“I have great hopes for the future of Tonga”
Planet Tonga Exclusive Interview with People’s Representative ‘Uliti Uata
Planet Tonga sits down for a one-on-one interview with one of the most influential voices in Tongan politics; Mr. ‘Uliti Uata, who has served in Parliament for more than 20 years. Mr. Uata discusses the political challenges in Tonga and also talks about his hopes for the future of Tonga. PT: What would you say are the most critical issues facing Tonga right now?
Mr. Uata: The most critical one is the issue of political reform. It’s where the differences between us and the government happened last year. It is the issue that we and the people of Tonga really care about. We are now running the tripartite committee, which includes three representatives from the nobles, three from the government and three from us representing the people. We are now discussing the political models, which models we will be using, the government has presented its model, and another model was presented by the committee that was chaired by the Tu’ipelehake, and the model presented by us, which we are discussing right now and we are almost at the end of the discussion where we will make a decision regarding as to which model will be best for Tonga.
PT: As a people’s representative who has been in parliament for more than twenty years, do you see that we are progressing as a government and as a people?
Mr. Uata: I feel that everything now is progressing; the government and even the people, but I can see that the people are progressing much more quickly than the government. In my own opinion, the government is trying to slow down the process as much as possible. This is the same problem we had last year, where we and the people feel that the government is continually trying to slow down the political reform process.
PT: Why do you think the government is trying to stall the political progression of Tonga?
Mr. Uata: I think that those who are currently in government are receiving benefits from the present system and are trying to hold on to those benefits. We and the people prefer to push it as quickly as possible because the majority of the people do not benefit from the existing system except the very few who are in the current government administration. PT: What do you hope to accomplish while you are still a people’s representative?
Mr. Uata: My goal and hope is to see that political reform happens and after that I will retire. It is the only reason why I am still there, I have received my pension already, but I want to stay to make sure that the reform happens. When that is done, I will retire and let the new generation run the government. The main purpose of the people’s representative is to make sure that those who have been elected or appointed as leaders of the government are held accountable to the people who are the tax payers. As far as the King is concerned, we would like to keep him as the King and we would like the royal family to still receive some of the benefits and privileges that they already enjoy, but we do not want them to continue ruling our country as an absolute power. PT: Many, who criticize democratic changes in Tonga, say that the people of Tonga are not ready for democratic changes, how do you respond to these criticisms?
Mr. Uata: I don’t believe that is true at all and it’s a mistake for people to think and/or say that. I would say that about 80% of the people really want the political changes. One proof of this is that for about 18 years now, the people have continued to vote for us as people’s representatives because we continue to push for the changes that the people want. I have no doubt that the people want political changes because it’s for their own benefit. If we pay our taxes to the government, we would like to have a say in how our tax money is being used. We know that we cannot all be in government, but we have the power to elect those who we would like to represent us as a people. The people have consistently voted for us to represent them because they are ready and want these changes to happen.
PT: What is your response to those who claim that the people’s representatives are brainwashing the Tongan people with changes that will only lead to more chaos, violence, and destruction?
Mr. Uata: I believe that the Tongan people have gained their own knowledge and they have their own light in their minds. It would be a waste of my time to try to convince you to believe my ideas if you feel what I am saying in not true or is not right. We know that our people are educated, they know what they are doing, they know what they are working for, they know where their money is going, they know what the government is doing to them, they know this, there is no doubt about that.
Right now, the government has stopped us (the people’s representatives) from broadcasting any programs to the people on radio and on TV. They are trying to convince the people to put the blame on us, but I know that the people already understand what is happening. The people can see for themselves that the things we have been saying are true; the government cannot deny it; they have never come out publicly to tell the people that what we have explained to them is not right and is not true. They have only come and campaigned to the people that what they are doing is right, but they cannot deny anything that we have told the people, because what we have said have all been true. For example, William Afeaki’s programs that he is introducing to the people is basically to campaign for the government, but the more things he says on the radio, the more upset the people have become.
Since the 16th of November the government has come out everyday to criticize us and blame us for the burning of Nuku’alofa, but the people already know what is going on, they have enough understanding and knowledge. The people cannot be fooled with statements that are not right and not true. If the government knows that the things that we have said about the taxes, the power and electricity, about the people’s money and their rights are not true, then they should come out and say that what we have been saying is false and I would be more than happy to respond. Our responsibility is to let the people know the truth, if we remain silent then we should not be the people’s representatives, we are suppose to be transparent to the people, we are their voices in parliament.
PT: As a public figure, you come under a lot of scrutiny from the media, how do you deal with the criticisms that are aimed at you and your family?
Mr. Uata: Before I became a people’s representative I knew I had to prepare myself for this type of scrutiny and criticism. I had to be prepared to take the blame from the government, be prepared to take a court case, and be prepared for the results of these. If I was not prepared for this, I would have already resigned and would no longer be a people’s representative. If I was to enter into this position just seeking my own benefits and not carry out my job, I would be very dishonest with myself and to the Tongan people.
