Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania
NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga – Kalafi Moala, a newspaper publisher in Tonga, says that the democratic reform program for Tonga continues to progress and the government is committed to the reforms.
Since the 1990s, Tonga has struggled in the fight for democratic reforms. The Pro-Democracy Movement was founded in 1992, and was later renamed in 1998 to the Tonga Human Rights and Democracy Movement.
The Tonga Human Rights and Democracy Movement believes that changes are needed to bring about more democratic governance in Tonga. They address the ongoing issues in Tonga that relate to social justice, exploitation of the poor, inequality, womens’ rights, constitutional amendments, and corruption.
In 1999, a pro-democracy movement was organized to discuss a new, more democratic constitution.
However, a scandal was exposed in 2001, and in 2003 changes in the constitution were made to give the king greater powers and increased the state control of the media.
In 2005, there was a prolonged strike and campaigners for political reform rallied the streets. The protests erupted into violence. Thousands of people marched through the capital, demanding democratic reform.
Riots continued on during 2006 in the capital Nuku’alofa to protest the lack of democratic reforms. Eight people were killed and much of the business district was destroyed.
After King Tupou V finally announced that he will relinquish his near-absolute power held by the monarchy and introduce democratic reforms in 2008, Tonga finally began to implement the democratic reforms that was promised more than a decade ago.
Recently, a committee on constitutional reform was created, called the People’s Committee for Political Reform, and the Committee recommended introducing a popularly elected parliament and reducing the monarchy to a largely “ceremonial role.”
Earlier this month, Akilisi Pohiva, the chair of the People’s Committee for Political Reform, said that the government should endorse a report on democratic reforms to ensure there is no more violence in the country. The Committee urges the government to make quick democratic reforms to prevent any incidents of violence like those in 2005 and 2006.
Currently, a newspaper publisher in Tonga, Kalafi Moala, is confident that the democratic reform program remains on track and that the government is committed to the process.
The Public Servants Association says that the government is “watering down” the reforms and could delay the planned elections in November next year under the amendments.
However, Moalo disagrees, and says this is not the case.
Moalo emphasized that all the MPs have worked hard to implement the recommendations made by the Constitutional and Electoral Commission.
Moalo stated: “Talking to people on the government side as well as People’s Representatives – they are both confident that they are going to meet the deadline. That’s why they are holding extra sessions during the holidays, that’s why they have been working overtime, having evening sessions, because they feel that they want to come in the next session next year all ready to formulate these legislations.”
For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International – Tonga observer confident reform process is on track – 15 December 2009
Pacific Islands Report – Tonga Democracy Movement Urges Quick Reforms – 30 November 2009
BBC News – Timeline: Tonga – 16 November 2009
Human Rights & Democracy Movement in Tonga – Human Rights & Democracy Movement in Tonga
