Tongan women's activist fasts to force PM out

Updated October 26, 2009 18:32:29

A Tongan women's rights activist says she is prepared to continue a fast until the country's prime minister and deputy prime minister step down. Mele Amanaki, who heads the Tongan Women's National Congress, has been fasting for two weeks to protest what she says is injustice carried out by the government of prime minister Dr Fred Sevele. These include the 2006 riot which destroyed much of the capital, Nukualofa, the Princess Ashika ferry disaster and the refusal of the government to ratify a United Nations convention which prohibits discrimination against women.

Presenter: Bruce Hill
Speaker: Mele Amanaki, President of the Tongan Women's National Congress

AMANAKI: This is not a hunger strike, it is what I call steadfast fasting for the purpose. It's a Christian belief that we here in Tonga do have and also multi-Christian. We are fasting and praying for divine intervention from God to help us with our purpose. We took a petition to the King. We ask him to eliminate all forms of poor governance and injustice in the government here in Tonga and this is basically because everything that has happened in Tonga, the strikes, there was injustice and poor governance, the 16/11 the riots that's injustice and poor governance, the Ashika, that's injustice and poor governance, finding Tonga to be WTO, even coming on to PACER. All these things are not conducive, are not constructive to the people of Tonga.

HILL: So what is it that you actually want to see changed though?

AMANAKI: We have asked him to sack the prime minister and his deputy. They are the top governance in the government of Tonga, so we have asked for them to be laid off office. Why we are doing this Bruce, because they have cut the CEDAW. The parliament last year has are approved for Tonga to be a signatory to CEDAW .

HILL: That is the United Nations Convention on the elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women. You are obviously very upset about that?

AMANAKI: About that and about everything, injustice that is the main thing.

HILL: But why a fast? I mean this sounds like a normal political question, why such an extreme thing as engaging in a fast to achieve this?

AMANAKI: Bruce, haven't you. I am sure even, I am not sure whether you are Christian or not. I should not ask you that, but I am sure you know of God and this is just one forms of us Christians asking for divine help when everything else, we have done everything else and it does not work. The basic thing about behind CEDAW is the injustice and the lies that the government is taking to the House, that if we sign CEDAW, then we will have to change the laws to allow same sex marriage, to allow abortion, to allow our name to be sold. No convention will come and overrule our Constitution and our national legislation. That is something for the country to decide. There is no convention in the whole wide world that will come and overrule.

HILL: How far are you prepared to go with this fast?

AMANAKI: Bruce, this is the 14th day. The first seven days was food without food and water. On the eighth day, I started taking water, because I thought seven is a Christian number and I have overcome that. Now, I am determined that I am going to fast until we're successful with our purpose.

HILL: What if you are not successful though, what if the prime minister and deputy prime minister aren't dismissed?

AMANAKI: My dear, I am not even thinking about it. I am thinking positive. I am thinking that God Almighty. There is no king under this earth is higher than our king in heaven. He is going to intervene.

HILL: You are aware that killing yourself is a sin?

AMANAKI: No, I am not killing myself. I am praying for everybody and somebody to be saved. I am not killing myself. Bruce, when they put those soldiers in the army to take them to war, why are they going to fight against? They are fighting against the injustice in Afghanistan. When our troops here go to fight the Japanese in World War Two. They were going to fight the injustice of the government of Japan. Were we telling them to go and commit suicide? No, my grandfathers, my great, great uncles went on those platoons, and some of them were killed. Are we saying that they sinners? No, they knew fairly well they are going to face a bullet and a gun. What I am facing here. I am facing the injustice. I am fighting a war here.