6/26/08
"Don't believe the hype" - A Cyclone on the Horizion in Tonga
You don’t need to be a weatherman to know which way the wind is blowing in Tonga. As King Tupou V Tonga prepares for his coronation in August 2008, the majority of the island’s population waits for a much more fundamental change in leadership: a shift of political power from the king to the people. The arrival of democracy to Tonga is inevitable. However, in what circumstances it arrives remains to be seen. One grassroots pro-democracy activist explained that “Tonga is currently at a crossroads waiting to see which of the two paths the monarchy will take: either they will hear the demands of the people and allow peaceful change or they will ignore the demands and people will be forced to take things into their own hands”.
The Monarchy
With regards to the political situation, there is a clear division between two classes within Tongan society. On the one side you have the monarchy and the nobility who owe their wealth and status to the population but for whom they have nothing but distrust and contempt. Their disdain for the people manifests itself in widespread corruption and within the ruling institutions the powerful abuse and manipulation the rules systemically. These practices continue to thrive despite being exposed by a number of organisations. Siosiua Pooi Pohiva of the Tongan Human Rights and Democracy Movement noted that,
“Over the years they [the Human Rights and Democracy Movement] have uncovered numerous instances of politicians’ abuse of power though generally no form of discipline will occur”.At the worst the person in question may lose their post but they will reappear shortly afterwards with a new position within the ruling class.
As for the activities of the royal family, their contempt for their ‘subjects’ is quite simply unbelievable. The list of economic follies and wealth accumulation off the backs of the Tongan people is endless. Soldiers have to endlessly patrol the palace, just in case the subjects revolt once more. The coming coronation highlights their level of disdain.
- Tens of millions of pa’angaare being spent to rebuild town in preparation for the coronation which will be attended by many of the King’s acquaintances including Elton John and Sean Connery.
- 500,000 pa’anga has been spent on a crown to replace the already immaculate crown of the King’s late father along with a custom made robe (believed to be worth 500,000 pa’anga).
- Construction of a gold scepter (believed to be worth 50,000 pa’anga)
- Custom tailored attire for the King to wear during the three balls, concert, rugby match and parade which will be part of the festivities.
The Movement
On the other side of the political divide is the pro-democracy movement. The movement began in the 1970s when a group of Tongans returned home after living overseas and were confronted by an abusive and opulent regime. They saw it as their responsibility and obligation to challenge and speak out against this malpractice and started to organise and agitate for change. Since those early days the movement has grown and now consists of six of the nine politicians who are popularly elected, the Public Service Association, the Friendly Island Teachers’ Association and is also believed to represent the majority of the Tongan population. The movements support is easily visible in Tonga, where a common bumper sticker proclaims Liliu 2008 - Poupou or Change 2008 - For Sure
Of course just how much support they have is not known as the government refuses to hold a referendum, as it is aware that the result will only expedite their own demise. The pro-democracy movement is currently circumnavigating this obstacle by conducting their own survey to determine the level of support they have and to present the results to the population and the regime to argue for change.
At the same time the movement is biting at the heels of the government, pressuring the government to keep their promise of political reform in 2010. Of course, state promises have been made for many years and movement activists have no illusions that democratisation will be handed down voluntarily by the establishment. But by concentrating activism around pressuring the government the movement is provided with a concrete rallying point and it serves to showcase to the public yet another example of the movement trying to meet the monarchy on it’s own terms.
The Future
The future of Tonga remains unwritten and uncertain. Yet those I have spoken to in Tonga have all been sure of one thing. Democracy, they say, is not a question of “if” but “when”. What is hazier is how?
As the people of Tonga are aware, the island nation is currently at the crossroads. The powerful could choose to take notice of the overwhelming popular demand for democracy and instigate change. This path, according to Mele Amanaki, Secretary General of the Public Service Association, will lead to a referendum next year or in 2010 and will only prove what everyone in Tonga already knows. Following this, the power of government will be shifted from the monarchy to the people. Alternatively, the powerful will continue to defy democracy and the people’s demands. If this is the road the powerful take then the people will take matters into their own hands.
Currently, the organised pro-democracy movement is providing an outlet for people’s anger at the establishment. However, if the organised movement is perceived to be wasting its time, people will channel their rage onto the streets and against the property of the ruling class. As was seen on 16th November ’06, when 60-75% of downtown Nuku’alofa was destroyed, both the pro-democracy movement and the government will be unable to contain the fury of the people. The vacant lots are a visible reminder of that day and night. Some in Tonga wonder whether at this time self-organised popular action akin to the struggle in Nepal in 2006 will occur. This uprising saw strikes, tax boycotts and marches sweep the country and as the security forces failed to regain control, the King had little choice but to relinquish power. Others speculate that political assassinations and direct action violence will force the monarchy to capitulate.
