Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Licence needed for work use Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

NZ Forces should not prop up Tongan regime

Thursday 23

November 2006

Alliance says New Zealand forces should not prop up undemocratic Tongan regime

The Alliance Party has joined the growing numbers demanding the Government withdraw New Zealand troops and police from Tonga.

Alliance Party Foreign Affairs spokesman Paul Piesse says it is nonsense for the Prime Minister to say she supports democracy in Tonga, while at the same time sending in "enforcers" to keep anti- democratic forces in power.

"The Alliance rejects the New Zealand Government's claim that our forces are only in Tonga to 'maintain law and order' when the real question is: Whose law and whose order?"

"Clearly the answer is the law and order of the undemocratic feudal regime is being protected. New Zealand forces are backing that regime's army and police."

Mr Piesse says New Zealand is in danger of being bully-boys interfering in the internal democratic struggles in the South Pacific.

He says the situation looks like a modern day version of the arrogant imperial gunboat diplomacy of the last century.

ENDS

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

Featured News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.