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.