Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SUVA71
2008-02-18 17:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Suva
Cable title:  

TONGA UPDATE -- DISCONTENT; ROYAL LIFESTYLE;

Tags:  PREL PGOV CJAN PHUM TN 
pdf how-to read a cable
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P 181757Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY SUVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0381
INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1948
RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY 1475
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0050
RUEHNZ/AMCONSUL AUCKLAND 0594
RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY 1009
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHHJJAA/JICPAC HONOLULU HI
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 SUVA 000071 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

CANBERRA, PORT MORESBY PASS TO EAP PDAS DAVIES

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV CJAN PHUM TN
SUBJECT: TONGA UPDATE -- DISCONTENT; ROYAL LIFESTYLE;
CORRUPTION; PACE OF REFORM; APRIL ELECTION REFERENDUM;
HUMAN RIGHTS NOTES

REF: A. SUVA 064

B. SUVA 020

Classified By: Amb. Dinger. Sec. 1.4 (B,D).

Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 SUVA 000071

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

CANBERRA, PORT MORESBY PASS TO EAP PDAS DAVIES

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV CJAN PHUM TN
SUBJECT: TONGA UPDATE -- DISCONTENT; ROYAL LIFESTYLE;
CORRUPTION; PACE OF REFORM; APRIL ELECTION REFERENDUM;
HUMAN RIGHTS NOTES

REF: A. SUVA 064

B. SUVA 020

Classified By: Amb. Dinger. Sec. 1.4 (B,D).

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

1. (C) Conversations in Tonga Feb. 6-9 revealed that
discontent continues. The economy is doing poorly; the
King's lifestyle and his extravagant plans for an August 1
coronation rankle; allegations of official corruption are
gaining currency; and pro-democracy elements hanker for more
rapid progress on political reform. PM Sevele figures all is
on track for suitable political reforms to be in place in

2010. King George V continues to tell us he wants
politicians to move faster and wants more international
pressure. We will continue to apply appropriate pressure,
noting that the pace of reform is for Tongans to judge.
General elections under the current, royal-dominated system
will take place in April. Many see those elections as a de
facto referendum on political reform. Some elements hope to
organize an informal church-based referendum at the same time
to gain explicit feedback on the public's reform aspirations.
Meanwhile, PM Sevele, who remains unhappy with U.S. Human
Rights Reports, has allegedly attempted to tamper with the
trials of pro-democracy figures accused of instigating the
November 2006 riots. A Chinese loan to help re-build
Nuku'alofa remains controversial politically and fiscally.
End summary.

February visit to Tonga -- cast of characters
--------------

2. (SBU) Ambassador Dinger visited Tonga Feb. 6-9 to
participate in the port visit of the USS Reuben James and to
gauge the current political and economic state of play in the
lead-up to parliamentary elections April 24. Interlocutors
included King George V, PM Sevele, Foreign Minister Tu'a,
Finance Minister 'Utoikamanu, Attorney General Taumoepeau,
pro-democracy leaders Pohiva and Lauti, former Lord
Chamberlain Fielakepa, Australian and New Zealand diplomats,
and others. See ref B for discussion of mil/mil issues.


Discontent continues -- economic factors
--------------

3. (C) Tonga remains troubled. The November 2006 riot and
its context are still vivid. Interlocutors did not suggest
another riot is in the offing; but many people are not
content. A factor is that the economy is doing poorly. Many
farmers now sell their vegetables along Nuku'alofa's
sea-front street instead of utilizing the central market,
intending to increase their tiny margins by not paying market
taxes. A number of costs are going up. The King's Shoreline
utility just increased electricity prices by over 20 percent
because of rising petroleum costs. Villagers, who will be
called on to contribute hugely to King George V's coronation
party July 30-August 3, are grumbling. The saving grace
remains remittances from abroad, which dipped in post-riot
2007 but now are rebounding.

The King's lifestyle rankles
--------------

4. (C) King George V's extravagant lifestyle grates on the
public. He traveled in Europe and Asia for two months over
Christmas, to have first fittings for his coronation regalia
and to extend invitations to his foreign-royal "cousins."
The King is due to depart shortly on another two-month trip,
to include more fittings and, presumably, more invitations.
The King envisions that foreign envoys will wear 18th-century
court costumes for the coronation event. A black-tie gala is
planned as well. A pro-democracy activist alleges the King
recently stressed to PM Sevele and cabinet that he "needs his
millions" to maintain his appropriate lifestyle.