Whichever direction the wind comes from in Tonga over the next few years, it’s easy to see that a storm sits over the horizon. Past the blue skies and tranquil waters of this south Pacific paradise lies the cyclone of rebellion. How and when it hits this country again is the choice of the elite. Democracy now will avert the worst of the devastation. The rest of us must continue to hope and to act, so that when the movement in Tonga finally does reach the end of this stage in their struggle, the democracy they win allows the people to decide their own destiny and to control their future; a real people’s democracy in the Pacific. The people of Tonga deserve nothing less.
see also:
10/30/07
Melbourne Solidarity with Aotearoa arrestees
Footage from the rally held at Federation Square at noon on Saturday 27 October 2007 as far of a global day of action in support of activists arrested in Aotearoa/NZ since Monday October 15th. See reports on
http://radicalcrossstitch.com/
http://www.civilrightsdefence.org.nz/
credit
Produced by pc
Directed by pc
- Rally MC: Robbie Thorpe Krautungalung , Gunnai Nation
- Sina Brown: Polynesian Anti Globalisation Activist
- Marisol Salinas Mapuche: Environmental Activist, Lasnet
- Rayna Fahey: Treaty, Green Activist
- Will Anderson: Civil Rights Defence
- Liz Thompson: ORGASN, Fair wear
- Anthony Main: ACDC, Socialist Party
- Waiata by Ivan Davis (Tainui)
10/29/07
Across the world, people demand freedom for political prisoners!
Auckland saw around 1000 people take to the streets of the central city, then march to the Remand Prison in Newmarket where many of the prisoners are being held. The protest was addresses by Rongomai Bailey, recently released on bail, amongst others. [ Report + Photos ] [ Photos + Video ]
Palmerston North saw around 100 people gather, with a speech from a local activist who was questioned by police. [ Report ] [ Report + Photos ]
In Wellington 450 people marched from Midland Park, past the Central Police Station where they were entertained by street theatre. The march ended in Civic Square for a rally with speakers, musicians, and Food Not Bombs. [ Report ] [ Report + Photos + Audio ]
Christchurch had 300 people marching, with street theatre and haka performed by local Tuhoe. The protest finished with a picnic. [ Report + Photos ]
If you attended a demonstration (especially one without a report), please write up a report (and post any photos/video you may have) here at Aotearoa Indymedia.
The global day of action is not the end. Keep showing your support for the prisoners, their whanau and friends! For more events, check out the Civil Rights Defence events calendar.
- Everywhere: Any letters emailed to lettersforprisoners[at]riseup[dot]net will printed out and distributed to arrestees. Obviously don't write anything that could negatively impact on you or anyone else! If you can help with processing these letters, please email the crew on the same address. For more information, see http://www.civilrightsdefence.org.nz.
- Auckland: "Waha Nui" fundraiser for whanau of prisoners, Sunday 28 Oct at 6pm @ Te Karanga Gallery, 208 Karangahape Rd; films, music, korero, koha entry.
- Wellington: Prisoners support and campaign organising meetings every Tuesday, 6pm, at 128 Abel Smith St. A range of solidarity events are coming up. [ Upcoming events ].
- Christchurch: A benefit gig has been organised for Thursday 1st November at the Wunder Bar in Lyttelton. [ Poster ]
- Dunedin: Picnic on Sunday Oct 28th to discuss the Terrorism Supression Act, Tuhoe history and Parihaka. 12 noon - 2:30pm, Otago Museum Reserve. [ Press releases 1 | 2 ]
Updates
Saturday - A 32 year old woman was granted bail in the Auckland District Court yesterday. The woman, a dancer, has name supression. Another of the accused, Aotearoa Indymedia activist Omar Hamed, is scheduled for a bail hearing on Monday 29th, but it is understood this may be postponed.
Sunday - A new Te Kotahi o Tuhoe website has been published to replace two previous Tuhoe websites shut down by the police when they removed the server hosting them, as well as Tino Rangatiratanga forum site AoCafe. This attack on Maori freedom of speech and association has been remarkably absent from mainstream media coverage of the dawn raids of Monday 15 Oct.
About 80 people attended a picnic in Dunedin to hand in their incendiary avocados in protest against the erosion of basic freedoms, such as freedom from unreasonable search and seizure.
Monday One of the arrestees, Marama Mayrick, has been granted bail! She has also had name suppression lifted.
5:06pm - Police have applied to the Solicitor-General to lay charges under the Terrorism Supression Act.
