Fakamo‘oni Talite CEDAW: Fie ‘eiki, Liukava‘i Mafai ‘o e Tu‘i; Taimi ke Faka‘ilo ke Kapusi Featured
Sione A. Mokofisi
Totofa ‘o Nuku’alofa…Voliume 2. No. 8. Falaite, 09 Mē, 2015.
Fa‘utohi ‘a Sione A. Mokofisi
Nuku‘alofa, TONGA: ‘Ikai kuo mahino ko e ngaahi feinga ‘a e Pule‘anga lolotongá ke faka-vave‘i ‘a hono tali pea ke tau fakamo‘oni ki he Talite CEDAW, ko hono moloki faka-lēlue ‘a kitautolú ‘i he vavetahá? Kuo toki ake mai ‘a e kau taki lotú ‘o fakahā ‘a e ‘ikai kenau loto ‘i he ‘enau tuí ‘oku totonu ke tali pea fakamo‘oni ‘a Tonga ki he CEDAW.
Pea ko e toutou feinga ‘a e Pule‘anga ‘o ‘Akilisi Pōhivá ke fai mo kalusefai ‘etau tau‘atāiná, ko ia kuo nau ‘osi feinga ai ke liukava‘i ‘a e mafai ‘o e Tu‘í. Ko ia kuo nau maumau‘i ‘a e Kupu‘i Lao #39 ‘o e Konisitūtoné ‘oku pehē, ko e Tu‘í pē ‘oka mōkoi ki ai, pea ‘e mafai ke fai e fakamo‘oni huafa ko iá.
Na‘e me'a ‘a e ‘Eiki Minisitā Fe‘ao Vakatā ki New York City ko e talafekau ‘o faka-vave‘i hono ‘ave ‘o e fakamo‘oni hingoa ‘a Palēmia ‘Akilisi Pōhiva kuo tali ‘e Tonga ‘a e Talite CEDAW. Ko e anga fie ‘eiki pea ‘oku nau feinga ke liukava‘i ‘a e mafai ‘o e Tu‘i.
Pea kuo taimi ke faka‘ilo kotoa ‘a e Palēmiá mo ‘ene Kapinetí ke tuli kinautolu ki hala Pule‘anga. Ko e anga faka-fulikivanu eni ‘oku nau faí. ‘Oku ‘ikai ko ‘enau feinga pē ke tolongi kitautolu ki he lalo halanga-lēlué, ke molomoloki ai kitautolu, ka tenau fai ia ko ‘enau maanumanu pa‘anga.
Na‘e tala pōlepole ‘aki ‘e he Minisitā Laó - ko e Mēmipa ‘o e Kapineti - ko Sione Vuna Fā‘otusia ‘oku ‘i ai e “fu‘u pa‘anga lahi” ‘oku toitoi mai ‘i he CEDAW. Ko ia ‘oku mahino kiate au, ‘oku kau e maanumanu pa‘angá ‘i he ‘enau feinga ‘omai e CEDAW faka-vavevave‘í.
Mamafa ‘Uhinga Faka-lotú
Na‘e taki foki ‘a e Siasi Katolika Lomá ‘i hono ‘uluaki fakahā ‘e Katinale Sōane Mafi – taki ‘o e Katolika Loma ‘o Tonga mo Niuē − ‘i he māhina kuo ‘osí ‘oku ‘ikai kenau tali ‘a e CEDAW. ‘I he faka‘eke‘eke mo e Niuvākaí ‘i he uike kuo ‘osi, na‘e faka-mamafa‘i ai ‘e Katinale Mafi ‘a e faka-tu‘utāmaki mo e ta‘e faka-Kalisitiané ‘a e Talite CEDAW.
Na‘e fakamatala ‘e Katinale Mafi ko e fakatale‘i (rejection) ‘o e CEDAW ‘e he Katolika Lomá ‘oku faka-lūkufua ia ki māmaní. Pea neongo ‘oku tu‘uaki mai ‘a e mahu‘inga ‘o e malu‘i ‘e he CEDAW ‘a e tau‘atāina ‘a fafiné, ‘oku mahu‘ingaange ‘a e akonaki tuku-fakaholo ‘a e Tohi Tapú ‘o kau ki he ngeia ‘o e kakai fefiné. Pea faka-mamafa‘i ‘i he ‘etau tuku-fakaholo.