Pip and Estella, the royal pups
--------------

5. (C) The King recently imported two Jack Russell terriers,
Pip and Estella (see Dickens' "Great Expectations"). The
pups passed right through quarantine. We hear the same
evening an acquaintance of the King received an urgent royal
summons. Pip was soiling the King's villa and needed
immediate training. On arrival, the acquaintance suggested
that the King dig out some old piece of clothing with some

SUVA 00000071 002 OF 004


embedded royal scent, something the pup could cuddle up to in
the night. The King was so shocked, it took twenty minutes
to recover composure. He appeared unable to comprehend how
one could presume he (1) had any old clothing and (2) had
body odor. The story has been making the rounds of
Nuku'alofa ever since.

Pricing Shoreline: differing expectations
--------------

6. (C) When the King ascended the throne in September 2006,
he immediately promised to sell off his controversial
business interests. That has taken a while. The
international company Digicel recently bought the Tonfon
cell-phone business, reportedly in a reasonably transparent
transaction. The Shoreline utility has been more difficult.
No independent bidders are interested, so PM Sevele agreed
that the Tonga Government would buy the utility back.
Finance Minister 'Utoikamanu reportedly insisted that any
buy-back be transparent and legally defensible. He called in
Price Waterhouse Coopers to establish a fair price,
reportedly $9 million. The King was expecting more like $30
million, and was most unhappy. PM Sevele and 'Utoikamanu
have disagreed about many political issues since the riot.
Rumors have circulated widely that 'Utoikamanu is to be
sacked; however, so far he remains on the job. When we asked
'Utoikamanu what would have made his status shaky, he simply
replied: "Shoreline."

PM, corruption allegations and e-mail chains
--------------

7. (C) PM Sevele has other headaches besides 'Utoikamanu. In
December, the CEO for Tonga's Tourism Ministry publicly
accused his Minister of corruption and provided details.
Sevele publicly indicated that the Minister's actions
appeared to be within the range of normal Tonga practice,
though he eventually agreed to refer the allegations to the
Auditor General. Meanwhile, an anonymous person who
seemingly works at a senior level inside government and who
titles himself "rolling thunder" has sent e-mails to a broad
distribution list accusing Sevele of corrupt practices, with
details, including allegations of a seven-figure sole-source
contract to Sevele's own business for goods to supply last
October's Pacific Islands Forum meetings. We hear the
veracity of the allegations varies; but some are true and
Sevele is furious. A cabinet meeting Feb. 7 to discuss the
allegations reportedly focused on hiring a New Zealand lawyer
to ferret out the e-mailer, not on cleaning up government
practices.

Anti-corruption Commission to commence
--------------

8. (C) Attorney General Taumoepeau believes at least the
allegations against the Tourism Minister are a "real problem
that needs a solid response. It should not just be swept
under the table." Taumoepeau takes credit for a new
anti-corruption commission law with a whistle-blower
provision, recently passed by Parliament. The Commission is
to start up this month and might serve as a mechanism to
investigate the various rolling-thunder rumors, if the
e-mailer dares to come forward.

Government assures reforms on track for 2010
--------------

9. (C) Considerable debate continues in Tonga about the
political reform process. PM Sevele stresses that Parliament
last fall blessed significant reforms to be implemented by

2010. The reforms, produced by a tripartite commission, will
change Parliament's composition to 17 elected people's
representatives (up from 9); 9 nobles' reps (no change); and
4 royal appointees (down from 12-16). The King will choose
the PM from within Parliament, and the PM will choose the
cabinet also from within Parliament. Debate continues about
election-system details, though Foreign Minister Tu'a says
that the outcome will be single-member, first-past-the-post
districts. Some others have argued to retain the current
multi-member districts and/or to institute a preferential
voting system. Three current ministers (all appointees) told
us they expect their service to end in 2010, since they have
no intention of standing for election.

King says politicians moving too slowly
--------------

SUVA 00000071 003 OF 004



10. (C) King George informed us that he continues to believe
the pace of political reform needs to accelerate. His
precise words were: "The a--hole politicians (read PM Sevele)
are moving too slowly." The King confirmed he remains more
worried about pro-democracy frustrations than about
conservative reaction to reform. Asked why he doesn't just
order Sevele to speed the pace, the King said he has truly
accepted he must be divorced from politics and must act "only
on advice." Still, the King urged the U.S. and other
international actors to push the Tonga Government to "move
faster." We acknowledged having raised the issue in the
past, within the context that the actual pace of reform is
for Tongans to determine. Leaders need to make really sound
judgments based on Tonga grass-roots realities, not on the
Government's own preferences.

Comment -- does he mean it?
--------------

11. (C) It is certainly possible that King George is telling
the U.S. what we want to hear, while pressing behind the
scenes for PM Sevele to limit and slow reform. The King has
no "commoner" instincts at all, and we doubt he really
intends to act only on advice from commoners. PM Sevele
forced the rather enlightened Noble Fielakepa, a former IVP
grantee, to retire as the King's Lord Chamberlain recently.
When asked what happened, Fielakepa speculated that some of
his efforts to keep the King informed may have left a royal
impression that he, Fielakepa, "was too close to the people."