There will be a protest in Auckland this Saturday at the Labour Party Conference, at the Bruce Mason Theatre on the North Shore. More details to follow!
6:22pm - The Wellington High Court has transferred the bail applications of the four Wellington prisoners (who are now all in Auckland prisons) to the Auckland High Court [ Press release from Michael Bott, lawyer for a Wellington prisoner ]. Tame Iti will have a bail application heard on November 7th in the Rotorua High Court.
Two of the Wellington prisoners are due to appear in the Wellington District Court on Tuesday for a depositions hearing on an unrelated charge. It is unclear as to whether this will go ahead.
10/26/07
Stand in solidarity! Global Day Of Action - Saturday 27th Oct, 12 noon
I'm banner making & baking sis, see you there.
Don’t forget to make yourself heard on Saturday. If there’s nothing on in your area, organise something!
I’m baking, stitching and painting!
Donations can be made to the defence fund. See the Civil Rights Defence Committee website for details. Or if you’re coming to Melbourne, we’ll be collecting on the day to send over one big donation to cut down on paypal fees
- Everywhere: Any letters emailed to lettersforprisoners[at]riseup[dot]net will printed out and distributed to arrestees. Obviously don’t write anything that could negatively impact on you or anyone else! If you can help with processing these letters, please email the crew on the same address. For more information, see http://www.civilrightsdefence.org.nz.
- Auckland: Demonstration Saturday Oct 27th at 12 noon meeting in Aotea Square. [ Poster ]
- Hamilton: Protest Sat 27th, meet 12 noon @ Garden Place.
- Rotorua: Hikoi Thursday 25th Oct, meet 9am Apumoana Marae (by Blue Lake), hikoi to Rotorua District Court for bail hearings.
- Whanganui: Rally and march Saturday October 27th at 12 noon. Meet at the River Traders Market on Moutoa Quay (behind Taupo Quay).
- Wellington: Protest Sat 27th, meet 12 noon @ Midland Park. Bring noisemakers and rage [ Poster ]. Prisoner support meetings are being held at 128 Abel Smith St, 6pm, each Tuesday. A range of solidarity events are happening over the coming days. [ Upcoming events ].
- Christchurch: A solidarity rally and march will be held in Cathedral Square at 12noon on Saturday Oct 27th, followed by a picnic with live music [ Posters: 1 & 2 ]. A meeting to plan solidarity work will be held Thursday 25th, 6pm at the Otautahi Social Centre, 206 Barbadoes St. A benefit gig has been organised for Thursday 1st November at the Wunder Bar in Lytellton.
- Dunedin: Picnic on Sunday Oct 28th to discuss the Terrorism Supression Act, Tuhoe history and Parihaka. 12 noon - 2:30pm, Otago Museum Reserve.
- Sydney, Australia: Public meeting & demonstration on Thursday October 25th, 5:30pm outside NZ Consulate-General, 55 Hunter St, Sydney
- Melbourne, Australia: A solidarity demonstration will be held Saturday 27th in Federation Square, 12noon.
- London, England: Solidarity protest Saturday 27th, 12 noon @ NZ High Comission, 80 Haymarket, SW1Y, Westminster.
http://radicalcrossstitch.com/2007/10/25/stand-in-solidarity-global-day-of-action-saturday-27th-oct-12-noon/
10/22/07
Protest NZ's Bid For UN Human Rights Council
Montreal Maori Solidarity Committee
Protest New Zealand's Bid For UN Human Rights Council
IN SUPPORT OF IMPRISONED ACTIVISTS IN NEW ZEALAND
Montreal. Last week in Aotearoa /New Zealand, Maori sovereignty campaigners, environmental, peace and social justice activists, were targeted in military-style raids under the post 9/11 Terrorism Suppression Act, and are being painted in the media as terrorists. Police raided homes, confiscated possessions and imprisoned at least seventeen mainly Maori activists in a military-style operation. Amongst those arrested was prominent Maori activist and community worker Tame Iti, who has been denied bail along with eleven others.
"We are not terrorists - we've been terrorised" read banners on a 1500 strong demonstration on Friday in the small town of Whakatane, in solidarity with the arrestees.
Protests this week continue across Aotearoa/New Zealand. In the USA, Australia, Germany, Greece, and South Africa, people are denouncing New Zealand's targeting of Indigenous sovereignty campaigners – and making links between last week's raids, and an international trend of labelling legitimate political dissent "terrorist".
On Monday, October 22, 2007 at 13h, we are protesting last week's raids, and drawing attention to Canada and Aotearoa/New Zealand's hypocrisy with respect to the rights of Indigenous peoples.
