Peter Thomson (diplomat)
Encyclopedia
Peter Thomson, born in Suva
in 1948, is a Fiji Islander
diplomat of Scottish
descent, and Fiji's current Permanent Representative to the United Nations
. He also has Australia
n and New Zealand
citizenship.
Thomson, a fifth generation Fiji Islander, was born to British colonial administrator Sir Ian Thomson and his wife Lady Nancy Thomson. Although his father was born in Glasgow
, his mother was Fiji born and raised.
Educated at Suva Grammar School
and Natabua High School, he later obtained a B.A.
in political studies at Auckland University and a postgraduate diploma in development studies
at Cambridge University.
Thomson began work as a Fiji civil servant in 1972, working in rural development as District Officer in Navua, Macuata and Taveuni. In 1978 he was posted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was seconded in 1979 to the Forum Secretariat, before being posted to Japan in 1980 as a chargé d'affaires
, entrusted with the task of establishing Fiji's embassy in Tokyo. He served in Tokyo
until 1984, when he was appointed Consul General in Sydney
, Australia
. Returning to Fiji in 1986, he served as Permanent Secretary of Information, and was a member of the boards of the Fiji Visitors Bureau, Fiji TV and the Fiji Broadcasting Commission. He also co-founded the executive committees of the Australia-Fiji Business Council and the New Zealand-Fiji Business Council. He was elected to honorary membership of the New Zealand-Fiji Business Council in September 2007.
In 1987, he served at Fiji Government House as Permanent Secretary to Governor-General
Ratu
Sir Penaia Ganilau
. During this time between the two coups d'État of 1987, the Governor-General was the sole executive authority of Fiji. After the 1987 coup d'État, he "found himself a target as the high-profile white permanent secretary to Fiji's governor-general, embroiled in a constitutional crisis and with indigenous supremacists demanding his head". He was gaoled by the Fiji Army
for four days, and emigrated to New Zealand
, then Australia
.
From 1988 onwards, he worked as an investment and management consultant on Pacific Island affairs for various government agencies, regional organisations, universities and investment corporations. In 1990, the East-West Center published his diagnostic study "Trade and Investment in the Pacific Islands." During this time he was a founding director and shareholder of Tabua Investments Ltd, one of the prime developers of Fiji's premier tourism resort, Denarau Island Resort.
Having lost his Fiji citizenship by becoming an Australian and a New Zealander after the 1987 military coup, he regained his original citizenship in 2009, following a Fiji government decree authorising dual citizenship. He resumed diplomatic duties for Fiji in 2010, when he was appointed Fiji's Permanent Representative to the United Nations. He took up the post in a context where Fiji's long-standing tradition of providing peace-keeping forces to the United Nations
was facing opposition from New Zealand and Australia due to the 2006 military coup
in Fiji. A few months before his appointment, Thomson had publicly criticised what he described as Australia's "ongoing campaign in New York
to choke off Fiji’s role as an international peacekeeper". In 2011, the United Nations requested Fiji to increase its deployment of peacekeepers in Iraq.
As Fiji's Representative to the United Nations, he has worked to establish diplomatic relations with new countries, and consolidate Fiji's existing relations with a variety of countries. He has been described as "spearheading vital elements of Fiji's Look North policy, pursuing closer ties with China, India and the Arab world -- among others -- as a means of breaking free of its dependence on Australia and New Zealand". Graham Davis
writes that Thomson has "forged a new network of international relationships for Fiji outside the [Australia/New Zealand] orbit, including membership of the Non-Aligned Movement
", and that he has been "a prime influence behind the formation of a formal independent Pacific voting bloc at the UN".
In August 2011, he was elected as one of twenty-one vice-presidents for the 66th session of the United Nations General Assembly, under session president Nassir Al-Nasser of Qatar
. In July 2011, Peter Thomson was elected as President of the Assembly of the International Seabed Authority's 17th Session.
He has supported Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama's government, declaring: "[A]n immediate return to democracy [would mean] a return to the Fiji of old, where politicians were elected on the basis of racial rolls
, ethno-nationalism was rampant, corruption was rife, and “coup culture” was ingrained". In July 2010, he told The Australian
’s Graham Davis
: "I'm a passionate advocate of a multi-racial, multicultural Fiji so I fully support Prime Minister Bainimarama's programme. Race-based constitutions and political parties have been very divisive for the nation. We're now working towards a future in which citizens will vote without regard for race for the first time."
