Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07SUVA58
2007-01-23 21:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Suva
Cable title:
TONGA TIDBITS: TDS DEPLOYMENT TO IRAQ; PLANS FOR
how-toVZCZCXRO6393 PP RUEHPB DE RUEHSV #0058 0232118 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 232118Z JAN 07 FM AMEMBASSY SUVA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3697 INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 1533 RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY PRIORITY 1115 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 1307 RUEHNZ/AMCONSUL AUCKLAND PRIORITY 0327 RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY PRIORITY 0733 RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RHHJJAA/JICPAC HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SUVA 000058
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR XV TN
SUBJECT: TONGA TIDBITS: TDS DEPLOYMENT TO IRAQ; PLANS FOR
THE PIF
Classified By: Amb. Dinger. Sec. 1.4 (B,D)
TDS role in Tonga emergency not deterrent to Iraq deployment
--------------------------------------------- ---------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SUVA 000058
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR XV TN
SUBJECT: TONGA TIDBITS: TDS DEPLOYMENT TO IRAQ; PLANS FOR
THE PIF
Classified By: Amb. Dinger. Sec. 1.4 (B,D)
TDS role in Tonga emergency not deterrent to Iraq deployment
-------------- --------------
1. (C) BGEN Uta'atu informed us Jan. 18 that the planned
Tonga Defense Service (TDS) deployment to the Coalition of
the Willing in Iraq (ref) is still in train. Per septels,
the TDS has been heavily involved in security operations in
the Tonga capital since a major riot last Nov. 16; however,
Uta'atu assured us that his force can still deploy, even if a
state of emergency continues at home. Uta'atu said his aim
is to engage in mil/mil talks at CENTCOM in March, if
possible, followed by deployment to MNFI in the northern
summer. The Suva DATT is traveling to Tonga this week to
continue planning.
TDS expanding
--------------
2. (C) Uta'atu confirmed that Tonga's Defense Board has
agreed to enlarge the TDS significantly from its current size
of around 450. He is preparing to add two companies (around
200 troops) in the next year.
Fiji and the PIF
--------------
3. (C) Secretary of the Tonga Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Va'inga Tone informed us that Tonga will not support
expulsion of Fiji from the Pacific Island Forum (PIF) over
the December coup. He did not elaborate, but it is difficult
in the Pacific to publicly bring a loss of face to a
neighbor, even one that has misbehaved. Asked the status of
the PIF's instruction for Fiji, Tonga, and PNG to undertake
an evaluation of the RAMSI process in the Solomons, Tone said
the Fiji coup and Tonga riot had put RAMSI on a back burner.
2007 Forum in Tonga
--------------
4. (U) Tone reported that the Tonga Cabinet has confirmed it
wants the 2007 PIF Leaders Meeting and Post-Forum Dialogue to
take place in Tonga. The death of King Tupou IV caused a
shift of the 2006 Forum from Tonga to Fiji. Rough dates are
late September or early October. The Leaders' Meeting
portion is to take place in Vava'u, an hour's small-plane
flight north from Nuku'alofa. Other events, including the
Post-Forum Dialogue, are to be in Nuku'alofa.
DINGER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR XV TN
SUBJECT: TONGA TIDBITS: TDS DEPLOYMENT TO IRAQ; PLANS FOR
THE PIF
Classified By: Amb. Dinger. Sec. 1.4 (B,D)
TDS role in Tonga emergency not deterrent to Iraq deployment
-------------- --------------
1. (C) BGEN Uta'atu informed us Jan. 18 that the planned
Tonga Defense Service (TDS) deployment to the Coalition of
the Willing in Iraq (ref) is still in train. Per septels,
the TDS has been heavily involved in security operations in
the Tonga capital since a major riot last Nov. 16; however,
Uta'atu assured us that his force can still deploy, even if a
state of emergency continues at home. Uta'atu said his aim
is to engage in mil/mil talks at CENTCOM in March, if
possible, followed by deployment to MNFI in the northern
summer. The Suva DATT is traveling to Tonga this week to
continue planning.
TDS expanding
--------------
2. (C) Uta'atu confirmed that Tonga's Defense Board has
agreed to enlarge the TDS significantly from its current size
of around 450. He is preparing to add two companies (around
200 troops) in the next year.
Fiji and the PIF
--------------
3. (C) Secretary of the Tonga Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Va'inga Tone informed us that Tonga will not support
expulsion of Fiji from the Pacific Island Forum (PIF) over
the December coup. He did not elaborate, but it is difficult
in the Pacific to publicly bring a loss of face to a
neighbor, even one that has misbehaved. Asked the status of
the PIF's instruction for Fiji, Tonga, and PNG to undertake
an evaluation of the RAMSI process in the Solomons, Tone said
the Fiji coup and Tonga riot had put RAMSI on a back burner.
2007 Forum in Tonga
--------------
4. (U) Tone reported that the Tonga Cabinet has confirmed it
wants the 2007 PIF Leaders Meeting and Post-Forum Dialogue to
take place in Tonga. The death of King Tupou IV caused a
shift of the 2006 Forum from Tonga to Fiji. Rough dates are
late September or early October. The Leaders' Meeting
portion is to take place in Vava'u, an hour's small-plane
flight north from Nuku'alofa. Other events, including the
Post-Forum Dialogue, are to be in Nuku'alofa.
DINGER