Tonga Church Leaders Still Say No to PM’s CEDAW Proposal Featured
Church Leaders Meeting With Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva 27 May, 2015 at Dr. Moulton Hall
Nuku'alofa, 31 May 2015. The proposal from Prime Minister Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva and Government to ratify CEDAW Convention was consistently rejected by Tonga’s Church Leaders in a meeting called by the Prime Minister with Church Leaders on Wednesday 27 May 2015.
The meeting was held at the Free Wesleyan Church’s Dr. Moulton Meeting Hall where majority of church leaders attended. Government party was led by the Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva with the Minister of Internal Affairs Fe’ao Vakata, Attorney General ‘Aminisasi Kefu, CEO for Internal Affairs Lopeti Senituli, Secretary to Cabinet Dr. Palenitina Langa’oi and Secretary for Foreign Affairs Va’inga Tone.
Prime Minister Pohiva in his opening address stressed the importance for Tonga to join the one hundred and eighty plus countries worldwide who already ratified the treaty. He moved on to say that Tonga is among the only seven countries in the world who had never endorsed CEDAW and this is a perfect opportunity for Tonga to jump onboard.
Pohiva believes that it is important to show the world and member countries that Tonga is supportive of the convention predominantly the elimination of all forms of violence against women. He concluded by reminding the meeting that Tonga should not be afraid of walking into the future and accept change.
The response from church leaders could be summed up in one phrase “Obey God’s Words” as the bible says. Revered Dr. Liufau Saulala of the Tokaikolo Fellowship and His Eminence Cardinal Mafi of the Roman Catholic Church shared common belief that it is a blessing for Tonga if it remains the only country who refuses to ratify CEDAW. It will tell the world that Tonga is an exceptional Christian country who obeys the will of God.
Other church leaders shared mutual views in their remarks with a clear message that Tonga should not sign the convention as it will bring more harm than good to the country. Dr. Uili Fukofuka raised the questions of right and wrong in the principles of CEDAW and importance of being a sovereign state.
Attorney General Mr. ‘Aminiasi Kefu responded that UN doesn’t have any authority whatsoever to interfere in Tonga’s affairs as Tonga is a sovereign nation. Mr. Kefu later clarified that the UN can inspire change in a country’s law if the people of that country agree.
Prime Minister Pohiva in the conclusion of the meeting sought the indulgence of church leaders to allow government time to reconsider its position and kindly asked for their support by praying for them.
Source: ‘Ofa-Ki-Tonga News Paper Vol.24, Number, 4 June 2015
4 comments
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Woe unto them who draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope. Isaiah 5:18.
"Woe" is pronounced against those who openly pile up sin upon sin and scoff at God.
Gay is an abomination to the Lord. No man can change what God has established as sin. No one is judging or condemning them. We as christian suppose to love the sinners and hate the sin. For those that are not in Christ, they are already condemn. And for you, whoever is supporting this evilness to be legalize in Tonga. I would be afraid. Afraid of God. For He knows our every move. This life is short to fool around. Repent and turn to Jesus, the one who gave His life so that we can have life. Much love to each and every one of you in Jesus name!! -
