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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 
------- 
¶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