Corrupt Activity During 2014 Tonga General Elections From a Moral Perspective ^Featured

‘Ikani Taliai
Ha’akio, Vava’u

Mr Barrie Sweetman
Chairman
Tonga Electoral Commission
Nuku’alofa
Kingdom of Tonga

Dear Chairman,

I write to you after approaches were made to me regarding lending support for the investigation into alleged corrupt and unlawful electoral activity during the recent 2014 Tonga General Elections. I was one of seven representative candidates in the Vava’u 16 constituency, and certain evidence showing a blatant disregard to the law of electoral process has been brought to my attention.

This evidence is in reference to the campaigning activity of the nominated electoral winner for Vava’u 16. As made to me, approaches were made to the remaining representative candidates seeking support in upholding the law of the land and the eradication of corrupt activity that hinders due process. To date a number of them have disappointingly declined to contribute to this required action due to reasons best known to them.

I find it alarming that in a country such as Tonga which purports to uphold Christian principles, and declares to have embraced democratic ideals and the rule of law, that only so few will voice concern for the wellbeing of our beloved country. This may be due to an inherent fear of societal isolation when speaking out against wrongdoing, a possible unquestioning of leadership as a result of misguided cultural respect, and potentially just the fact that poverty clouds the judgement of people.

It is heartbreaking to realise that those we relied on to speak out for justice and equality have become silent at this last crucial moment. There seems to be a desperate manipulation and an ignoring of the basic truth to justify the grab for political power. It is so apt at this stage to remember the famous quote of Edmund Burke, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”

Be that it may, while moral authority may seem to have evaporated in this country, I trust that there are institutional structures still existing in Tonga with the legal authority to protect our dignity for the whole world to see. I refer here to your organisation, and for what it’s worth I lend my full support to the above mentioned action. Others are better placed to present a legal argument, but I would like to present a moral argument based on the following;

1.    Fair Electoral Process

a.    Democracy only effectively begins with a fair electoral process. The citizens of Tonga were given the right to choose their representatives in a fair and just manner. The law of the country was designed to protect this right and any deviation from this process ought to be corrected immediately.

b.    Tupou I commenced this path for the people of Tonga with a major contribution attributed to Tupou V for Tonga’s political evolution. I find it extremely hard to imagine that their intention was to see such a disrespect given to their people.

c.    It is extremely questionable that the 2014 Tonga General Elections were conducted in a fair competition. Noticeably some candidates observed the law, while others chose to cheat by manipulating the law or clearly ignoring it. As a result, we can rightly say that certain candidates were not elected democratically in any legal sense at all.

2.    Rule of Law

a.    The abuse of the law of the land should never be tolerated. A just society is generally considered to be a society governed by the rule of law.

b.    The rule of morally consistent law is paramount for a just and equitable society. Tonga claims to have constituted effective laws pertaining to these principles. However, without exercising these laws to the fullest extent when required, all that remains is a trampling of the rights of the people of Tonga. Laws need to be tested at every opportunity for effectiveness and consistency.

c.    The current climate presents a moment in time in the history of Tonga where current law must be seen to uphold our moral and democratic principles. The question that is currently unanswered for Tonga is whether we accept the trampling of our law in such a blatant manner. Not only are the people of Tonga watching, but the whole world is deciding whether we are a nation of strong moral fibre or a land of lawlessness and anarchy.

3.    Democratic Rights of the Citizens of Tonga

a.    If we were to say that the democratic rights of the people of Tonga included the freedom to everything as long as the rules and regulations of the land and institutions are followed, then it would be fair to suggest that these rights were trampled upon during the 2014 Tonga General Elections due to a clear abuse of those rules and regulations.

b.    These democratic rights however, come with civic responsibility. This civic responsibility includes active involvement by the citizenry to voice concern over the abuse of the rules and regulations of the land and institutions. A democratic society then continues to survive and grow when institutional structures exercise their responsibility by supporting the democratic rights of citizens.
c.    If people don’t speak up when wrong is done, and the law does not prosecute when required, then God help us.

d.    Future Political Legacy of Tonga

a.    How are we to reasonably expect our children and the future of Tonga to behave in a law abiding way if we are to allow prospective political leaders to flaunt the law in such an open way. People should be able to reasonably expect their prospective political leaders to set law abiding examples for us to follow. The law of the land ought to ensure such an environment through deterrence and reinforcement.

b.    What is currently being allowed to occur is certainly not nation building in any shape or form. Nation building certainly includes the vital elements of economic and social progression, however without clear political reform and adherence to the rule of law, this form of nation building can never be called democratic in the true sense. All it becomes is something closer to tyranny.

c.    Tupou I through to Tupou V paved a vision of a pathway for Tonga’s future toward democratic political freedom. However, were the recent unlawful activities during the 2014 Tonga General Elections to be left unaddressed, a strong, proud, and prosperous Tonga will continue to be an unrealised dream.

Chairman, I trust you will find this correspondence fitting of your urgent attention and that you will favour the spirit with which it has been written. Tonga is precious to us all and every endeavour to improve our political environment must be exercised at all cost.

