Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SUVA97
2006-03-07 02:17:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Suva
Cable title:  

TONGA'S CROWN PRINCE FAVORS CHANGE ASAP

Tags:  PGOV PREL PINR SCUL ECON TN 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0093
RR RUEHPB
DE RUEHSV #0097/01 0660217
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 070217Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY SUVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2954
INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1160
RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY 0781
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0955
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHHJJAA/JICPAC HONOLULU HI
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SUVA 000097 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR SCUL ECON TN
SUBJECT: TONGA'S CROWN PRINCE FAVORS CHANGE ASAP

REF: A. 05 SUVA 494

B. SUVA 52

C. 05 SUVA 613

Classified By: Amb. Dinger. Section 1.5 (B,D)

Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SUVA 000097

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR SCUL ECON TN
SUBJECT: TONGA'S CROWN PRINCE FAVORS CHANGE ASAP

REF: A. 05 SUVA 494

B. SUVA 52

C. 05 SUVA 613

Classified By: Amb. Dinger. Section 1.5 (B,D)

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

1. (C) Tonga's Crown Prince Tupouto'a has seen the light:
reform to a more democratic system needs to happen ASAP. He
envisions a constitutional monarchy with the King delegating
all day-to-day government business to an elected government.
The current King, ill in New Zealand, has not signed off on
the plan, or on Tupouto'a's recently engineered change in
Prime Minister from Prince Lavaka'ata (an anti-democrat) to
Dr. Fred Sevele (a pro-democracy commoner). Sevele receives
mixed reviews, with some observers lauding his abilities and
democratic instincts, and others alleging he will turn a
blind eye at business malfeasance, including by the royal
family. Tupouto'a asked USG assistance with journalist
training, which prompts a repeat of our plea for a PD
position. See paragraphs 9 and 10 for bio notes. End
Summary.

Tonga's public lacks "restraint"
--------------

2. (C) Crown Prince Tupouto'a and the Ambassador met on
March 2, resuming an acquaintance from the late 1990s.
Tupouto'a recalled their past conversations about prospects
for democratic reform in Tonga. Back then, he had expressed
some willingness to contemplate a degree of democratic reform
for sometime in the future. Now, he made clear, his thinking
has evolved. Tupouto'a sees the world in "class" terms.
Traditionally, in England (and Tonga) lower classes observed,
and attempted to emulate, upper classes who behaved with
"restraint." Tupouto'a recalled the restrained emotion at
Churchill's funeral and compared it to the outpouring of
grief at Princess Diana's. Not directly stated, but
certainly on his mind, was the outpouring of anti-royal
sentiment by Tongans in Nuku'alofa's streets last September
during a pro-democracy demonstration (Ref A).

Elected Parliament; reduced royal power ASAP
--------------

3. (C) Given the public mood, Tupouto'a said he now accepts

the need for political "change," and he has proposed to his
father King Tupou IV that all members of Tonga's Parliament
be elected by the public to three-year terms. The King would
then select a Prime Minister from among those elected. The
Prime Minister would have a five-year term. Tupouto'a said
he borrowed the staggered term lengths from the French
system, but he figures the French seven-year presidential
term is too long for a Tonga PM, at least for now. Under the
plan, the King, who has "so many powers," would delegate all
day-to-day running of government to the Prime Minister. The
King's withdrawal from hands-on governing would be understood
but not explicit, similar to the state of play in some other
constitutional monarchies. Asked about the preferred pace of
reform, Tupouto'a said: "as soon as possible." Events have
made clear reform needs to happen, and slowing it will not be
helpful. (We note this is exactly the message the Ambassador
provided Princess Pilolevu last September at a time when
Tupouto'a was out of town (Ref A).)

But it all depends on the ailing King
--------------

4. (C) Tupouto'a stressed that, while he has submitted his
plan to the Palace, the King has not yet responded. King
Tupou IV, age 87, has been in Auckland since just before
Christmas for medical care. Tupouto'a indicated his father
is not doing well. A source said the King has multiple
serious ailments, some of which get better, some worse.
Reportedly the King very much wants to return to Tonga, but
the decision is in the hands of his doctors.

