Page 31 - IB MAR 2017

Politics
Rulers ostracise their own

Class THE people of Papua have become Indonesia responded that the

Papuan pawns

wars political pawns once again – this remarks on what it described as
“the so called human rights issues
time in a kingdom thousands of
kilometres away.
in West Papua” were inaccurate
One of the supporting reasons
allegations, dangerously mislead-
ing and should be corrected for the
for a motion of no confidence in
Tongan Prime Minister Samiuela
In a press release in October
‘Akilisi Pohiva tabled by the Op- records.
EARLY this month 32 of Tonga’s nobles position was his recent utterances 2015, Pohiva followed up on his
met with one item on their agenda – on the territory annexed by Indo- speech with a call for world lead-
Noble Ma’afu. nesia some 50 years ago. ers to collaborate to fight corrup-
This one member of the ruling class Pohiva told the UN General As- tion and violation of human rights
refused to stand with them and their sembly in 2015 that Indonesia’s “like what is happening in West
nine elected members in a 26-member action in suppressing a bid for Papua in the Pacific”.
parliament to remove a commoner prime self-determinations by the ethnic Pohiva’s speech was dredged
minister. Melanesian population in West up by his opponents in a vote of
As part of their agreement, the Nobles Papua was “brutal and inhu- no confidence motion as remarks
decided to ostracise Ma’afu, not speak to mane”. likely to tarnish Tonga’s relation-
him and promised they would not give “(The) United Nations has a ship with other countries.
him a ministerial position if they won a duty to closely follow up this West Pohiva dismissed the claims in
vote of no confidence against Samuela Papua case and necessary action a written response to the Speaker,
‘Akilisi Pohiva.But Pohiva defeated the be taken to stop these brutal and Lord Tu’ivakano.
motion with Ma’afu – the Lands Minister inhumane activities,” Pohiva said. q Invictus News and Features Service
– firmly by his side.
As head of the Ha’a Havea Clan, this
noble has 13 of the 33 Nobles in his Pohiva said he respected the King and Langa’oi was the former CEO of the
family and is related to Pohiva’s father. Tonga’s society. Public Service and directly involved with
Dr Malakai Koloamatangi, Pacific “I believe that royalty, democracy and coordinating the recruitment process
Director at Massey University in New transparency can operate together within policy. It was also alleged that Langa’oi’s
Zealand, saw the no confidence motion an elected parliament,’’ Pohiva told Is- appointment was made public despite a
as childish but understandable. lands Business at the time. pending court case between the PSC and
Prior to King George Tupou V’s con- “As a Tongan I still respect the King former Chief Secretary and Secretary to
stitutional change in 2010, the nobility and our culture but we must stop cor- Cabinet, Busby Kautoke.
controlled the legislature through its ruption.” 3. Viliami Taufa’s appointment as
majority. Pohiva was already afoul of the nobility Pohiva’s political adviser was also ques-
But Tupou V allowed the nobles only when he became the first elected com- tioned by the opposition. Taufa worked
nine seats and gave the commoners 17, moner Prime Minister. in the New Zealand dairy industry before
a position for which Pohiva had cam- By putting two of his sons into posi- joining Tonga’s Livestock division of the
paigned for more than 30 years. tions of influence, Pohiva opened the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and
Until then, Tonga was a function- door to allegations of corruption. Fisheries. He is believed to be a colum-
ing constitutional monarchy with the Among the accusations against him nist for the Kele’a newspaper, founded
king appointing the prime minister and were nepotism, not following due process by Pohiva
cabinet. and wasting government funds – charges 4. Pohiva was also accused of scan-
Parliament was a place where nobles
and commoners could air their grievances he dismissed. dalising the judiciary by writing to the
Privy Council calling for the dismissal of
The issues at the centre of the motion:
and do little else. 1. The appointment of his son, Po’oi the Acting Attorney General, who is also
In 2014 Pohiva became prime minister Pohiva as his Personal Assistant. The the Director of Prosecution, for his role
after winning a place in parliament and Opposition claimed the role was never in Tu’ilakepa’s arms and ammunitions
then taking the votes of 15 of the elected advertised publicly and that Po’oi was court case.
MPs – including Ma’afu. paid using State funds. 5. He was also accused of favoritism
No other Noble voted for the pro- 2. The appointment of the Chief and nepotism through alleged misuse of
democracy campaigner and vocal critic Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet, Dr. his power to appoint his close associate
of the Royal Family, its poor governance Palenitina Langa’oi which the Opposition to top jobs.
record and excessive spending. claims did not follow correct procedure. q Invictus News and Features Service
Despite his criticism of the system,

Islands Business, March 2017 31