Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SUVA528
2006-11-30 19:35:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Suva
Cable title:
FIJI UPDATE 12/1: PRESIDENT STATEMENT ON RULE OF
how-toVZCZCXRO3349 OO RUEHPB DE RUEHSV #0528/01 3341935 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 301935Z NOV 06 FM AMEMBASSY SUVA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3495 INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 1409 RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY PRIORITY 1002 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 1190 RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY PRIORITY 0627 RHHJJAA/JICPAC HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SUVA 000528
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/01/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR CASC ASEC FJ
SUBJECT: FIJI UPDATE 12/1: PRESIDENT STATEMENT ON RULE OF
LAW; BAINIMARAMA MEETING WITH PRES; SUVA CALM FOR RUGBY
MATCH; EAC UPDATES PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
REF: SUVA 527
Classified By: Amb. Dinger. Sec. 1.4 (B,D).
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SUVA 000528
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/01/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR CASC ASEC FJ
SUBJECT: FIJI UPDATE 12/1: PRESIDENT STATEMENT ON RULE OF
LAW; BAINIMARAMA MEETING WITH PRES; SUVA CALM FOR RUGBY
MATCH; EAC UPDATES PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
REF: SUVA 527
Classified By: Amb. Dinger. Sec. 1.4 (B,D).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) President Iloilo issued a statement reaffirming his
belief in rule of law, seemingly contradicting a claim by
RFMF Commander Bainimarama last week. In a meeting today
(12/1),Bainimarama and Iloilo reportedly discussed the
recent Wellington meeting and did not discuss the future.
Police Commissioner Hughes has not quit. PM Qarase refuses
to resign, and has publicly questioned Bainimarama's sanity.
Today's army-police rugby match has Bainimarama's attention.
Media releases on a phone call between U/S Burns and PM
Qarase and on a letter from HIRC Chairman Hyde to Bainimarama
are receiving play. An Embassy EAC meeting today proposed
adjustments to the warden notice and public announcement.
End summary.
President Iloilo affirms support for "rule of law"
-------------- --------------
2. (U) In a media statement following PM Qarase's public
address yesterday (11/30),President Iloilo publicly
reaffirmed his support for the Constitution, rule of law, and
parliamentary democracy in Fiji. He said it is his fervent
expectation and abiding hope that current differences will be
resolved constitutionally, for the sake of Fiji. (Note:
after a meeting between the two last week, Bainimarama
claimed Iloilo had given him a "green light" for a coup.)
Bainimarama-Iloilo meeting: no mention of coup plan
-------------- --------------
3. (C) Bainimarama met with President Iloilo again this
morning (12/1). Vice President Madraiwiwi told us afterward
that the conversation consisted entirely of Bainimarama
giving the President a read-out from the Wellington meeting
on Wednesday, all from the Commodore's perspective. Asked if
the "clean up" plan was mentioned, Madraiwiwi said there was
no discussion of the future at all.
No quit in Police Commissioner
--------------
4. (U) Police Commissioner Hughes, on leave in Australia,
informed the media that, despite rumors he has resigned under
stress, he is happy and intends to remain in his job. He
said he continues to communicate with police leadership in
the meantime.
PM questions Bainimarama sanity
--------------
5. (U) PM Qarase, on a visit in Fiji's West, sounded subdued
in media interviews, while awaiting developments. He
reconfirmed he will not resign in the face of Bainimarama's
threats. Qarase told one interviewer "it should be obvious"
after last night's media interview that Bainimarama is
"deranged and mentally unstable." The CEO in the PM's
office, Jioji Kotabalavu, is at work in Suva. He and his
staff reportedly appear resigned to being removed.
Rugby match for healing?
--------------
6. (U) As of COB, Suva remains calm. Police are present in
force. Some shops closed at noon; others remained open. The
annual Army-Police rugby match, the Ratu Sukuna Bowl, seems
the focus of Bainimarama's attention. He reportedly told
media he hopes an after-match kava (ceremonial brew) session
will help patch up frayed relations between military and
police.
U.S. messages getting media play
--------------
7. (U) A media release on the phone call this a.m. between
U/S Burns and PM Qarase is receiving play, as is a release
conveying the contents of a letter from HIRC Chairman Hyde to
Bainimarama.