Last month, New Zealand and Canada were among only 4 governments to vote against the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples UNDRIP. The UN General Assembly adopted the UNDRIP with 143 member states voting in favour, eleven abstaining, and Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the US voting against the Declaration.
New Zealand is now waging a militarized campaign against Maori sovereignty, environmental and social justice activists. Shamelessly, New Zealand announced its candidacy for the UN Human Rights Council for the period 2009-2012 this past Friday.
Maori advocacy for self-determination was portrayed a domestic "terrorist" threat in Aotearoa long before 9/11 and long after colonization of the nineteenth century.
We stand in solidarity with those in Aotearoa/New Zealand, like here in Canada, who continue to be terrorized and persecuted by legislation that criminalizes dissent, particularly those most affected – Indigenous Peoples and immigrants of colour.
New Zealand repression echoes events here in Canada New Zealand police raids echo the treatment of Indigenous activists in Canada. Similarly, so-called anti-terror laws are used to label dissent – especially the dissent of Indigenous peoples – as criminal and terrorist. Internationally, Canada and New Zealand have consistently attempted to block the UN Declaration on the rights of Indigenous Peoples.
This summer, Tyendinaga Mohawk activist Shawn Brant was arrested after blockades of rail lines and highways on Tyendinaga land. A leader in his community's struggle, he has been portrayed as a criminal and terrorist. Like Tame Iti, Shawn was jailed in July 2007, and was denied bail until the end of August.
Communities in the Mohawk territories of Kahnawake, Akwesasne, and Kanehsatake are all too familiar with racist government repression and attacks. In Kahnawake in 1990 and in Kanehsatake in 1994 the Canadian government used the military to attack and repress Mohawk people. In 2006, we saw heavy police repression in Six Nations when Indigenous activists reclaimed their land. This summer's police crackdown after the June 29th days of action are proof that colonialism is alive and well in Canada in the 21st century.
Repression hidden beneath laws to supposedly fight 'terror' has become all too familiar.
Demands We call on people to expose and oppose the New Zealand government's repressive actions. We strongly oppose New Zealand's bid for a place on the UN Human Rights Council for its clear suppression of the legitimate right to dissent, and for the ongoing violent repression of the Maori people. We demand that New Zealand government release those arrested and apologize to the Tuhoe.
WHEN: Monday, October 22, 13h
WHERE: Outside the UN Secretariat of the Convention on Biological
Diversity, 413, Saint Jacques Street, Montreal
8/31/07
Solidarity & Unity
Arohanui (big love) to all the crews & whanau that turned up inside and outside the Court today.
Kia kaha tatou
Poaka defend scuffle arrest
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/police-defend-g20-arrest/2007/08/31/1188067324156.html
APEC's banned persons 'will be contacted'
http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/08/31/2020248.htm?section=justin
'Excluded' protester to march against APEC
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/a-political-necessity/2007/08/31/1188067353653.html
Concerns over tough APEC police powers
http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2007/s2005230.htm
DALE MILLS: Because what it means is that in every big protest in the future there may be similar emergency powers, then similar emergency powers are introduced at small protests then the emergency powers may become permanent.
8/20/07
Huey P. Newton:-Lumpenproletariat
Huey P. Newton argued that the black lumpenproletariat was the revolutionary class in US society and that one of the main purposes of the Black Panther Party was to organize and mobilize it. Lumpenproletariat is a termed invented by German social theorist Karl Marx to designate the members of the working-class outside of the wage-labor system who instead gain their livelihoods through crime and other aspects of the underground economy such as prostitutes, thieves, drug dealers, and gamblers.
Marx argues that not only are members of the lumpenproletariat notrevolutionary—hence deserving to be separated as a category of analysis from the rest of the proletariat—but they are, in fact, counterrevolutionary as their economic interests are tied to the prevailing capitalist structure. Martinican psychologist and revolutionary philosopher, Frantz Fanon, however, disagreed with Marx and, instead argued, that the lumpenproletariat were a revolutionary class. Huey combined the thought of Marx, Fanon, along with the Leninist concept of the vanguard party and Maoist ideas on armed insurrection, to conclude that an armed, revolutionary black lumpenproletariat was the key to revolution in the United States.
