State of Tongan Democracy Focus Of University Festival Perspectives on democracy highlight day’s presentations NUKU‘ALOFA, Tonga (Matangi Tonga, June 19, 2014) – The state of democracy in Tonga, since a more democratic system of government was introduced three years ago, was the focus of a 10 days ‘Festival of Democracy’ that opened on June 17, at the ‘Atenisi University campus, Kolomotu’a. Highlights from the first day’s presentations included the keynote address by Professor Stephanie Lawson, who stressed that “democracy is not just a form of government, but a way of life.” Stephanie said that under a democratic way of life one is allowed to speak out either for or against an issue, but in most Pacific societies, including Tonga it was not the normal way of doing things. There was also a presentation by Professor Ian Campbell, who has written extensively on Tongan history. Ian stressed a point that “voters should pay less attention to the promises and proclaimed policies of politicians and more attention to their moral qualities”. He said that that members of parliament who were elected at the 2010 election “did not have an ideology but had personality, and that was why they were selected.” He also pointed out the importance for voters to attach a high moral value to their votes, and that they are voting for a candidate because such a member could be trusted and therefore he had a high moral value rather than voting for members because they might have done them a favour. Also speaking in Tuesday’s opening session was Nigel Hampton QC, a former Chief Justice Supreme Court of Tonga.
Posted on: Fri, 20 Jun 2014 05:08:08 +0000