Thomson is the author of Kava in the Blood, his account of the 1987 Fiji coups d'État. The book was the winner of New Zealand's E.H.McCormick Prize for non-fiction in 2000. He is the editor and publisher of the pictorial/historical book Fiji in the Forties and Fifties, written by his father, with photographs by Rob Wright.
Suva
Suva features a tropical rainforest climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city sees a copious amount of precipitation during the course of the year. Suva averages 3,000 mm of precipitation annually with its driest month, July averaging 125 mm of rain per year. In fact,...
in 1948, is a Fiji Islander
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
diplomat of Scottish
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
descent, and Fiji's current Permanent Representative to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. He also has Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
citizenship.
Thomson, a fifth generation Fiji Islander, was born to British colonial administrator Sir Ian Thomson and his wife Lady Nancy Thomson. Although his father was born in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, his mother was Fiji born and raised.
Educated at Suva Grammar School
Suva Grammar School
Suva Grammar School, is a secondary school in Suva, Fiji.The school caters for forms 3 to 7 and has a school population of about 1000 students...
and Natabua High School, he later obtained a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in political studies at Auckland University and a postgraduate diploma in development studies
Development studies
Development studies is a multidisciplinary branch of social science which addresses issues of concern to developing countries. It has historically placed a particular focus on issues related to social and economic development, and its relevance may therefore extend to communities and regions...
at Cambridge University.
Thomson began work as a Fiji civil servant in 1972, working in rural development as District Officer in Navua, Macuata and Taveuni. In 1978 he was posted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was seconded in 1979 to the Forum Secretariat, before being posted to Japan in 1980 as a chargé d'affaires
Chargé d'affaires
In diplomacy, chargé d’affaires , often shortened to simply chargé, is the title of two classes of diplomatic agents who head a diplomatic mission, either on a temporary basis or when no more senior diplomat has been accredited.-Chargés d’affaires:Chargés d’affaires , who were...
, entrusted with the task of establishing Fiji's embassy in Tokyo. He served in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
until 1984, when he was appointed Consul General in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Returning to Fiji in 1986, he served as Permanent Secretary of Information, and was a member of the boards of the Fiji Visitors Bureau, Fiji TV and the Fiji Broadcasting Commission. He also co-founded the executive committees of the Australia-Fiji Business Council and the New Zealand-Fiji Business Council. He was elected to honorary membership of the New Zealand-Fiji Business Council in September 2007.
In 1987, he served at Fiji Government House as Permanent Secretary to Governor-General
Governor-General of Fiji
Fiji became a British Crown Colony in 1874, and an independent dominion in the Commonwealth in 1970. Queen Elizabeth II remained the Head of State, holding the title of Queen of Fiji until 1987, when she formally abdicated following two military coups...
Ratu
Ratu
Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank. An equivalent title, Adi is used by females of chiefly rank.-Etymology:Ra is a prefix in many titles and Tu is simply "chief"...
Sir Penaia Ganilau
Penaia Ganilau
Ratu Sir Penaia Kanatabatu Ganilau, GCMG, KCVO, KBE, DSO was the first President of Fiji, serving from 8 December 1987 until his death in 1993...
. During this time between the two coups d'État of 1987, the Governor-General was the sole executive authority of Fiji. After the 1987 coup d'État, he "found himself a target as the high-profile white permanent secretary to Fiji's governor-general, embroiled in a constitutional crisis and with indigenous supremacists demanding his head". He was gaoled by the Fiji Army
Military of Fiji
The Republic of Fiji Military Forces are the military of the Pacific island nation of Fiji. With a total manpower of 3,500 active soldiers and 6,000 reservists, it is one of the smallest militaries in the world. However, most of its surrounding island nations have no militaries at all...
for four days, and emigrated to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, then Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
From 1988 onwards, he worked as an investment and management consultant on Pacific Island affairs for various government agencies, regional organisations, universities and investment corporations. In 1990, the East-West Center published his diagnostic study "Trade and Investment in the Pacific Islands." During this time he was a founding director and shareholder of Tabua Investments Ltd, one of the prime developers of Fiji's premier tourism resort, Denarau Island Resort.