April elections -- the players and platforms
--------------

12. (C) Meanwhile, Tonga will hold constitutionally mandated
elections in April 2008, under the old system. Sevele, now
as a royal appointee, does not have to run, and he has
decided not to. Several sources said Sevele is very
unpopular and would lose badly. All the current
pro-democracy People's Representatives intend to run, as do a
number of new faces, including Tonga Pro-Democracy Movement
Chair (and former IVP participant) Mrs. Lauti. Reportedly a
new party with connections to Tongans in New Zealand is
planning to run on a pro-government platform. Several
pro-democracy politicians intend to campaign on the theme
that the election is a referendum for the people: do they
prefer the pro-democracy movement's push for rapid reform, or
do they prefer PM Sevele's slower pace? The pro-democracy
types are confident they will continue to win the bulk of
seats, despite allegations some of them instigated the riots.
Some incumbents may lose, but they expect any new blood to
be pro-democracy blood. Akilisi Pohiva expects to win, but
he says this, his eighth run, will be his last.

An informal referendum on reform?
--------------

13. (C) Pro-democracy leaders Pohiva and Lauti described an
effort by "neutral third parties," including the Church of
Tonga, to have voters also cast ballots at churches in an
unofficial referendum on reform during the April election.
Pohiva claimed he is not an instigator of the concept, but he
certainly seemed plugged in. The Tonga Government has been
invited to take a role but has not responded. The organizers
are seeking international funding and think the Canadian
Government may assist. When Pohiva obliquely inquired about
USG funding, we suggested the short lead time would make that
very unlikely.

Human rights notes
--------------

14. (C) In a prepared speech at the New Zealand High
Commission's Waitangi Day celebration, PM Sevele chastised
elements in the New Zealand and Tonga media for unfairly
criticizing Tonga Government policies. Sevele went on to
praise the former NZ High Commissioner for, in effect, not
having criticized Sevele policies in his reporting to
Wellington. Since Sevele is notoriously thin-skinned about
criticism, it is no surprise that he is irritated by U.S.
Human Rights Reports. He disliked all critical references in
the 2006 HRR. Last spring, we suggested he provide written
details of any inaccuracies. That written report finally
arrived early this month, and actually wasn't too
disparaging. Given that the 2007 HRR is about to be issued,
we urged Sevele to provide any complaints this year early and

SUVA 00000071 004 OF 004


in writing for future consideration.

Trying and failing to tamper with the judiciary
-------------- --

15. (C) The Nuku'alofa riot that endangered Sevele family
members and burned down their supermarket remains a
particularly sensitive issue for the PM. He believes
strongly that five pro-democracy People's Reps instigated the
riot. The criminal cases against the five were deferred to
August, after the April elections. That angered Sevele.
Reliable sources report that he recently phoned Chief Justice
Ford demanding that the cases be speeded up and that the
People's Reps be found guilty, with maximum sentences
imposed. CJ Ford, flabbergasted at such blatant
interference, reportedly hung up on the PM. Ford's contract
as CJ expires soon, something Sevele may have intended as a
pressure point; but we hear the contract has now been
extended. Sevele has initiated five personal lawsuits
against Kelea, Pohiva's opposition newspaper, for alleged
libel.

China loan -- tied and a burden on the future
--------------

16. (C) Finance Minister 'Utoikamanu confirmed to us that a
US$55 million PRC loan provided to assist with post-riot
reconstruction of Nuku'alofa is "all tied aid in Chinese
currency," with Chinese construction companies and Chinese
workers, though some local sub-contracting will probably
occur. The King and PM Sevele had wanted there to be cash,
but it was not to be. 'Utoikamanu was reluctant to sign the
loan papers, worried in particular about the debt burden on
future generations; but he did sign under PM pressure.
'Utoikamanu said he deeply regrets it and wishes he could
revoke his signature. Many loan details remain to be
negotiated.

Comment
--------------

17. (C) The April elections appear to be a de facto
referendum on King, PM, and People's Reps, whether or not the
separate, "neutral" effort to offer an informal,
church-related referendum bears fruit. If current People's
Reps win, or if the next-generation pro-democracy candidates
win, the King and PM will be on notice that the public wants
meaningful reform ASAP. If the pro-democracy candidates
fall, the King and PM can calculate a slower pace. The
August 1 coronation is another trigger point. If organizers
for the King's extravagant plans attempt to suck too much
sustenance from the common Tongan, resistance could flare up
again.
DINGER