Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SUVA480
2006-11-06 22:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Suva
Cable title:  

NEXT STEPS IN TONGA'S POLITICAL REFORM

Tags:  PGOV PHUM KDEM TN 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1412
RR RUEHPB
DE RUEHSV #0480/01 3102248
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 062248Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY SUVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3416
INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1345
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 1129
RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY 0944
RHHJJAA/JICPAC HONOLULU HI
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 SUVA 000480 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM TN
SUBJECT: NEXT STEPS IN TONGA'S POLITICAL REFORM

REF: SUVA 433

Classified By: AMBASSADOR LARRY M. DINGER. SECTIONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).

Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 SUVA 000480

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM TN
SUBJECT: NEXT STEPS IN TONGA'S POLITICAL REFORM

REF: SUVA 433

Classified By: AMBASSADOR LARRY M. DINGER. SECTIONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).

Summary
--------------

1. (SBU) Tonga Prime Minister Sevele has responded to the
proposals for political reform put forward by the National
Committee on Political Reform (ref) with an alternate reform
model. The NCPR called for all members of Parliament to be
elected, with the PM and all cabinet members to be chosen
from among MPs. Sevele's proposal calls for a lower number
of elected MPs and allows some non-elected officials to be
named cabinet ministers and, consequently, members of
Parliament. Government officials we spoke to insist the PM's
proposal is consistent with the NCPR framework, but assumes a
longer transition period for political reform. Some
democracy advocates have a less benign view of the
government's proposal, noting it could allow continued
political control by the King for the foreseeable future.
One group has circulated a petition calling for the PM's
resignation. We comment that either proposal would be a
major step forward toward democracy in Tonga. End Summary.

A committee to examine the NCPR
--------------

2. (U) As noted reftel, the National Committee of the
Kingdom of Tonga on Political Reform (NCPR) submitted its
report to Parliament October 3. The report recommends an
all-elected, 26-member Parliament, with 17 members elected by
the general public (up from 9 at present) and 9 members
elected by Tonga's 33 nobles (the same as at present). The
NCPR proposed that the King select the PM from among the MPs.
The PM would in turn select cabinet members, also from among
members of Parliament. Upon receiving the report, Tonga's
cabinet recommended setting up a tripartite committee to
examine the reform proposals. The proposed committee would
consist of three peoples' representatives, three nobles'
representatives, and three cabinet ministers. The committee
is currently awaiting approval by Parliament, which just
resumed its session.

PM Sevele puts forward an alternative proposal
-------------- -

3. (U) On October 19 Prime Minister Fred Sevele announced an
alternate reform proposal for consideration by the tripartite

committee. The Sevele road map for political reform"
proposes 14 people's representatives in a 23-28 person
Parliament. It allows the King to appoint all 15 members of
the cabinet, although it specifies that 2/3 of the appointees
should be upon the advice of the Prime Minister. The
proposal allows for up to a third of the cabinet to come from
outside of Parliament. These additional appointees would
automatically become members of Parliament. The King,
therefore, could appoint up to five members of Parliament.
The five appointees plus the nine nobles' representatives,
traditional supporters of the monarchy, could bring the
presumably royalist MPs to 14, equaling the proposed number
of peoples' representatives and leaving the balance of power
with the King.

Pro-democracy groups disappointed in PM's proposal
-------------- --------------

4. (SBU) Democracy advocates were quick to criticize the
Sevele road map. Longtime democracy activist and MP Akilisi
Pohiva, who was quietly pleased by the NCPR recommendations,
complained in a press release issued November 2 that the PM's
report implies that the government "has absolutely rejected
the Committee for Political Reform report." "What the PM is
doing is literally calling for chaos which we do not want to
happen." Akaneti Lauti, the Director of the Friendly Islands
Human Rights and Democracy Movement, told visiting Emboffs
the Sevele model would leave too much power in the hands of
the monarchy. She complained that it "is not fair" for
Sevele to circumvent the vetting process of the NCPR. All
other models for democratic change, including proposals from
Akilisi, fellow People's Representative Clive Edwards and
pro-democracy campaigner Laki Niu, were submitted to the NCPR
for review and incorporated into the final report. How could
the PM submit his model, she asked rhetorically, when the
whole discussion process was already completed? Tonga's one
female MP, Lepolo Mahe, told Emboff the PM's proposal is
"arrogant and disrespectful toward the 90% of the population
who support the NCPR recommendation that all MPs be elected."
Mahe insisted that if the road map is implemented as is,
civil unrest is likely.


