Tonga report talks of royal instability, fears of conflict

By AUDREY YOUNG

A brutally frank briefing paper on Tonga to Foreign Minister Phil Goff canvases concerns about corruption, royal instability, armed conflict and the influence of China.

The confidential report obtained by the Herald was written by former High Commissioner Brian Smythe as he was ending his posting there.

It provides the diplomat's observations about the royal family, particularly Crown Prince Tupouto'a and the potential for his overthrow, fears about supplying weapons to the Tongan Army, and the growing influence of China in the Pacific kingdom.

Mr Smythe was personally flattering about the royal family saying they were cultured, intelligent and "perfect hosts".

"It is a pleasure to spend time in their company and partake of their champagne and caviar."

But he criticises the privileged class system that dominates Tongan society and politics.

Although the document is dated September 2001, it could be seen to have as much relevance today as it did when it was written.

The kingdom is drawing increasing foreign criticism for its anti-democratic moves, most recently last week as it sought to remove the right to judicially review any decision of the stacked Parliament.

And the essential system of government and society that the report addresses has not changed in two years.

"From a socialist perspective, the system is anathema," says Mr Smythe, who is now High Commissioner to Vanuatu.

"It involves redistribution from the poor to the rich.

"The poor are under heavy obligation to contribute, in particular through the provision of food for frequent feasts, to the nobles of the estates from whom they lease their land ...

"The members of the royal family receive much more than they can possibly consume and they redistribute the spoils to others among the privileged classes."

The nobles in theory were meant to represent the interests of their villagers.

"A few are conscientious but many are unscrupulous and out to milk the system for all they can get.

"The King, and rest of the royal family and the nobles sit at the pinnacle of this system and understandably want to stay there.

"The puzzle is why the public let them get away with it - particularly in this day and age, with experience of overseas liberties and with such clear evidence of corruption and mismanagement. I guess it comes down to societal conditioning."

The commissioner's report says members of the Tongan Defence Service, which New Zealand helped to establish, regarded the democracy movement as "the enemy".

Contact with New Zealand's defence forces under a mutual assistance programme had not altered that.

But the report warns against New Zealand distancing itself from the Tongan Defence Service.

"Not only would it harden attitudes but it would give China an opportunity to step in.

"The growing influence of China in the islands to our north may at some stage make us feel uncomfortable, depending on how things evolve in China itself and between it and the United States."

Mr Smythe suggests New Zealand forces should try to impart some values as well as technical skills to the Tongan soldiers.

"And we should continue to refrain from supplying weapons to the Tongan Defence Service, as urged by the democracy movement.

"Weapons could easily fall into the hands of a few extremists determined to preserve the nobles' privileged position."

Crown Prince Tupouto'a is discussed throughout the report.

It says he has little respect for the nobles, "considering them on the whole a degenerate lot".

"Privately he has told democracy advocates that he wishes to abolish the nobility."

But it also says the Crown Prince is not a democrat at heart.

"He wants power and would prefer it undiluted."

But the report says that it is the Crown Prince's view on religion that could bring about his downfall.

"If he is not careful on this front, he might bring about his own overthrow," the report says.

"His views are at total variance with those of most Tongans. He is scathing at the amount of time, money and energy devoted to churches and funerals."

The report suggests the church Establishment might prefer a more conservative monarch, such as the Crown Prince's younger brother, Prime Minister Prince Lavaka, or even Princess Pilolevu.

The report outlines some of the disastrous economic decisions with which the Crown Prince has been associated.

It also says that the Princess's duty-free and Tongasat companies "are really enjoying revenue streams which more properly should belong to the state".

The publication of the report is bound to heighten political sensitivities between New Zealand and Tonga.

Only last week Mr Goff dispatched the incumbent High Commissioner, Warwick Hawker, to protest to the Tongan Government at plans to curb judicial review. And its publication also coincides with royal celebrations in Nuku'alofa for 2000 guests for the wedding today of one of the King's granddaughters.

Mr Goff yesterday dismissed calls for Tonga's suspension from the Commonwealth and an end to New Zealand aid saying these were not options.

"Any such decision at this point would be premature," he told journalists at the post-Cabinet press conference.

RULING TONGA


Tonga is ruled by constitutional monarchy which has effective control over the cabinet and Parliament.

The 85-year-old King appoints the Cabinet, headed by the Prime Minister, Prince 'Ulukala Lavaka Ata, the King's son.

Legislative Assembly comprises the Cabinet, nine nobles chosen by 33 noble families, and nine representatives voted by the people.

Tonga has drawn wide condemnation for its ban on the Auckland-based Tongan newspaper Taimi o Tonga.