by Tan Copsey
A friend of mine pointed out to me the rather shocking lack of coverage of events in Tonga, at least by the media here in the UK. Whilst I’m sure there are logical editorial decisions to be made based on the sheer volume of global news and Tonga’s relative geo-strategic insignificance, I too still feel a little aggrieved – for events there are both frightening and very interesting.Tonga is one of the world’s longest standing constitutional monarchies. However that status has rightly come under threat lately from a considerable number of Tongans, both on the islands and within large expat communities in New Zealand and Australia who are in favour of Democratic reform. Events are arguably coming to a head now, with large-scale rioting, a considerable number of deaths, and the wholesale destruction of down-town Nuku’alofa. The riots follow an accumulation of tension following the recent death of King Tāufa’āhau Tupou IV and a national strike of all government employees who comprise most of Tonga’s workforce. These events have reinforced the fragility of Tonga’s small steps towards democratisation. When viewed from afar they also seemingly echo events in Fiji, a neighbour nation, where there is the imminent possibility of yet another coup. I can’t help but feel that perhaps we should pay more attention to the politics of these Pacific nations. For besides the inherent good of gaining a more global understanding, I feel that in them we might find a microcosm from which useful conclusions might be drawn illuminating our understandings of larger processes of democratisation.
