FIJI UPDATE: BAINIMARAMA CANCELS CHODS TRIP

C O N F I D E N T I A L SUVA 000479

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR ASEC CASC FJ
SUBJECT: FIJI UPDATE: BAINIMARAMA CANCELS CHODS TRIP

REF: A. SUVA 477


B. SUVA 471 (AND PREVIOUS)

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

Summary
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1. (C) Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander
Bainimarama today canceled his PACOM-sponsored trip to the
CHODS in Kuala Lumpur. He gave no explanation. We comment
that the move raises questions about the Commodore's next
steps. He and his senior officers have focused attention on
alleged Australian meddling. Meanwhile, Police Commissioner
Hughes has sought but has so far been denied a meeting with
Bainimarama. End summary.

Bainimarama cancels CHODS trip without explanation
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2. (C) RFMF Commander Bainimarama's staff informed Embassy
DATT on Tuesday morning, Nov. 7, that the Commodore will not
travel to Kuala Lumpur for PACOM's Chiefs of Defense (CHODS)
conference. He was to have departed Suva Nov. 11. As
reported ref A, Australian and New Zealand High Commissions
in Suva had inquired repeatedly whether the USG would rescind
the PACOM invitation in light of Bainimarama's threats to the
Fiji Government. That is no longer an issue. The
cancelation does raise the follow on question, as yet
unanswered: what motivated the cancelation?

RFMF is worried about the Aussies
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3. (C) The influx of ten Australian personnel to their High
Commission in Suva (per ref A),in particular the arrival of
some special-forces personnel, clearly has Bainimarama
concerned. He reportedly phoned the Aussie DATT twice Monday
evening seeking assurances, and the RFMF attempted to make
contact with some of the newcomers directly. In a briefing
for a group of diplomats on Tuesday, the RFMF speaker
reportedly accused the Australian High Commission and its
DATT of "lying" about who had arrived.

CEOs being investigated for colluding with RFMF
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4. (C) Fiji media have reported that the government has
tasked the Public Service Commission (PSC) to investigate two
CEOs for improper contacts with the RFMF. Presumably that
relates to PM Qarase's advice to ambassadors on Nov. 3 (ref
B) to please refrain from dealing with the CEOs of Foreign
Affairs and Home Affairs on the current crisis.

Hughes seeks Bainimarama meeting without success
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5. (U) Police Commissioner Hughes has told the media he has
repeatedly sought meetings with Bainimarama since the weekend
without success. Hughes indicated two motives: in part to
reestablish what in the past has been a good relationship;
and also, rather contrarily, to interview the Commodore about
allegations of sedition.

Comment
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6. (C) Bainimarama's canceling on CHODS neatly solves a
problem for the USG. We don't have to decide whether his
threats to remove Fiji's Government merit rescinding the
invitation. The news does raise a serious question about the
Commodore's intentions. It would appear he does not figure
the Great Council of Chiefs meeting on Thursday will resolve
Fiji's civil-military problem, so he feels the need to stay
around. The worry is that his actions may play out in a
coup; the hope is that they will not.
DINGER