The Militant - February 7, 2011 -- King of Tonga resists democratic reform vote

Vol. 75/No. 5 February 7, 2011

King of Tonga resists
democratic reform vote

BY FELICITY COGGAN
AUCKLAND, New Zealand—Working people in Tonga registered their support for democratic reforms in elections November 25, when candidates of the newly formed Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands (DPFI) won 71 percent of the vote and a majority of elected seats. The government formed in the aftermath of the election, however, has remained largely dominated by the country’s nobility.

This was the first vote held under a new electoral system in this Pacific Island nation of some 122,000 people. It is a product of decades of protest for political reforms to break control of the government by the monarchy and nobility—protests that have gained momentum in Tonga in recent years.

In 2005 a six-week strike by government employees culminated in a 10,000-strong march for democratic rights, and in 2006, a street rebellion against delays in reforms left much of central Nuku’alofa, the capital, in flames. In 2008, the new king, George Tupou V, announced he would surrender many of the powers of the monarchy and change the voting system.

This election saw the previous 33-seat parliament, with only nine members elected by the people, replaced by a 26-seat assembly with 17 members popularly elected. Nine continue to be chosen by the country’s nobles. Previously, 15 additional MPs were chosen by the king, as was the prime minister and cabinet. The prime minister is now elected by parliament and appoints the cabinet.

Representatives of the DPFI won 12 of the 17 seats available in the November elections, with the rest going to independent candidates.

Following the election, however, the nine noble members of parliament blocked efforts by DPFI leader ’Akilisi Pohiva to form a government. Siale'ataonga Tu'ivakano, a noble, was elected prime minister.

On January 13, Pohiva, a 30-year campaigner for democratic rights, quit the cabinet and resigned from the government. Only two members of his party were appointed to the 13-member cabinet while two unelected individuals were selected. Pohiva also said he could not sign a cabinet agreement agreeing not to vote against the government.

Tonga’s economy is being battered by the world recession. Remittances from Tongans working overseas—a key source of income for the country—fell 11.6 percent in 12 months through June 2010 and income from tourism declined 14.6 percent. According to the World Bank, 40 percent of Tongans live below the poverty level.

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