Pea ko ‘eni kuo fakataha ‘a e ngaahi siasi lotú ‘o lototaha ki he tu‘u ‘a e Siasi Katolika Lomá. ‘Oku faikehekehe ia mo e fakamatala ‘a e Pule‘anga ‘o ‘Akilisi Pōhivá na‘e fai ‘i Mā‘asi ‘o tala tokua kuo ‘osi loto ‘a e kau takilotú ke tali ‘a e CEDAW.
Ko ‘etau mo‘ui faka-Tongá ‘oku mamafa kiate kitautolu ‘a ‘etau tui faka-Kalisitiané ‘o kehekehe ia mo e tui faka-lotu ‘a e ngaahi fonua lalahi tokolahi. ‘Oku mahu‘inga kiate kitautolu ‘a e;
(a) lotú ko ‘etau tui faka-Kalisitiané,
(b) mo hotau taki faka-fonuá (pule‘anga temokalati faka-tu‘i),
(c) pea mo hotau ngaahi anga tuku-fakaholó.
Ko e mo‘ui ‘a e Tongá kotoa ‘oku fu‘u mahu‘inga tēlē ‘a e ngaahi mālohi ni ‘e tolú. ‘Oku makehe atu pē ‘etau mo‘ui ‘aki ‘a e lotú faka-Kalisitiané. ‘Oku ‘ikai ke faka-‘apa‘apa‘i ‘a e Sāpaté ‘o e ‘Otua Kalisitiané ‘i ha toe fonua ‘i māmani ‘o hangē ko Tonga. Kuo hoko ia ko e lao ‘o e fonua, ‘a ia ‘oku tohi ‘i he ‘etau Konisitūtoné.
‘Oku poupou‘i mamafa ‘e he Tohi Tapú ‘a hotau ngaahi anga tuku-fakaholo ko e faka‘apa‘apa‘i ‘o ‘etau ngaahi fa‘ē, ‘a hotau tuofafiné, ngaahi mehikitangá, mo ‘etau ngaahi kui fefiné. Pea ‘oku faingata‘a ke mahino ia ki he kau muli tokolahi.
‘Oku ngali ko e anga faka-ono‘aho ia ki he kakai mulí, kā ‘oku kau ia ki he ngaahi me‘a mahu‘ingataha ki he Tongá. ‘Oku tau pōlepole ‘aki ‘a ‘etau fai-fatongia ki hotau hou‘eiki fafine.
Pule‘anga Temokalati Faka-Tu‘i
Ko e hā e mahu‘inga mo e mamafa ‘a e fā‘ūtaha ‘a e ngaahi siasi ‘i he ‘enau lototaha ke fakatale‘i, pē ko ‘enau fakafisi ke tali ‘a e Talite CEDAW, ‘o tatau mo e tu‘u ‘a e Siasi Katolika Lomá? Ko hono mahu‘ingá he ko e mālohi ‘o ‘etau tui faka-Kalisitiané.
Pea ‘oku nau poupou‘i ‘a hotau Pule‘anga Tu‘í ‘a ia ‘oku malu‘i ‘e hotau Konisitūtoné. ‘Oku ‘ikai ko Palēmia ‘Akilisi Pōhiva ‘oku pule fakaaoao ‘i hotau pule‘angá. Ko Tu‘i Siaosi Tupou VI ‘oku kei pule faka-kātoa ‘i Tonga ni kotoa, pea ‘oku ne maa‘imoa mo e “mafai faka-fisinga” (veto power) ‘o hangē ko e Palesiteni ‘Amelika.
Ko hono ‘uhinga ia ‘oku faka-mafai aipē ‘e he Konisitūtoné ke fakamo‘oni ‘a e Tu‘í ‘i he ngaahi talite mo e ngaahi fonua mulí. ‘Oku anga faka-liukava ‘a e Palēmia mo ‘ene Kapinetí kenau faka-mafai ‘a e Palēmia ke fakamo‘oni ‘i he Talite CEDAW ko ‘enau liukava‘i ‘a e mafai ‘o e Tu‘í.