Acting PM waits for a blessing
--------------

5. (C) Separately, Acting Prime Minister Fred Sevele hinted
to the Ambassador that he and Tupouto'a are prepared to
implement a "surprising amount" of political reform very
quickly, if Sevele receives the King's blessing as PM.
Reportedly, a representative from the Palace recently
traveled to Auckland at the Crown Prince's request to obtain
the King's formal assent to Sevele's appointment, but the
King responded that he wants to wait until returning to Tonga
to make the decision. This was not seen as a "no," just a
continuing "maybe." Comment: It is not clear how the
Tupouto'a/Sevele reform plan meshes with the effort of a
National Committee set up by Parliament to survey Tongan

SUVA 00000097 002 OF 002


opinion (see septel). Tupouto'a and Sevele gave the
impression they are ready to proceed, regardless of the
survey. End comment.

Sibling rivalry
--------------

6. (C) Tupouto'a as Prince Regent, and apparently without
clearance from the King, convinced his younger brother Prince
Lavaka'ata to resign as PM in early February (Ref B).
Tupouto'a noted to the Ambassador that Lavaka'ata had been
"the wrong person in charge" last August when a
public-service strike fanned flames of dissent and resulted
in a settlement that has strained the government budget (Ref
A). (We note that Tupouto'a, himself, was traveling in
Europe and Africa during the entirety of the strike.)
Lavaka'ata had been frustrated as PM (see ref C) and may not
have required too much pushing. Still, we are told the
resignation surprised the royal family in Auckland, and they
may still be calculating how to respond. Asked what future
roles Lavaka'ata might perform, Tupouto'a said his brother is
"set for life" with a lease the Mormon Church recently
negotiated to retain its high-school venue at an up-front fee
of $2 million plus $90,000/year for the next ten years.

Sevele: business as usual?
--------------

7. (C) The Crown Prince has confidence in Acting PM Sevele,
who was a pro-democracy People's Representative until the
King elevated him, and three others, to Cabinet from the
Parliament a year ago. Sevele owns Nuku'alofa's biggest
grocery store and is a member of the commission that oversees
pumpkin squash, Tonga's major export. Tupouto'a said Sevele
"knows business and will facilitate it." Pro-democracy
activist Akilisi Pohiva also respects Sevele, a long-time
friend. Some prominent Tongans, including pro-democracy
activist and former Police Minister Clive Edwards, are less
enthusiastic, suggesting that Sevele has been involved in
shady business dealings and, thus, may be inclined to cut
Tupouto'a and other royals slack regarding sweetheart
business arrangements which are a great frustration to many
ordinary Tongans. Also, Edwards, who represents Chinese
retailers seeking operating permits, alleges that Sevele is
thwarting such permits in order to protect Tongan retailers,
including himself.

Request for journalist training
--------------

8. (SBU) Tupouto'a raised with the Ambassador two particular
issues: deportees from the United States (subject of septel)
and a need for young Tongans to obtain on-the-job journalism
training. The Crown Prince believes (with some
justification) that Tongan print journalists are amateurish.
He suggested that finding internships for two or so from the
next generation at small U.S. newspapers ("not the New York
Times; maybe somewhere in Maine") would do Tongan print media
a world of good. We promised to see what USG programs might
be available. Comment: This raises again Embassy Suva's plea
for a regional PD position, which could bring with it
programming resources. End comment.

Bio Notes
--------------

9. (C) Tupouto'a is effete, snobbish, a dandy, who prefers
to dress like a British colonial master, complete with pith
helmet. He has a "villa" just outside Nuku'alofa, has a
personal pilot to fly his vintage aircraft, and is a global
traveler. Most all Tongans resent his lack of interest in
local culture. Tupouto'a is a confirmed bachelor who is
often surrounded by women friends. He suffers from type-2
diabetes, and is thrilled that a "wonder drug" which his San
Francisco doctor prescribed a few months ago has helped him
gain control, lose weight, and feel much better. A
diplomatic source suggested the American "cure" has caused
Tupouto'a to reinvigorate his appreciation for the U.S.


10. (C) The Crown Prince has strong connections to China,
after previously having equally strong connections to Taiwan
until the King shifted allegiances in 1998. Reportedly,
Tupouto'a is in hock to a Chinese bank for a $30 million
unsecured loan, presumably used to finance some of his
business ventures (Tonga's electric utility, a domestic
airline, etc.). Advisors have urged him to find a way to
jettison the loan before he becomes King. Responding to
public dissatisfaction, he is working with Tonga's Ministry
of Finance to sell off the electric utility. The Ministry is
resisting any government buy-back, preferring to facilitate
transfer to some private-oriented entity.
DINGER