Line #19 UsefulNotes/Tonga


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tonga-map_3076.gif]]
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3	An archipelago of more than a hundred islands, the Kingdom of Tonga ('''Tongan:''' ''Puleʻanga Fakatuʻi ʻo Tonga'') is an oddity inside {{UsefulNotes/Oceania}}. Not only is it a monarchy, but it’s also the only country in the continent that wasn't colonized.
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5	Actually, it is said that before the Europeans arrived, there was a Tongan [[TheEmpire empire]] that included many more islands, with its peak in the 12th and 13th century, until the reign of the Tu'i Tonga (Tongan king) Talakaifaiki, who alienated {{UsefulNotes/Samoa}} into breaking away (although Samoa would then go on to begin its own island confederation). Not having gotten better, the Dutch arrived during civil war in the Tongan lands. James Cook spent some time there as well, though Tongans didn't take too kindly to him and wished him dead.
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7	Tonga was part of the British Empire and is now a member of [[UsefulNotes/TheCommonwealthOfNations Commonwealth]], but it has always recognized the king or queen of Tonga as the actual monarch. This, combined with the fact that it wasn't colonized, are considered its [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome Crowning Moment Of Awesome]], and Tongans are very proud of it. Despite this, the monarchy of Tonga has developed into a more controversial institution in the twenty-first century. Riots in 2006 highlighted a frustration at the lack of democratic reform. Even today, a third of the legislative assembly is appointed by the king and the small noble class. Political activist ʻAkilisi Pōhiva was the main figurehead of the pro-democracy movement. His decades-long struggle with the Tongan monarchy led to several imprisonments and culminated in his eventual ascension to the office of prime minister (the first to hold the position through an electoral mandate instead of being appointed by the king or being the favored candidate of the nobles in the legislative assembly), an office he held until his death in 2019. Although the monarchy and the nobles are still reluctant to let go of their power, they are no longer in undisputed control.
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9	The national sport here is rugby. Considering the previous facts, it shouldn’t be a surprise.
10	The official languages are English and Tongan, a Polynesian language.
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12	Tonga's stamps are also known to drive stamp collectors [[SeriousBusiness crazy]].
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14	Oh, and the fact that it sent troops to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan without any losses makes it a WorldOfBadass. You need more? It also produced the man who is '''[[TropeCodifier the]]''' MemeticBadass of ProfessionalWrestling, '''[[Wrestling/{{Meng}} MENG]]'''!
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16	[[AC:The Tongan flag]]
17	[[quoteright:272:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tonga_flag_4934.png]]
18	->The flag was originally similar to that used by the Red Cross, but to avoid confusion it was reduced into a canton in a red field. Red and white symbolize Christianity.
19	----
20	[[AC:The Tongan national anthem]]
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22	->E ʻotua māfimafi
23	->Ko homau ʻeiki koe
24	->Ko koe ko e falalaʻanga
25	->Mo e 'ofa ki Tonga;
26
27	->ʻAfio hifo ʻemau lotu
28	->ʻA ia ʻoku mau faí ni
29	->Mo ke tali homau loto
30	->ʻO maluʻi ʻa Tupou.
31
32	--
33
34	->Oh, almighty God!
35	->You are our Lord,
36	->It is You, the pillar
37	->And the love to Tonga.
38
39	->Look down on our prayer
40	->That is what we do now
41	->And may You answer our wish
42	->To protect Tupou.
43	----
44	[[AC:Government]]
45	* Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy
46	** Monarch: Tupou VI
47	** Prime Minister: Siaosi Sovaleni
48	** Assembly Speaker: Fatafehi Fakafanua
49	----
50	[[AC:Miscellaneous]]
51	* '''Capital and largest city:''' Nukuʻalofa
52	* '''Population:''' 100,651
53	* '''Area:''' 748 km
54	(289 sq mi) (175th)
55	* '''Currency:''' Tongan paʻanga (T$) (TOP)
56	* '''ISO-3166-1 Code:''' TO
57	* '''Country calling code:''' 676
58	* '''Highest point:''' Kao (1033 m/3,389 ft) (157th)

Context UsefulNotes / Tonga