5. (SBU) An equally strident voice has been that of Ofa
Simiki, a businesswoman who represents a group of small

SUVA 00000480 002 OF 003


business owners in Tonga. Simiki is circulating a petition
calling for the King to dismiss Sevele as PM. The petition
currently has approximately 200 signatures, she told us.
Simiki said Tongans are disappointed that the PM did not
submit his model during the NCPR's wide-reaching
consultations earlier this year. The public perceives the
Sevele road map as yet another attempt to retain the status
quo and "avoid being directly accountable to the people."


6. (SBU) Even among democracy campaigners, however, there
is some grudging acceptance that Sevele's reform model is far
better than the status quo. Despite her reservations about
the PM's proposal, Akaneti Lauti told us it is a step forward
in the reform process. Reverend Simote Vea, the Chairman of
Mrs. Lauti's organization, the Friendly Islands Human Rights
and Democracy Movement, told the press the proposal is
generally positive, in that it contains "about 60 to 70
percent" of the NCPR recommendations.

Minister of Finance - proposal is an interim step
-------------- --------------

7. (C) Minister of Finance Siosiua 'Utoikamanu told
visiting Emboffs October 30 that the criticism from peoples'
representatives and NGOs shows that PM Sevele needs to
explain its reform proposal more clearly. Although the PM
hasn't stated it explicitly, it is 'Utoikamanu's
understanding that the proposal is an "interim step" toward
fulfillment of the goals spelled out in the NCPR report. The
PM agrees with the general outlines of the NCPR; however,
'Utoikamanu suggested, a "go slow" approach may be necessary
at this time to insure Tonga remains politically and
economically stable. The ability to bring in qualified
cabinet ministers from outside the small pool of elected
representatives is especially important given Tonga's
weakened civil service - the result of the early retirements
of many skilled civil servants in conjunction with Tonga's
economic austerity program.


8. (C) Emphasizing that these are his own views,
'Utoikamanu said he believes the proposal is open to
negotiation with Parliament and civil society. Perhaps,
remarked 'Utoikamanu, the Sevele reform model is a bit too
cautious. "Other countries, some even smaller than ours,
have shown they can function well with an all-elected
legislature. If the Cook Islands can do it, why can't we?"

Australian High Comm sees enough for everyone
--------------

9. (C) Australia's High Commissioner to Tonga Colin Hill
believes PM Sevele's proposed reform model is measured and
reasonable. Echoing 'Utoikamanu's comments, Hill told us he
understands the model is interim in nature and will be
augmented over time by additional reform steps. Moreover,
the new tripartite committee set up to review the NCPR will
provide a good mechanism for consultation among the
government, Parliament and civil society about the adequacy
of the model. The PM's proposal, he concluded, is a good
start toward implementing the NCPR recommendations - "there
is something in this for everyone." There is no doubt, he
said, that the King backs the proposal. Sevele would not go
forward with any specific reform model without the King's OK.

Sevele's own view: finding the balance
--------------

10. (C) PM Sevele acknowledged to us on the margins of the
recent Pacific Island Forum (PIF) meetings in Nadi that he is
attempting a delicate balancing act: trying to encourage
meaningful democratic reform while not panicking Tonga's
conservatives who see no need for change. In conversations
with the King, Sevele has also received the distinct
impression that, while the King has no problem with
significant reforms, including the prospect of an all-elected
Parliament, the King also prefers instituting reforms by
"convention, not legislation." Sevele believes the King and
the Nobles must remain players in the Tonga system, even if
they no longer dominate. The PM's road map is intended to
preserve the elite's roles, at least for the immediate future.

Halapua comfortable with either option
--------------

11. (C) Sitiveni Halapua, seconded from the East West
Center's Pacific Island Development Program to the NCPR and
in the end the author of the NCPR report, met with us in Suva
recently before heading to the PIF in Nadi. Halapua
expressed comfort with PM Sevele's counter proposal for
reforms, suggesting both roads would bring considerable
democratic progress to Tonga.

Comment

SUVA 00000480 003 OF 003


--------------

12. (SBU) PM Sevele has long stated that he prefers a
gradual, multi-year reform program. His alternate road map
indicates his judgment that the NCPR report recommendations
were a bit too progressive for Tonga today. But given strong
public endorsement of the NCPR process, compromises that move
the Sevele model closer to the NCPR's recommendations may be
possible in the months ahead. We note that the King's
reported preference for reforming by convention rather than
legislation can have the advantage of not inflaming
conservative passions. On the other hand, "convention"
requires a willing monarch, at least until precedents are
well-established. King Tupou V appears willing. It is not
obvious that his eventual successor -- the Crown Prince,
formerly hidebound conservative PM Lavaka'ata -- would
happily embrace democratic precedents.


DINGER