The criticisms will continue to come but what is important is that I know that what we are doing is right and that it is the will of the people. I do not feel guilty about anything that has happened because I feel that I have done my best to represent the people. We, as the people’s representatives have told the government over and over that the people want political changes. For the 21 years that I have been in parliament it’s been clear that the Tongan people want change, this discussion was happening even before I came into parliament, but the government has not paid any attention at all. Now they are claiming that the changes are too quick, but it’s not true, this has been going on for more than 30 years now, but they have neglected to listen to the voice of the people, and now the people are showing their will. PT: What would you say is most challenging about being a people’s representative?
Mr. Uata: One of the most challenging things is to remember that you are there for the people and not for yourself. Since I have been in parliament, I can honestly say that I have never abused my position in the government, I have been asked many times to do so but I feel that I cannot do anything to go against my conscience, because I know that at the end of the day when I go home I will not be able to sleep comfortably. In parliament there are a lot of things that I should not say for the sake of my own interest so that I can be favorable to the King and the government and gain more opportunities in the eyes of businesses and others, but I always have to remember that I am there to represent the people and not to seek my own interests.
PT: What do you feel is the role of those who are overseas in relation to Tongan politics and the Tongan economy?
Mr. Uata: I think we should listen very carefully to Tongans who are overseas. They are a part of our society. The reason why they have moved overseas is to look for more opportunities. The opportunities that they gain overseas they give back to us who are here in Tonga. Without those who are overseas, I believe our economy will die out. I am always trying to get the government to pay more attention to those overseas, that when government officials travel to events overseas, they should stop in Salt Lake City and San Francisco and other cities that have large Tongan populations and have meetings with the Tongan societies there. They should also encourage them to come back home and welcome them when they come home, similar to what they do in Singapore. When their people come home, they have a program where they give them leis, they are given special treatment and they have a separate line for them in the airport. But here in Tonga, when our Tongan people come home, they say “you are already American, you have to get another visa if you stay longer than 30 days”. I told the government that they are only making them angry and their anger accumulates after many years combined with the anger of the people here in Tonga. The people know what their rights are; they know that they should not be treated like that. The understanding and the light is in the mind of the people. The wheel of political change is now moving and I don’t think anyone can stop it. The time and the tide wait for no one, we cannot stop it, and if we do try to stop it, it will be a big problem.
PT: It’s been reported by the media that the majority of those involved in the November 16th riots were young people (our youth), what do you feel is the role of young people in the political changes in Tonga?
Mr. Uata: They play a big role because it is their future. We are working for our future generations and when we go to the people and talk to them, we have to work with the youth because it is for their benefit and their future. Our generation is about to finish now, if we cannot achieve what we are trying to organize now, the future generations will reap the results of the present system. PT: What are your hopes for the future of Tonga?
Mr. Uata: I have great hopes for the future of Tonga. We are finally at a stage where the government is now listening to the voice of the people and everyone seems to be coming together. We have never had these types of discussions before. In the past, we would spend a lot of time arguing, but now we are willing to all come to the table and do some negotiations and put our personal feelings aside and work together for the benefit of the people, which is how it should be. It seems to me that in the past it was like a strong wind, like a cyclone and now that it is over, things are calm; the good weather is now here. We have decided that we do not follow what we want personally but focus on the needs and benefits of the people as a whole and for our country. We would like all leaders who are appointed or elected to be accountable to the tax payers. We know that if we create a good system it will be good to the people. I don’t blame the King or his appointed ministers; I only blame the system, because the current system allows them to continue to do what they do. I am hopeful that we will be able to do something positive. Our purpose is to prepare a better Tonga to pass on to the next generation!
Thank you ‘Uliti for taking the time out of your busy schedule to do this interview.
Editor
I appreciate the opinons from Mr. Uata and I think his understanding of the political reform is underpin to the principle of democracy of letting the people to elect their own leaders fullstop. I believe that the Members of the Parliament must consider seriously what had happenend in 16/11 and the series of coup and post-coup and corruption in Fiji and many African countries in the world. I am NOT encouraged with Mr. Uata of saying that the reason of being hanging around in the Parliament to see changes. Time is very important in the process and if you wish Tonga to be a successful country, you should have focused more on economic develpment. I do not agree if the poor people elect all the MPs next year will give them any good. The new system for sure will divide Tonga and it will create bloodshed and more chaos to the country. I hope that the political changes will happen next year as you wish so that you can still alive to see the outcome of your political endeavor. It seems that the 16/11 is not alarmed enough to you and your fellow PRs.
I hope that God and His Power will enlighten our hearts to know exactly what is best for Tonga.
‘Ofa atu, David Tapiaka Auckland New Zealand.
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