the editor of the Talaki newspaper, one of the four major newspaper that is sold in Tonga, expressing my dismay that the FIHRDM continues to portray itself as a human rights organization. No response. That was surprising since the editor is a brother of Fr. Seluini 'Akau'ola, a Roman Catholic priest and intellectual who is conversant with the principles of human rights. Here in Tonga we have several with degrees in jounalism; there is even one with a doctorate but the FIHRDM has no problem with these. In celebrating press freedom day in 2010 the Tonga Media Council not only hosted an invitation-only dinner contrary to previous years, but also decided to honour the 12 journalists  who died the world over while plying their trade. But how about the 74 lives who perished on the Ashika?      

Radio New Zealand correspondent call Tonga's independent members of parliament traitors

Radio NZ correspondent in Tonga, Mateni, wrote in an editorial on 24 December 2010 on page 8 in the Kele'a, the newspaper that he edits, about "these few representatives who betrayed the people." Huge betrayal by Sunia Fili and Fe'ao Vakata" [two of the five independent MPs in the new government] is the headline of Mateni's editorial on 29 December 2010. On page 32 there were two letters to the editor on the same theme under the following headings "We have been betrayed by Fe'ao Vakata" and "Fe'ao Vakata and Sunia Fili are two Judases." In the Kele'a on 5 January 2010, it is "betrayal" "betrayal" "betrayal" in all three letters to the editor. In an article by an anonymous author on page 27, "the five independents...are the Judas of this election." Before the formation of the new government Mateni wrote in the Kele'a on 15 December 2010 of the independent MPs, "if they betray change, all the struggle, sweat and blood that has flowed since the start of this crusade...will be placed on these representatives' heads." Incredibly in the very next sentence he denied that this is a threat. Well done Radio New Zealand!!!

Tonga's human rights organization call independent members of parliament Hispanics

The Friendly Islands Human Rights and Democracy Movement (FIHRDM) annoyed that independent MPs helped elect a noble as prime minister ran a full-page advertisement in the Kele'a newspaper on 5 January 2011titled "Nobles are smarter in Politics." Initially it labled the independents as "non-independents" and "drifters" in paragraph 1. In paragraph 2 it started with "drifters" then" those dear ones with sleep in their eyes" then it is "like they say in America 'thankfully they have got a miko'." Miko is a term that Tongans in the US use in reference to Hispanics, principally Mexicans; it is probably an abbreviation of amigo. It went on, "clearly the drifters are truly mikos of the nobles; whenever they want cool refreshments then the mikos are summoned; if they want to be comforted, again the mikos are summoned." Miko is mentioned one more time in paragraph 2; three times in paragraph 3, and twice more in paragraph 4; all in the context of being stupid and servile. The FIHRDM is funded from New Zealand by the Christian World Service to promote, believe it or not, human rights in Tonga. The owner of the Kele'a newspaper is Mr. Po'oi Pohiva who is also the director of the FIHRDM.
The office-holders of the FIHRDM are as follows:
Chairman : Rev. Simote Vea [an ordained minister of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga]
Secretary : Mr. 'Akilisi Pohiva [a populist politician]
Director : Mr. Po'oi Pohiva [son of 'Akilisi Pohiva]