Kuo taimi ke faka‘ilo kātoa ‘a e Kapinetí mo Palēmia ‘Akilisi Pōhiva ke kapusi kinautolu ki lotohala pule‘angá.
(Kuo hoko ‘a Sione A. Mokofisi ko e ‘Ētita ‘o e nusipepa fo‘ou ‘i Tonga ko e “Niuvākai-The Nuku‘alofa Street Journal.” Pea ko e Talekita ‘o e English-Journalism & Languages ‘i he Tonga International Academy. Na‘e ako ‘i he Ako Mā‘olunga Liahona; kuo ma‘u MBA pea ‘oku faka-kakato ‘a e pepa faka-totolo toketā DBA. ‘Oku pulusi ‘a e “Niuvākai” ‘i he lea faka-Tonga mo e faka-Pilitania. ‘Oku tufa ‘i Tonga, Nu‘usila, ‘Aositelelia, Hawai‘i mo ‘Amelika Lahi.)
6 comments
-
'Oku faka'au ke tau ki'i fakapiko'ia 'ia Vakata hono fakamafola mai 'eni ngaahi lea 'o fekau'aki mo e CEDAW. Ne fai foki 'ene lea 'o fekau'aki mo e famili. Na'e totonu ke fakamaau'i 'e he Palemia 'a e ki'i tama Niua ni pea toki tuku ke lave mai ki he mahu'inga 'o e famili. Ne ha foki he tohi 'e taha he Nepituno ne 'iai e fekau'aki mo e launga mai mei Nu'usila ki he 'alu 'a Vakata ia mo e mali 'o e motu'a 'e taha. 'Oku totonu ke fai fakavavevave ha ngaue ki he tama ko 'eni.
Malo -
Malo Josh Fahina...that is exactly what I meant , we already have it here in Tonga too..in other words , CEDAW would be used as a solution for legalizing it in Tonga because it gives them the right..if you are relying on the Convention's permission for reservation that Tonga are proposing for ratifying CEDAW then may you be you are not fully able to grasp the whole idea..what more can CEDAW do that our current Constitution and our traditional culture is not able to protect and uphold women's rights , dignity and status in the Tongan society ?.. the key issue that am concern about ,that ratifying CEDAW would be used as a doorway for bigger problems faced in the future...eg. prostitution is a profession ( source of income ) and it can be argued under Article 11 of the convention , abortion can be also be argued in Article 14 , gay marriages in under Article 16..okapau ko ho'o pehe ke tali fakakonga pe ngaahi tu'utu'uni , then you should check with countries who had reservation like we are proposing who eventually gave up to the push from the 23 member Committee of CEDAW..but yeah , tautolu pe foki 'e fetakai mo e palopalema ka nau hao pe nautolu..lol
-
Malo Fifita... Koe katoa e ngaahi me'a ko'ena oku ke fklau mai 'oku fai kotoa pe ia 'I Amelika..hhhhh abortion, gay marriage etc, etc... ko e ha ka toe fie fakamo'oni ai.. we only have to take what is best for Tonga and leave the rest.. we don't condone abortion ...koe lotu mo'oni e fai e me'a oku sai kae tuku e kovi.. moe hufaki ai pe..
-
I think the present government of Tonga should tread lightly on this CEDAW issue and look beyond the funds and benefits that Tonga would have for ratifying CEDAW..For example ,the United States of America is considered the most powerful democratic country in the world and the only democratic country that hasn't ratified CEDAW !...since CEDAW was adopted in 1979 by the UN with 3 main focusing areas :
- Civil Rights and Legal Status
- Reproductive Rights
- Cultural factors influencing gender relations
the United States hasn't ratified it . WHY ?..I think that is what Tonga should question now is the WHY NOT ?..the main opposition against CEDAW are conservative groups and religious rights ,who are conscerned that CEDAW will challenge the laws and culture of the USA..any similarity to Tonga ?..the answer is YES !!..In arguments against CEDAW, the conservative organization Concerned Women for America cite that ratification of the treaty will:
- negate family law and undermine traditional family values by redefining the family
- force the U.S. to pay men and women the same for "work of equal value" thus going against our free-market system
- ensure access to abortion services and contraception
- create a possible 'back door' ERA for feminists
allow same-sex marriage
- legalize prostitution
- promote gender re-education
- negate parental rights
- undermine the sovereignty of the U.S.
