238 the contemporary pacific • spring 2002 tions. The government has established Tongan culture, support the rights of the Tonga Communications Corpora- all Tongans, and protect the indepen- tion, in place of the previous compa- dence of the kingdom. These moves, nies (Cable and Wireless and Tonga together with the introduction of a Telecom), to run both international high-speed wireless service and fiber- and domestic telephone services. The optic cable to link the central business new corporation’s immediate plans are area of Nuku‘alofa—which, the to establish a 2.5g gsm cellular tele- Crown Prince avers, will liberate the phone service with email and tele- common man more than the auto- phone capacity, and to increase Inter- mobile—demonstrate again the fre- net accessibility. The government has quently startling juxtaposition of also issued a license to a second tele- complementary ideas that characterize communications carrier, Tonfön, a Tonga. At the very least, they promise fully owned subsidiary of Shoreline interesting future developments on Communications, a company headed several fronts. by the Crown Prince that already pro- duces most of the power for Tonga’s k e r ry ja m e s electricity supply which is then dis- tributed by the Tonga Electricity Power Board. Through Tonfön, the Wallis and Futuna prince aims to introduce wireless technology whereby, “the customer The main subject of political discus- should be able to buy a computer, sion remains the special agreement, plug it in, pull out an aerial and make yet to be signed, between the French a phone call . . . swipe a card on the Overseas Territory of Wallis and computer, establish an account, and Futuna and the French Overseas switch to his favorite tv channel Country of New Caledonia. The while he is on the phone” (Matangi Wallis and Futuna representatives, Tonga, June 2001, 16). aware that Caledonian representatives The Tonga Human Rights and want all possible measures taken to Democracy Movement, which decrease Polynesian immigration, are replaced the former Pro-democracy asking the French state for accom- Movement, maintains a low profile panying measures to facilitate local and has announced that it will not development. At the same time, they formally mount candidates in the elec- are pushing young people to emigrate tions scheduled for 2002. It recently to metropolitan France. The president hosted a workshop to educate the of the territorial assembly, Soane general public, particularly youth, Uhila, declared on 4 August 2000: regarding human rights, good gover- “T raining must be made a priority and nance, and citizens’ rights. A second our Wallisians and Futunians heading human rights movement, the Tonga elsewhere must be told the truth. If Kotoa Movement, formed in May they have the opportunity to find a 2001. Its five main objectives are to way of making a home for themselves uphold the divine rights of man, somewhere else, I advise them to go support His Majesty who has been ahead.” In October 2000, during the appointed by God, preserve the anticipated visit of a three-member p olitical reviews • p o lyne sia 239 delegation from the Caledonian gov- tant economic policy issue. The ferry- ernment, access to employment for building project of the semi-public the immigrants of tomorrow and con- company Société d’Exploitation du ditions for granting them Caledonian Ferry Wallis et Futuna, supported by citizenship were discussed. The two the two constituencies of Futuna, was Caledonian parties that signed the finally adopted. Noumea Accord—Front de Libéra- In local politics, the surprise elec- tion Nationale Kanak Socialiste, or tion of the sitting vice president of the flnks (for political reasons) and territorial assembly, Patalione Kani- Rassemblement Pour La Calédonie moa (independent), as president, led dans la République, or rpcr (for to a reconstruction of political forces. reasons related to qualification The outgoing president, Soane Uhila levels)—agreed that future Wallisian (independent), had decided to run and Futunian immigrants should no again, with a new vice president and longer enjoy the same advantages as with the help of the upfw. The before, even though New Caledonian administrative staff of the Rassemble- law provides only for positive dis- ment Pour la République (r p r) was crimination. More radical still, the unable to accept the disappearance of Union for Wallis and Futuna party its majority (14 out of 20), P Kani- (upfw), related to the Socialist party moa and Deputy V Brial set up a new in France, insists that planning for the alliance between the majority of the return of the expatriates must be done former r pr-independents alliance (8 now. For party president Pesamino of 14 elected representatives) and the Fihipalai, the equation is simple: majority of the elected representatives “The massive arrival of several thou- of the upfw (4 of 6). The new com- sand people in the archipelago will mittee now includes as its president force the State and its political leaders P Kanimoa (independent, 12 votes), to take immediate