Page 30 - IB MAR 2017

Politics

Staying power ... Akilisi
Pohiva. Photo: Invictus

Survivor Tonga

Pohiva defeats in the last Tongan government to be lose the most recent challenge.
Vaipulu was Deputy Prime Minister
Koloamatangi believes they need to
Nobles’ motion controlled by the Nobles. change tactics in order to take back
Dr Malakai Koloamatangi, Pacific
power.
Director at Massey University in New “I’m not sure whether the nobles are
Zealand, told ABC Radio that the motion willing to step back and support a com-
By Netani Rika was a waste of time because the propos- moner as a potential leader but I think
ers knew they did not have the numbers a new leader with a new message and
THREE years after winning an election, to topple the government. a new way of doing things is what’s
pro-democracy fighter Samuela ‘Akilisi “I would have thought that the chal- needed,” Koloamatangi said.
Pohiva has fought off a second vote of lengers had the numbers and were as- “I think it would also be good for the
no confidence to maintain his position sured (of support) because if you don’t electorate to see that a non-noble is lead-
as Tonga’s prime minister. have the numbers, why would you ing the challenge for leadership.
Behind the unsuccessful motion of no want to join the government in the first “Next time it would make sense for
confidence in Parliament is a group of place?’’ Koloamatangi said. the nobles to step back and allow a com-
nobles, forced to give up their control of “I’m flabbergasted that they didn’t moner to lead the challenge.”
the house in 2010 by command of the make sure they had votes committed Ironically, one of the MPs who stood
late King George Tupou V. and that those people would vote for by Pohiva was a noble – Ma’afu, former
Pohiva prevailed by 14 votes to 10 them on the day.” soldier, Minister for Lands, head of the
with the Cabinet giving him 12 votes Politics in Tonga has always run along Ha’a Havea clan and patrilineal uncle of
and an additional two from Pro-Democ- the lines of Nobles Versus Commoners, a the prime minister.
racy Movement Members of Parliament. situation which brought Pohiva support A direct descendant of the third Tu’I
The 10 votes against him were from and a place in parliament in 2010. Kanokupolu, Mataeleutu’apiko, Ma’afu
seven Noble Representatives - Lord At that time the Nobles banded to- is an influential person in his own right.
Tu’ilakepa who tabled the no confi- gether with conservative MPs from the “Of course Ma’afu probably thinks he
dence motion, Lord Tu’iha’angana, Niua islands in the north of the kingdom can get away with (supporting Pohiva)
Lord Fusitu’a, Lord Tu’i’afitu, Lord to elect Lord Siale’ataonga Tu’ivakano because he heads the Ha’a Havea clan
Tu’iha’ateiho, Lord Nuku, Lord Vaea - prime minister. which holds the most noble titles,” Ko-
and Samiu Vaipulu, Vili Hingano and But their insistence on leading the loamatangi said.
Fe’ao Vakata who represent the people. country is what caused the Nobles to q netrika66@gmail.com

30 Islands Business, March 2017