Democracy of Whores ^Featured

With this unexpected stubbornness, it has forced me to call Tongan democracy a democracy of whores since it has become a tool to gain personal power and prestige at the cost of democratic, moral, and spiritual integrity.

It’s a democracy of whores because this government was conceived out of wedlock through a “one night” political stand between the Prime Minister Pohiva and the CEDAW’s Representative Fe’ao Vakataa. Before the 2014 election, Pohiva’s Kele’a trashed Vakataa as one of the corrupted ones of the former government.  After the election, Pohiva knew that in order for him to be the Prime Minister, he had to “bribe” Vakataa with the ministerial position.  

Upon what principles did you make that decision? Is this a Machiavellian motion—keep your friends close and keep your enemies closer? Or a desperate attempt to seize the political power?  

If Akilisi is a man of principle as idolized by his followers, he would have stayed faithful to his principles regardless of the outcome.  But, he did not.  He took the bait and after five months in power, all we see is a professional politician like everyone else.

While we were watching and awaiting the reform, Pohiva handpicked his own son as his personal administrative assistant.  Surprisingly, the Parliamentarians for Global Action which honored Pohiva as the propagator of democracy set a blind eye, a mouth shut, and a deaf ear on this undemocratic act of nepotism.  

What kind of democracy is that?  After thirty years of trashing and criticizing the government, and that’s what you have to offer us?  While many of us were still crying foul for such unbecoming decision, our voices were drowned by the laughter from the United Nation Headquarter in New York.  Pohiva and his Cabinet boldly and swiftly decided to ratify this Convention without waiting for further discussion in the Parliament or broader consultations with the people of Tonga.  

Is this a quick cover up at the international level for the misadministration of power at the local level when Pohiva appointed his own son to be his administrative assistant?  Or is it a remedy for his discrimination against women as shown by his refusal to nominate any female Tongan to be in his Cabinet?  

As our “uneducated” Church leaders voiced their grievances and objection against CEDAW, Pohiva and his learned Cabinet willfully ignore the Church leaders claiming that he and his government know better what is best for the women of Tonga.  

Mr. Prime Minister, obviously you and your supporters did not do your homework.  Do you know why U.S refused to ratify the CEDAW?  Do you have any verifiable evidence that  discrimination against women are lower in CEDAW member countries than the non-members?  Do you know that there are academics and India, Pakistan, and other third world countries who complain and criticize how CEDAW brought more harm than good?  Do you know that CEDAW is strongly backed and used by militaristic feminists who define “women’s right,”“equality,” and “non-discrimination” far beyond the common definitions we used to have?

You’re right, Mr Prime Minister.  CEDAW never forced any country against its will.  But here is the danger.  They seduce and they pressure.  Through their funded seminars and trainings, they train their militaristic representatives and leaders who in turn seductively indoctrinate this generation with radical progressive ideas that can change cultures and bring more harm than good to women and society as a whole.

A peer reviewed article appeared in Melbourne Journal of International Law (Oct 2009) by Jivan and Forster entitled Challenging Conventions: In Pursuit of Greater Legislative Compliance with CEDAW in the Pacific is an example of how international progressive academics pressure governments to adjust their laws to comply with the CEDAW’s demands, while blaming the influence of Christianity as “lasting impact of Western Colonization.”

Mr. Prime Minister, it’s not the “letter of the law” as stated in the CEDAW’s bills of rights that matters since there is no direct permission of lesbian marriage, abortion, or prostitution.  Rather, it is the “spirit of the law” and the original intent of the CEDAW which stretched, impregnated, and loaded those two terms with meanings that confuse the wrongful discrimination against women with the God-given distinctions between men and women.

Mr Prime Minister, you do have the power to make laws and policies to protect and honor our women.  Use it.  Use it for the common good and not to build your international reputation.  You do not need CEDAW to help our women.  America has been doing that without surrendering to the CEDAW because of the pressures from Christians through the Republican Party.

Tonga has been founded upon the marriage of Church and State.  That saved Tonga from colonialism of the 18th and 19th century.  We face a new form of colonialism in this century.  It is about ideas that have consequences.  CEDAW is a form of colonialism where atheists work as wolves clothed as sheep and you’re already being deceived or you have willfully rejected our nation for political benefits. 

To save Tonga from this 21st century colonialism, Mr Prime Minister, Church is your legitimate partner. Trusting CEDAW and distrusting our spiritual leaders is a sign of spiritual, moral, and intellectual immaturity and also a lack of political will to make decisions based on principles and democratic process.

Mr. Prime Minister, anything that has to do with changing of culture especially controversial issues like gay marriage and CEDAW, you do not decide it.  Do it through a democratic process.  Let the people vote for it after a robust debate from both sides of the aisles.

When negotiating and bargaining with great powers at the international level, you bargain from a standpoint of strength and not of weakness.  We don’t have economic or militaristic power.  The only possession we have is our faith from which we should stand and challenge the great powers.  When we lose our faith, we lose our freedom.  We lose our identity.

Biblically, God used the word “whore” as a metaphor for Israel when her leaders turned from God and trusted the great pagan powers for her well-being.  That’s what happening in our democracy, and we will not hesitate to call Tongan democracy as democracy of whores.

With Love for Tonga,

Tama Nomuka