measures to accel- as its vice president Pascal Niutoua erate economic development.” (Te (independent), first secretary Vetelino Fenua Fo‘ou, 20 Oct 2000). French Nau (u p w f), and second secretary Overseas Minister Christian Paul, Michel Lataiuvea (r p r). Soane Uhila who came for a short visit, declared and five other council members thus on 23 October that it was necessary created a new party: The Voice of the “that we determine the activities People of Wallis and Futuna—Union likely to create jobs; the State cannot of Democrats, le‘o Uvea mo Futuna. take the place of local decision- The new majority, made up of two makers.” At the same time, he parties in opposition in metropolitan specified that the Research Institute France, was consoled by the election for Development had been authorized of the new permanent commission on by the state to study “all proposals 16 February, with president Apeleto for a true course of action in view of Likuvalu (u p w f) and secretary Berna- the creation of activities generating dette Papilio (r p r) each obtaining employment.” 16 votes. Four projects were proposed to As usual, political and adminis- address the problem of the interisland trative relations between Wallis and sea service, the second most impor- Futuna are not very good, leading the 240 the contemporary pacific • spring 2002
Tiafoi to declare to the prefect on 23 was a territorial councillor from 1987 August 2000: “Bearing in mind the to 1992 and chief of the village of geographical distance between the Vailala for five years. His arrival at two islands, we request the transfer of the great chefferie signified royal will- jurisdiction to those in charge of sub- ingness to renew this ancient institu- sidiary services of Futuna so that they tion. The nomination on 23 De c e m b e r can manage loans directly.” During of Tisimasi (Dismas) Heafala as ki v a l u this meeting, the delays concerning (prime minister) confirmed this trend. the tar-sealing of roads in Futuna and Meanwhile, customary-political the problems of sea and air transport relationships became increasingly services were discussed at length. problematic. Tino Manuohalalo, a The referendum on the five-year Caledonian politician of Wallisian ori- presidential term of the French repub- gins, declared on 20 October 2000: lic mobilized more voters in Wallis “We cannot ask for evolution and at and Futuna (54.7 percent) than in the same time maintain an outdated, France (30 percent), and the number obsolete system. . . . Wallis and Fu t u n a who voted yes was likewise higher must have the courage to review the (83 to 73 percent). The explanation problem completely, to think collec- is that only the large national parties tively about political power, custom- (who are all in favor of the proposal) ary practices, religion and the admin- are represented in Wallis and Futuna, istration.” At this time Po‘oi Fotofili, which does not have a culture of a member of one of the royal families, opposition minority parties. applied for permission to examine the Customary politics continues in its accounts of the Uvea constituency own fashion. Because of various relating to the villages of his district undercurrents between the two king- (Hihifo). His association, Defense of doms of Futuna, the king of Sigave Citizens, gave the prefect a sixty-page and most of his subjects did not par- audit implicating a customary minis- ticipate in the territorial festival held ter and the chief of the Hihifo district on 29 July 2000 in the kingdom of for use of forged documents and Alo. As happens every year, a number misuse of public funds. If the total of customary chiefs resigned or were expenses corresponded to the planning deposed, leading to healthy competi- budget, their allocation left something tion between the aliki families. On 23 to be desired, as gift vouchers were October, during the French overseas allegedly exchanged, in whole or in minister’s visit, the new minister of part, for cash. health and justice (fotuatamai) was The administration remained in s t a l l e d by th e ki n g . Tis i m a s i He a f a l a , important to the economy. The new a former priest returned to civilian prefect, Alain Waquet, was nominated life, became educational adviser in to the cabinet in Paris on 12 July charge of local languages and head 2000. Research showed that at the of Catholic education. In November, end of 2000 Wallis had nineteen thou- Kusitino Toa became the new minister sand adult pigs divided among 1,380 of the sea (ulimonua). Aged 46, father non-trading family farms, which of five children, and a store owner, he increasingly use commercial feed. p olitical reviews • p o lyne sia 241
Pollution of the environment by unknown number of expatriates, now liquid manure aroused concern. retired. All available statistics on the The French National Navy patrol te rr i t o r y can be consulted on the inter- boat La Moqueuse participated in the net via a website created by the head 14 July 2000 ceremonies in Futuna. of the statistics department, Gaston On this occasion, a sponsorship char- Lutui