Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SUVA504
2006-11-16 21:21:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Suva
Cable title:  

RIOTS DEVASTATE NUKU'ALOFA; TONGA IN UNEASY CALM

Tags:  PGOV ASEC CASC MARR KDEM TN 
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VZCZCXRO1723
OO RUEHPB
DE RUEHSV #0504/01 3202121
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 162121Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY SUVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3458
INFO RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 1159
RUEHNZ/AMCONSUL AUCKLAND PRIORITY 0223
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0214
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1378
RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY 0973
RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY 0622
RHHJJAA/JICPAC HONOLULU HI
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SUVA 000504 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/17/2016
TAGS: PGOV ASEC CASC MARR KDEM TN
SUBJECT: RIOTS DEVASTATE NUKU'ALOFA; TONGA IN UNEASY CALM
ON 11/17

REF: SUVA 500

Classified By: Ambassador Dinger. Sect. 1.4 (B) and (D)

Summary
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SUVA 000504

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/17/2016
TAGS: PGOV ASEC CASC MARR KDEM TN
SUBJECT: RIOTS DEVASTATE NUKU'ALOFA; TONGA IN UNEASY CALM
ON 11/17

REF: SUVA 500

Classified By: Ambassador Dinger. Sect. 1.4 (B) and (D)

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


1. (C) Up to 70% of downtown Nuku'alofa was laid to waste by
rioters 11/16 after a pro-democracy demonstration ignited
into the streets. The city now appears calm, but authorities
are concerned about potential continued unrest. Media is
reporting that six people were killed in the rioting. A
number of ethnic Chinese, many of whose businesses were
torched or vandalized during the riots, have reportedly tried
to take refuge at the Chinese Embassy or the New Zealand High
Commission residence. The Embassy Suva Consul, currently in
Tonga, reports that no Americans were injured. The Peace
Corps offices in Nuku'alofa were not damaged and all Peace
Corps volunteers are safe and accounted for. Tongan
military, reportedly armed, are guarding the TV and radio
stations, public utilities and the King's residence.
Democracy advocates announced on the evening of 11/16 that
the government had agreed to a political reform proposal
wherein 21 of 30 members of Parliament would be directly
elected by the people. The remaining nine would be elected
by nobles. The government has not yet confirmed this, though
a high-ranking military officials told us an agreement had
been reached. Government deliberations are taking place at
the headquarters of the Tonga Defense Services (TDS) since
most government buildings are damaged. PM Fred Sevele
reportedly spent the night at TDS headquarters. His
businesses were some of the main targets of the rioters.
Sevele reportedly advocated asking for New Zealand security
personnel to help quell the unrest, but the King and Cabinet
disagreed. End summary.

Extensive Damage in Nuku'alofa; Chinese Seek Refuge;
-------------- --------------


2. (SBU) Embassy contacts tell us that up to 70% of the
buildings in downtown Nuku'alofa either burned down November
16 or were so badly damaged that they will have to be razed.
Targets of the rioters included Tonga's largest supermarket

(owned by the PM),the ANZ Bank building (also owned by the
PM),the Pacific Royale Hotel (owned by close associates of
the King),Shoreline Corporation (owned by the King),Leiola
Duty Free Shop (partly owned by the Princess),and numerous
Chinese or Indian-owned shops. A number of other buildings
burned after winds spread the fire to neighboring areas.
Several government buildings were apparently vandalized.
Contacts tell us that in addition to the damage in central
Nuku'alofa, a number of Chinese-owned shops on the main road
out of the city were torched or vandalized. The Peace Corps
office in Nuku'alofa (just on the edge of downtown),the New
Zealand High Commission, and the Australian High Commission
buildings all escaped unscathed.


3. (C) There have been no official reports of any
casualties. However, media report that six people were
killed in the riots. We have been unable to confirm that.
We understand that many ethnic Chinese have attempted to take
refuge at the Chinese Embassy, but the Embassy has "closed
its doors." It is unclear how many, if any, persons the
Embassy took in. A number of persons, Chinese and others,
have sought refuge at the residence of the New Zealand High
Commissioner. We understand that some, reportedly including
PM Sevele's daughter (she runs the supermarket that was
destroyed),have been granted access.

All Americans reportedly safe
--------------


4. (SBU) Embassy Suva Consul Debra Towry, in Tonga on a
planned ACS visit, reports that all Americans in Tonga appear
to be safe. All Peace Corps volunteers are accounted for.
The city now appears calm. Our wardens outside Nuku'alofa
report they are safe and that there are no signs of unrest.
The Embassy issued a warden message today urging all
Americans to avoid Nuku'alofa and its environs. Access to
downtown Nuku'alofa is restricted in any case. Police and
the military have cordoned off the area where most of the
rioting took place. Sources tell us that the soldiers
manning roadblocks are armed. Soldiers are also reportedly
guarding the main public utilities, the TV and radio stations

SUVA 00000504 002 OF 002


and the King's residence. There are some reports that
soldiers are also guarding the PRC-invested Dateline Hotel.
The government invoked emergency powers 11/17 proclaiming
that the downtown area of Nuku'alofa "shall be controlled and
maintained by the Tonga Police Force for the sole purpose of
maintaining public order for all people of the country."

Government Deliberating at TDS Headquarters;
Sevele Reportedly Wants NZ Help
--------------


5. (C) Because of the extensive damage to government
buildings, high-level governmental meetings are taking place
inside the headquarters of the Tonga Defense Services, just
outside downtown. We were told that PM Sevele spent the
night of 11/16 there. The PM spoke to the nation via radio
last night, calling for Tongans to stay calm and pray for the
country. He noted that the police and military were working
hard to restore security. We are unaware of any other
official communications from the government. Contacts tell
us that Sevele asked the Cabinet and the King for permission
to request security personnel from New Zealand to help
stabilize the situation. The Cabinet and King reportedly
said no (septel).

Democracy Advocates Reach Agreement with the Government?
-------------- --------------


6. (C) Peoples' Representatives and democracy advocates
'Akilisi Pohiva, 'Isi Pulu, and Clive Edwards went on Tonga
radio the evening of 11/16 to appeal for calm and to announce
the government had given in to their demands for political
reforms. They said the government had agreed that, starting
with the 2008 elections, 21 Members of Parliament would be
directly elected by the people, up from 9 at present. The
remaining 9 members would be elected by the nobles (the same
as at present). The government has not confirmed this
agreement, but the Secretary of the Navy told us a deal had
been reached. A close contact of Clive Edwards told us the
agreement is in writing, crafted as the rioting was just
beginning. This contact insisted that the violence began
because word had leaked out that PM Sevele had initially
turned down the democracy advocates' proposal. By the time
Sevele changed his mind, it was already too late. (Comment:
We cannot verify this version of events. We do not know if
any understanding would have the force of law, or if the
rioting subsequent to the alleged agreement would have any
effect on it. Parliament has not, as far as we know, taken
action on any reform proposal. End comment.)

Comment - Not Out of the Woods Yet
--------------


7. (C) The authorities are clearly nervous about the
prospect of further unrest this evening (11/17). We are
continuing to advise all Americans to stay hunkered down for
the time being. Our Consul will stay in Tonga until early
next week, at least, to provide any assistance needed to
American citizens in Tonga.







DINGER