Analysis: King Siaosi Tupou VI checkmates powerful MP Lavulavu

The Tongan political chess game between former Cabinet member ‘Etuate Lavulavu and the Law is over.

Ironically, his guilty verdict in a 2014 campaign bribery case in court on January 26 this year trapped him in a corner, and checkmated by King Siaosi Tupou VI on Feb. 01, 2016. 

Mr. Lavulavu’s flamboyant leadership style enjoyed two powerful ministry portfolios, but was often accused of running afoul of the law. The self-proclaimed Professor Lavulavu seemed fully capable of getting out of tight corners during his first year in Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva’s Government.

In a big showdown in Parliament last November (2015), for example, Mr. Lavulavu triumphed jubilantly on corruption charges for impeachment. Against all odds, the House voted 12-9 in his favor to retain his MP seat, and keep his two Cabinet ministry portfolios.

THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED

Mr. Lavulavu’s “in-your-face” chess prowess seemed to keep him comfortably in charge no matter what the opposition to his liberal agendas threw at his path. The Minister of Infrastructure and Minister of Tourism was always capable of out maneuvering the attacks from right-wing conservatives. He seemed invisible when the odds seem certain to drown him.

Self-proclaimed Professor Lavulavu needs no introduction in Tongan politics. Like the Polynesian demigod “Maui-the-trickster,” he defied the odds with homegrown methods of his own unmatched by those who have earned modern Ph.D. degrees from prestigious universities. In his first stint in Parliament in the early 2000s, for example, he was arrested in the United States while traveling through Salt Lake City, Utah, on official government business en-route to Afghanistan. 

Alluding U.S. law for seven years on 11 felony charges, Prof. Lavulavu was able to dodge those bullets like what American movie actor John Wayne often did in Western flicks. Jailed on serious forgery charges, Prof. Lavulavu played a “castlng” move smoothly and managed to lower his conviction charges to two misdemeanors to get-out-of-jail. He paid a fine of $5,000 for the guilty verdicts, reported the Salt Lake City Daily Desert News in 2003.

FINAL MOVE, CHECKMATE!

Entering 2016, Mr Lavulavu seemed safely insulated in Parliament and in the Cabinet by Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva. The PM has always protected the embattled Lavulavu with the “queen” authority, the most powerful piece in chess. Mr. Lavulavu could do no wrong in PM Pōhiv’s eyes. 

For example: Upon winning his battle against impeachment in Parliament mentioned above − but lost the war of “moral” support of the public − PM Pōhiva vouched to take responsibilities for disciplining Mr. Lavulavu. However, an old battle that goes back to campaign mischiefs in 2014 came back to haunt them. The guilty verdict removed him from Parliament.

But Mr. Lavulavu had hoped that PM Pōhiva could still use his power to name someone outside of Parliament to Cabinet. Unfortunately, King Siaosi Tupou VI had calculated correctly although a “king” piece in chess has limited powers. But not in Tongan politics. All ministry appointments are the privileges granted by the King.

By boxing himself into a corner, Mr. Lavulavu’s “king” piece is unable to escape. King Tupou VI terminated Mr. Lavulavu’s appointments, thus rendering any attempts by the Prime Minister to bring Mr. Lavulavu back impotent. Checkmate!

(Sione A. Mokofisi is a Tongan published writer. He teaches English-Journalism & Business Management at Tonga International Academy. The opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views of this website. E-mail contact: s1mokofisi@yahoo.com)

     

Author: 
Sione A. Mokofisi