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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