Poupou lahi atu kia Fukofuka, koe me'a ia na'a ku toutou kalanga ki ai, ke talamai ange 'e 'Ofa Likiliki ha fonua 'i mamani kuo nau tali kakato e CEDAW pea kuo lava 'ehe CEDAW 'o ta'ofi faka'aufuli e ngaahi ta moe abuse 'oku lau ki ai. Toe talamai ange 'e Mrs Likiliki pe 'e lava fefe 'ehe ki'i la'ipepa talite CEDAW 'o ta'ofi ha motu'a mei ha'ane paa'i hono finemotu'a? toe talamai ange 'e Mrs Likiliki pe 'e lava fefe 'ehe la'i CEDAW 'o ta'ofi e finematu'a mei he kapekape moe lau ki he fa'ee moe fanga tuofafine hono mali 'o tupunga ai hono lopapa 'ehe motu'a? 'Oku 'asi he Kaniva 'e fu'u fakamatala 'a Mrs Likiliki ki he ngaahi case koaa na'e launga'i ange 'ehe kakai fefine. Fakamatala he 'osi, fakaikiiki mo mahino ho'o ngaahi keisi. 'Oku ke pehe koe toko fihangeau na'e "abuse" - toe ki'i veteki ange 'ae "abuse", he koe definition 'oe abuse 'oku fu'u falahi - 'e lava pe ke lau ha ki'i la'usi pe ki'i fusi'i koe abuse, 'o lau fakataha pe ia moe taa'i pe tuki'i. 'Ai ke 'osi mo mahino e fakamatala kae tuku e fakamatala fakakonga mo hono toe fakalahi mo sensationalise e fanga ki'i me'a iiki. Koe solova'anga ia e palopalema ko eni koe nofo hifo e matu'a 'i 'api 'o takitaha akonaki'i 'enau fanau, fefine mo tangata, ke nau fetoka'i'aki mo fefaka'apa'apa'aki, pea o ki he lotu 'o lotu fakamaatoato. Te'eki talamai 'e Mrs Likiliki ia pe koe kakai fefine 'e toko fiha kuo nau fakamamahi'i (abuse) e kakai fefine kehe - kau heni hono ta, lau'ikovi'i, kapepake'i, kaiha'asi 'enau koloa, kaiha'asi 'enau tangata kae ta'etamai 'enau fanau, moe ngaahi hia kehekehe mo fakalilifu 'oku fai 'ehe kakai fefine. Pea he'ikai pea he'ikai teitei lava 'ehe ki'i la'ipepa CEDAW 'o ta'ofi e ngaahi me'a ko eni 'o a'u ki he 'osi 'a mamani. Ka koe nunu'a 'o e CEDAW 'e vave 'aupito 'ene kapui mo keina e molale moe anga fakafonua tukufakaholo 'o e Tonga. Mahino 'aupito pe koe fu'u poupou fefeka ko eni 'a Mrs Likiliki koe feinga pe ka ma'u ha pa'anga ki he'ene ki'i NGO, he koe ngaue lahi pe 'a e ki'i NGO ko eni ko hono tafunaki e vatamaki 'ae ngaahi hoa mo veteki e ngaahi famili ke toe movetevete ange.
'Oku te'eki ai ke hanga 'eha tangata Tonga ia 'o tamate'i pea tu'utu'u hono mali 'o fa'o tangai pea tuku 'aisi, pea tamate'i 'ene fanga ki'i fanau iiki koe lahi 'enau tangi !!!! lahi 'aupito e hoko 'ae me'a koeni he ngaahi fonua kuo fuoloa 'enau tali kakato e CEDAW; a'u ki hono lingi penisini'i e finemotu'a 'o tutu !!! ko fe leva e ivi e CEDAW kene ta'ofi???? tali mai e ngaahi fehu'i ko ena Mrs Likiliki, pea ka 'ikai teke lava 'o tali pea ke longo 'aupito 'oua na'a ke toe lea 'o tu'uaki ho'o CEDAW. -
Ko e fehu'i pe ko e ha e kaunga 'a e PSA he issue koeni he kuo tala 'e he Secretary General , Mele 'Amanaki., kuo poupou e kakato e PSA ki hono tali 'o e CEDAW...the question to the Secretary General is , who authorize her to use her own views and opinion to represent the thousand of civil servants about CEDAW...ko e me'a ia 'oku ui ko e LOI !!...te'eki fai ha fakataha tu'otaha 'a e kau memipa ke mahino ha tu'utu'uni ki heni...
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OKU PEHE HEE FAHING OKU NAU TAUKAVE'I KE TALI E CEDAW e lava o tuku ae ngaahi mea lahi aia oku nau fakamatala i olunga pea ai e lao ke taofi aki...KOE NGAAHI FONUA OKU NAU TALI O MEMIPA HE CEDAW..OKU NAU spend Millions ke fakalelei e Palopalema oku hoko ka oku faka utuutu pe o ene hoko...women child abuse death due to family violene. KOIA HEE IKAI LAVA HE SIGN A TONGA HE CEDAW KE SOLOVA E PALOPALEMA KOIA....E lava ia he LOTU MOE ANGA FAKAFONUA KE SOLOVA AE NGAAHI PALOPALOEMA KOIA....koe tupu ae fanau tangata pea ako'i e pelepelngesi e HOUEIKI FAFINE..AKO'I E TAUHI E FAKA'APA'APA AE ELITO OE ANGA FAKAFAMILI FAKATONGA...e hoko ia koe elito e mo'ui e TANGATA KIHE ENE MO'UI...toe FAKALAHI MO AKO'I IHE NGAAHI POLOKALAMA FAKAFAMILI AE NGAAHI SIAI......E hao a Tonga meihe nunu'a oku muimui mai he tali oe CEDAW...same sex female relationship..abortion etc....he ikai lava hee lao KE TA'OFI E KOVI kae lava ia hee CULTURE OKU TA'OFI IA...