Tonga's public service strike is getting ugly, with riots and mass arrests in the capital Nuku'alofa. There's more news here and here.
This isn't good news. Tonga's lack of democracy (and domination by kleptocratic nobles) is a strong undercurrent in the strike, and violence or a government reaction could easily snowball into full-on revolution or outright repression.
2 comments:
On the contrary, it is very good news. The "commoners" are starting to stand up for themselves at long last. They don't seem to have been achieving much change through non-violent means. I bet MFAT has absolutely no policy or plan in regards to our response to this situation or what may follow.
Posted by Bomber : 8/19/2005 03:54:00 PM
While I won't shed a single tear if Tonga's corrupt kleptocracy are turfed out on their arses, I would rather it was done peacefully. That sort of system can evolve into a democratic one, because it is exactly what happened in the UK. I'd rather that happened (though faster, obviously) than a revolution.
Posted by Idiot/Savant : 8/20/2005 12:28:00 AM
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