Sincerely

‘Ikani Taliai

Editor’s Note: The letter below is a letter by Mr. ‘Ikani Loneli Taliai to the Chairman of Tonga Electoral Commission in support of the investigation into alleged corrupt and unlawful electoral activity during the recent 2014 Tonga General Elections. Mr. Taliai is the son of the renowned Rev. Siupeli Taliai a key advocate of Democracy in the kingdom.

‘Ikani Taliai

Ha’akio, Vava’u

Mr Barrie Sweetman

Chairman

Tonga Electoral Commission

Nuku’alofa

Kingdom of Tonga

Dear Chairman,

I write to you after approaches were made to me regarding lending support for the investigation into alleged corrupt and unlawful electoral activity during the recent 2014 Tonga General Elections. I was one of seven representative candidates in the Vava’u 16 constituency, and certain evidence showing a blatant disregard to the law of electoral process has been brought to my attention.

This evidence is in reference to the campaigning activity of the nominated electoral winner for Vava’u 16. As made to me, approaches were made to the remaining representative candidates seeking support in upholding the law of the land and the eradication of corrupt activity that hinders due process. To date a number of them have disappointingly declined to contribute to this required action due to reasons best known to them.

I find it alarming that in a country such as Tonga which purports to uphold Christian principles, and declares to have embraced democratic ideals and the rule of law, that only so few will voice concern for the wellbeing of our beloved country. This may be due to an inherent fear of societal isolation when speaking out against wrongdoing, a possible unquestioning of leadership as a result of misguided cultural respect, and potentially just the fact that poverty clouds the judgement of people.

It is heartbreaking to realise that those we relied on to speak out for justice and equality have become silent at this last crucial moment. There seems to be a desperate manipulation and an ignoring of the basic truth to justify the grab for political power. It is so apt at this stage to remember the famous quote of Edmund Burke, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”

Be that it may, while moral authority may seem to have evaporated in this country, I trust that there are institutional structures still existing in Tonga with the legal authority to protect our dignity for the whole world to see. I refer here to your organisation, and for what it’s worth I lend my full support to the above mentioned action. Others are better placed to present a legal argument, but I would like to present a moral argument based on the following;

1.   Fair Electoral Process

a.    Democracy only effectively begins with a fair electoral process. The citizens of Tonga were given the right to choose their representatives in a fair and just manner. The law of the country was designed to protect this right and any deviation from this process ought to be corrected immediately.

b.    Tupou I commenced this path for the people of Tonga with a major contribution attributed to Tupou V for Tonga’s political evolution. I find it extremely hard to imagine that their intention was to see such a disrespect given to their people.

c.    It is extremely questionable that the 2014 Tonga General Elections were conducted in a fair competition. Noticeably some candidates observed the law, while others chose to cheat by manipulating the law or clearly ignoring it. As a result, we can rightly say that certain candidates were not elected democratically in any legal sense at all.

2.   Rule of Law

a.    The abuse of the law of the land should never be tolerated. A just society is generally considered to be a society governed by the rule of law.

b.    The rule of morally consistent law is paramount for a just and equitable society. Tonga claims to have constituted effective laws pertaining to these principles. However, without exercising these laws to the fullest extent when required, all that remains is a trampling of the rights of the people of Tonga. Laws need to be tested at every opportunity for effectiveness and consistency.

c.    The current climate presents a moment in time in the history of Tonga where current law must be seen to uphold our moral and democratic principles. The question that is currently unanswered for Tonga is whether we accept the trampling of our law in such a blatant manner. Not only are the people of Tonga watching, but the whole world is deciding whether we are a nation of strong moral fibre or a land of lawlessness and anarchy.

3.   Democratic Rights of the Citizens of Tonga

a.        If we were to say that the democratic rights of the people of Tonga included the freedom to everything as long as the rules and regulations of the land and institutions are followed, then it would be fair to suggest that these rights were trampled upon during the 2014 Tonga General Elections due to a clear abuse of those rules and regulations.

b.        These democratic rights however, come with civic responsibility. This civic responsibility includes active involvement by the citizenry to voice concern over the abuse of the rules and regulations of the land and institutions. A democratic society then continues to survive and grow when institutional structures exercise their responsibility by supporting the democratic rights of citizens.

c.         If people don’t speak up when wrong is done, and the law does not prosecute when required, then God help us.

d.        Future Political Legacy of Tonga

a.    How are we to reasonably expect our children and the future of Tonga to behave in a law abiding way if we are to allow prospective political leaders to flaunt the law in such an open way. People should be able to reasonably expect their prospective political leaders to set law abiding examples for us to follow. The law of the land ought to ensure such an environment through deterrence and reinforcement.

b.    What is currently being allowed to occur is certainly not nation building in any shape or form. Nation building certainly includes the vital elements of economic and social progression, however without clear political reform and adherence to the rule of law, this form of nation building can never be called democratic in the true sense. All it becomes is something closer to tyranny.

c.    Tupou I through to Tupou V paved a vision of a pathway for Tonga’s future toward democratic political freedom. However, were the recent unlawful activities during the 2014 Tonga General Elections to be left unaddressed, a strong, proud, and prosperous Tonga will continue to be an unrealised dream.

Chairman, I trust you will find this correspondence fitting of your urgent attention and that you will favour the spirit with which it has been written. Tonga is precious to us all and every endeavour to improve our political environment must be exercised at all cost.

Sincerely

‘Ikani Taliai