Having lost his Fiji citizenship by becoming an Australian and a New Zealander after the 1987 military coup, he regained his original citizenship in 2009, following a Fiji government decree authorising dual citizenship. He resumed diplomatic duties for Fiji in 2010, when he was appointed Fiji's Permanent Representative to the United Nations. He took up the post in a context where Fiji's long-standing tradition of providing peace-keeping forces to the United Nations
Fiji and the United Nations
The Republic of Fiji established its Permanent Mission to the United Nations on 13 October 1970, three days after obtaining its independence from the United Kingdom. Since then, Fiji's participation in the United Nations has been notable primarily for its active role in UN peacekeeping operations,...
was facing opposition from New Zealand and Australia due to the 2006 military coup
2006 Fijian coup d'état
The Fijian coup d'état of December 2006 occurred as a continuation of the pressure which had been building since the military unrest of the 2000 Fijian coup d'état and 2005-2006 Fijian political crisis....
in Fiji. A few months before his appointment, Thomson had publicly criticised what he described as Australia's "ongoing campaign in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
to choke off Fiji’s role as an international peacekeeper". In 2011, the United Nations requested Fiji to increase its deployment of peacekeepers in Iraq.
As Fiji's Representative to the United Nations, he has worked to establish diplomatic relations with new countries, and consolidate Fiji's existing relations with a variety of countries. He has been described as "spearheading vital elements of Fiji's Look North policy, pursuing closer ties with China, India and the Arab world -- among others -- as a means of breaking free of its dependence on Australia and New Zealand". Graham Davis
Graham Davis
Graham Hunt Davis is a Walkley Award and Logie Award winning Australian journalist. He is co-owner of the Australian television production and events company, .-Early life:...
writes that Thomson has "forged a new network of international relationships for Fiji outside the [Australia/New Zealand] orbit, including membership of the Non-Aligned Movement
Non-Aligned Movement
The Non-Aligned Movement is a group of states considering themselves not aligned formally with or against any major power bloc. As of 2011, the movement had 120 members and 17 observer countries...
", and that he has been "a prime influence behind the formation of a formal independent Pacific voting bloc at the UN".
In August 2011, he was elected as one of twenty-one vice-presidents for the 66th session of the United Nations General Assembly, under session president Nassir Al-Nasser of Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
. In July 2011, Peter Thomson was elected as President of the Assembly of the International Seabed Authority's 17th Session.
He has supported Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama's government, declaring: "[A]n immediate return to democracy [would mean] a return to the Fiji of old, where politicians were elected on the basis of racial rolls
Politics of Fiji
Politics of Fiji takes place within the framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic. Fiji has a multi-party system with the Prime Minister of Fiji as head of government. The executive power is exercised by the government...
, ethno-nationalism was rampant, corruption was rife, and “coup culture” was ingrained". In July 2010, he told The Australian
The Australian
The Australian is a broadsheet newspaper published in Australia from Monday to Saturday each week since 14 July 1964. The editor in chief is Chris Mitchell, the editor is Clive Mathieson and the 'editor-at-large' is Paul Kelly....
’s Graham Davis
Graham Davis
Graham Hunt Davis is a Walkley Award and Logie Award winning Australian journalist. He is co-owner of the Australian television production and events company, .-Early life:...
: "I'm a passionate advocate of a multi-racial, multicultural Fiji so I fully support Prime Minister Bainimarama's programme. Race-based constitutions and political parties have been very divisive for the nation. We're now working towards a future in which citizens will vote without regard for race for the first time."
Thomson is the author of Kava in the Blood, his account of the 1987 Fiji coups d'État. The book was the winner of New Zealand's E.H.McCormick Prize for non-fiction in 2000. He is the editor and publisher of the pictorial/historical book Fiji in the Forties and Fifties, written by his father, with photographs by Rob Wright.
External links
- "The Folly of Canberra's Stand against Fiji", full text of Peter Thomson's speech to the Australia-Fiji Business Council Conference, 14 September 2009 (on the website of the Auckland University of TechnologyAuckland University of TechnologyThe Auckland University of Technology is a university in New Zealand. It was formed on 1 January 2000 when the Auckland Institute of Technology was granted university status. Its primary campus is on Wellesley Street in Auckland's Central business district...
)