Newton’s ideas on the lumpenproletariat reflected the seemingly growing split between the Southern “Civil Rights” movement and the Northern “Black Power” movement. Newton and other more radical black activists criticized the Civil Rights Movement for its bourgeois nature. The Civil Rights Movement depended too much on the “politics of responsibility.” In an interesting note to history, Rosa Parks was not the first black woman to defy legally enforced racial segregation in the Montgomery, Alabama public bus system--Claudette Colvin preceded her. The civil rights leaders in Montgomery, however, concluded that Colvin an unwed mother, was not “respectable” enough to be the poster child for the fight against segregation of public transport. Newton and others argued that the assimilationism and passivity they decried in the Civil Rights Movement was a direct consequence of the class background of the majority of the movement’s leaders. The black middle-class, the ministers in SCLC and the lawyers for the NAACP, for example, Newton contended would always be reformist; only the black working-class could be revolutionary.
Newton believed that Malcolm X represented the revolutionary potential of the black lumpenproletariat
In his ideas, Newton was also heavily influenced by the autobiography of Malcolm X. Malcolm had been a thief and drug addict in Boston in the 1940s and served time in a Massachusetts jail for burglary. It was in prison that Malcolm joined the Nation of Islam and learned about Black Nationalism. According to Newton, Malcolm X represented the revolutionary potential of the black lumpenproletariat. The Black Panther Party (BPP) sought to organize as many “brothas off da block” as possible. Instead of trying to organize the “better” elements of black society (DuBois’ “Talented Tenth”) the BPP tried organizing gang members in LA, Chicago and Oakland. Newton’s own long criminal record solidified his status as a member of the lumpenproletariat. He was arrested as a teenager for minor crimes, was famously tried for the murder of a policeman in 1967, tried again for the murder of a 17 year-old prostitute, became a crack addict and was finally gunned down in front of an Oakland crack house in 1989. Many even claim that Newton used money earned from illegal drug sales and prostitution to fund programs offered by the Oakland BPP.
Newton’s idea of the revolutionary black lumpenproletariat is still controversial. Critics like Errol Henderson argue that the very idea of a revolutionary class is Eurocentric and cannot apply to black liberation struggles. Most of the debate today however, centers around hip-hop and the appropriate role, if any, of the “gangsta.” Hugh Pearson says Huey Newton and the BPP are partly to blame for contemporary hip-hop’s promotion of drug dealing, pimping and gun violence. Many critics, running the gamut from Black Nationalists to right-wing Republicans have criticized hip-hop for its promotion of the gangsta lifestyle. There are still those, however, who profess Newton’s beliefs.
Slain rapper Tupac Shakur was the son of Afeni Shakur, a former Black Panther. Although he was one of the first hip hop artists to be reviled for his promotion of drug dealing, pimping and gun violence in his lyrics, the critics ignored his fiercely political lyrics and his attempt to celebrate “Thug Life” not only as a criminal lifestyle but a revolutionary one as well. Similarly, Dead Prez, a revolutionary Black Nationalist hip hop group based in New York City describes their approach as “Revolutionary, But Gangsta.” Their lyrics mention that they take much of their inspiration from Newton and the BPP, and they too see the black lumpenproletariat as central to black liberation. Their song “Hell Yeah” describes the petty crime committed by the black lumpenproletariat as a form of revolutionary resistance to white supremacist capitalist America.
7/3/07
KIWIS PREPARED TO BE ARRESTED OVER 'DISGUSTING' HOWARD CRACKDOWN
Auckland 9am: While the Aussies might be finding it hard to warm to the plight of the Aboriginal communities now under fire from federal government, Kiwis are right in the thick of it...
The organisers of last night's protest outside the Australian Consulate in Auckland say the rally was a big success...(listen)
http://niufm.com/site_resources/library/News/Lito/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA_JUL307/joe_carolan...............8am............377.mp3
Joe Carolan there from the Solidary Union, who says people are absolutely disgusted with what's happening across the Ditch at the moment.
Protestors got into a skirmish with police last night and one man was arrested. (listen)
http://niufm.com/site_resources/library/News/Lito/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA_JUL307/joe_carolan..............6am..................377.mp3
He's 22-year-old Tane Seary, who says he was trying to calm a situation but got caught in the crossfire. (listen)
http://niufm.com/site_resources/library/News/Lito/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA_JUL307/tane_seary................7am..........377.mp3
Seary will appear in court on Friday but says he'll also be filing a complaint against police.
Meanwhile a Sydney lawyer told Pacific Radio News she's heartened by the support New Zealanders are showing for the Aboriginal communities...
Larissa Behrendt, from the Eualeyai Kamilaroi tribe, says their communities are rallying for support but there's a huge gulf between them and most Australians. (listen)
http://niufm.com/site_resources/library/News/Lito/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA_JUL307/larissa............8am.......377.mp3
John Howard is saying a report on child sex abuse within the communities is "intolerable" and plans to means-test families, take over some of the land for housing, and ban alcohol and pornography.