EAC bumps up notices
--------------
8. (C) We held another EAC meeting in the a.m. and proposed
adjustments to our warden message and public announcement to
accent Bainimarama's reconfirmation that today is decision
day and to add focus on Suva, where most initial "clean up"
activities are likely to take place and where most RFMF
troops are stationed. A test of any coup will be how the
SUVA 00000528 002 OF 002
various elements in the RFMF respond. If there were a split
in the ranks -- not expected but one never knows -- then Suva
could be dicey. Otherwise, we would expect the RFMF to
ensure adequate security, at least initially, since the
police are under instruction not to challenge armed military
forces. With Washington clearance, we issued the revised
warden message in late a.m. Washington will process the
public announcement.
DINGER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/01/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR CASC ASEC FJ
SUBJECT: FIJI UPDATE 12/1: PRESIDENT STATEMENT ON RULE OF
LAW; BAINIMARAMA MEETING WITH PRES; SUVA CALM FOR RUGBY
MATCH; EAC UPDATES PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
REF: SUVA 527
Classified By: Amb. Dinger. Sec. 1.4 (B,D).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) President Iloilo issued a statement reaffirming his
belief in rule of law, seemingly contradicting a claim by
RFMF Commander Bainimarama last week. In a meeting today
(12/1),Bainimarama and Iloilo reportedly discussed the
recent Wellington meeting and did not discuss the future.
Police Commissioner Hughes has not quit. PM Qarase refuses
to resign, and has publicly questioned Bainimarama's sanity.
Today's army-police rugby match has Bainimarama's attention.
Media releases on a phone call between U/S Burns and PM
Qarase and on a letter from HIRC Chairman Hyde to Bainimarama
are receiving play. An Embassy EAC meeting today proposed
adjustments to the warden notice and public announcement.
End summary.
President Iloilo affirms support for "rule of law"
-------------- --------------
2. (U) In a media statement following PM Qarase's public
address yesterday (11/30),President Iloilo publicly
reaffirmed his support for the Constitution, rule of law, and
parliamentary democracy in Fiji. He said it is his fervent
expectation and abiding hope that current differences will be
resolved constitutionally, for the sake of Fiji. (Note:
after a meeting between the two last week, Bainimarama
claimed Iloilo had given him a "green light" for a coup.)
Bainimarama-Iloilo meeting: no mention of coup plan
-------------- --------------
3. (C) Bainimarama met with President Iloilo again this
morning (12/1). Vice President Madraiwiwi told us afterward
that the conversation consisted entirely of Bainimarama
giving the President a read-out from the Wellington meeting
on Wednesday, all from the Commodore's perspective. Asked if
the "clean up" plan was mentioned, Madraiwiwi said there was
no discussion of the future at all.
No quit in Police Commissioner
--------------
4. (U) Police Commissioner Hughes, on leave in Australia,
informed the media that, despite rumors he has resigned under
stress, he is happy and intends to remain in his job. He
said he continues to communicate with police leadership in
the meantime.
PM questions Bainimarama sanity
--------------
5. (U) PM Qarase, on a visit in Fiji's West, sounded subdued
in media interviews, while awaiting developments. He
reconfirmed he will not resign in the face of Bainimarama's
threats. Qarase told one interviewer "it should be obvious"
after last night's media interview that Bainimarama is
"deranged and mentally unstable." The CEO in the PM's
office, Jioji Kotabalavu, is at work in Suva. He and his
staff reportedly appear resigned to being removed.
Rugby match for healing?
--------------
6. (U) As of COB, Suva remains calm. Police are present in
force. Some shops closed at noon; others remained open. The
annual Army-Police rugby match, the Ratu Sukuna Bowl, seems
the focus of Bainimarama's attention. He reportedly told
media he hopes an after-match kava (ceremonial brew) session
will help patch up frayed relations between military and
police.
U.S. messages getting media play
--------------
7. (U) A media release on the phone call this a.m. between
U/S Burns and PM Qarase is receiving play, as is a release
conveying the contents of a letter from HIRC Chairman Hyde to
Bainimarama.
EAC bumps up notices
--------------
8. (C) We held another EAC meeting in the a.m. and proposed
adjustments to our warden message and public announcement to
accent Bainimarama's reconfirmation that today is decision
day and to add focus on Suva, where most initial "clean up"
activities are likely to take place and where most RFMF
troops are stationed. A test of any coup will be how the
SUVA 00000528 002 OF 002
various elements in the RFMF respond. If there were a split
in the ranks -- not expected but one never knows -- then Suva
could be dicey. Otherwise, we would expect the RFMF to
ensure adequate security, at least initially, since the
police are under instruction not to challenge armed military
forces. With Washington clearance, we issued the revised
warden message in late a.m. Washington will process the
public announcement.
DINGER