Those are some of the reasons the US hasn't ratified it . May be we should study the issue more closely before jumping into the wagon and thus take Tonga to places we don't want to end up at -
Saia Fahina fakamalo atu he langa'i mai ke kau hono talanga'i 'a e poupou 'oku taku kuo taki e Uee ke tali e CEDAW. Ko e ngaahi lau 'a Tevita Havea ko 'ene tui pe ia 'a 'ana ka 'oku 'ikai ko e loto ia 'o e Siasi. Me'apangoo pe kuo kau mai foki e tama ia ko ia ki he ngaahi ngaue 'a e Pule'anga. Pea kuopau ke nau teke 'e kinautolu 'a e fonua ki he 'ene ki'i mahino ia 'a'ana. Na'e 'iai foki e ngaahi tohi ki he pepa ki mu'a ne lave ai ko Feleti Sevele ko e tama ia 'a Patelesio Finau pea ko e Palemia 'o e 'aho ni ko e tama ia 'a 'Amanaki Havea. 'Oku ou tui ko e lau ia 'a Tevita he tohi fanongonongo ko anga pe ia 'ene fakatonulea ia 'a'ana ka 'oku 'ikai ko e Uee ia. 'I he ngaahi faikava anga na'e toki mahino kiate au ko e Uee ko e 'uhinga ki he Uesiliana. 'Oku totonu pe foki ke fakatokanga'i 'ehe Uee 'a e ngaahi liliu kuo feinga e ki'i tamani ke fakahoko. Ko hotau Siasi ko hota Pule'anga pea 'oku ngaue'i fakataha ki he lelei 'a e fonua.
Malo -
Ne tuku mai 'ehe sekelitali lahi oe SUTT he ngaahi uike atu kimu'a 'I he Tohi Fanongonongo 'a e SUTT a e vakai 'a e SUTT ki he CEDAW pea oku ha mahino 'aupito pe 'oku poupou a e SUTT ki he CEDAW mo e ngaahi kaveinga lalahi o fekau'aki moe fakaehaua 'o e kakai fefine. Na'a ne fakamamafa'i foki 'a e kei tu'u ma'u 'a e siasi heene tui 'o fekau'aki moe fakatotama pea moe mali 'a e fefine moe fefine pehe ki he tangata moe tangata. Na'a ne fakalotolahi'i foki e kainga lotu 'oku 'ikai uesia ai 'a e lotu mo e siasi he ngaahi fokotu'utu'u a e CEDAW he 'oku faka'ataa pe 'a e ngaahi fonua ke oua tenau tali 'a e ngaahi lao 'oku fepaki mo 'enau kulitua pea mo e tui fakalotu. Hala ha me'a 'e kovi koe feinga kotoa pe ki he lelei 'a e fonua ko Tonga kae tautau tefito ki si'i hou'eiki fafine. Oku taku koe kau fahu ka e lahi ange hono haha mo hono tapalasia he sosaieti. To'o e me'a oku sai o ngaue kiai ka e li'aki e me'a oku 'ikai sai. Oku 'ikai koe tali pe pea ngofua ke fai e mali fksotoma moe fktotama. Manatu'i oku lolotonga feia pe ngaahi issue koia he fonua 'a e nofo 'ae fefine moe fefine pea pehe ki he fakatotama ka e sai ange ke fai hano siofi fklelei pea teuteu mo ha polokalama ke talia'aki he koe ta'au fkmamani lahi ia pea 'e ikai hao 'a Tonga mei ai ka kono sai ke mateuteu e fonua