FIJI MILITARY COMMANDER ANNOUNCES COUP

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SUVA 000539

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/05/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR ASEC CASC FJ
SUBJECT: FIJI MILITARY COMMANDER ANNOUNCES COUP

REF: SUVA 538 (AND PREVIOUS)

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

Summary
--------------

1. (C) RFMF Commander Bainimarama held a media conference at
6 p.m. to announce that he has "stepped into the shoes of the
President" under the "doctrine of necessity" and is invoking
the Fiji Constitution's "reserve powers" to remove PM Qarase
and install an interim government. An hour earlier,
Bainimarama briefed the Defense Attaches in Suva similarly
(septel). Bainimarama claimed Fiji is deteriorating so
horribly that the RFMF must act to save it. He described a
legal justification that our legal contacts say won't fly.
He has dismissed all Ministers, but the rest of government
can still function, pending creation of an interim
government. Bainimarama said his vision is a multi-cultural
government overseeing a prosperous future. He said the RFMF
and police are already working as a team (something the
Police deny). Bainimarama pleaded for understanding from the
international community. Australia and New Zealand have
already publicly announced their intention to impose tough
sanctions. End summary.

An unhappy Commodore
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2. (U) In a media conference at 6 p.m., Bainimarama described
RFMF anguish over the deteriorating state of Fiji, with the
Qarase Government unable to make decisions and wrongheaded in
the decisions it has made. He referred specifically to the
controversial bills that have been his frequent themes, his
unsuccessful efforts to lobby Qarase, and his unhappiness
that the PM had tried to remove him as Commander and had
tried to create dissension in the ranks.

Absent Presidential blessing: doctrine of necessity
-------------- --------------

3. (U) Bainimarama obliquely acknowledged President Iloilo's
public announcement in the afternoon opposing RFMF
unconstitutional plans (see reftel). He blamed Vice
President Madraiwiwi for unduly pressuring the President, and
said, given the President's stance, there was a "stalemate."
He said the RFMF believes in the Constitution and wants a
constitutional resolution of the crisis. Citing legal
precedents from Fiji, Australia, and Pakistan, Bainimarama
said he must step into the shoes of the President to invoke
the Constitution's reserve powers under the "doctrine of
necessity" and to act in this "unusual situation not
envisioned by the framers." He said the Constitution will
remain in place, except for those portions that are affected
by the doctrine of necessity.

Ministers out; rest of government to function
--------------

4. (U) Bainimarama said Government Ministers will have one
month to vacate their official residences and will receive
one month severance pay; but none will be arrested...so long
as they do not interfere. The judiciary and government in
general will still function. Tomorrow, Bainimarama will call
in CEOs (the senior civil servants in the bureaucracy) and
instruct them to run their ministries until the interim
government is formed.

An interim government soon; eventual elections
-------------- -

5. (U) Bainimarama said, with his Presidential powers, he is
dismissing the PM and appointing an interim PM, Jone
Baravilala Senilagakali, an elderly medical doctor who has
military connections. Senilagakali is to dissolve
Parliament, pending formation of an interim government.
Bainimarama said he has no particular names in mind for the
interim government but will seek expressions of interest. In
the short term, he said he will appoint a military council of
advisors. Bainimarama plans to call on the Great Council of
Chiefs to re-appoint President Iloilo who will then formally
appoint the caretaker government. New democratic elections
would follow, once necessary "adjustments" are made.

A glorious and safe future
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6. (U) Bainimarama said he will ensure Fiji has a
multi-cultural government that cares for all the people and
will respect international human-rights conventions. He
urged all in Fiji to remain calm. He said the military and
police are now working together and are setting up a Joint

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Command Center to coordinate their security activities. (The
Police leadership has flatly denied all this to us.)
Bainimarama said check points around the country would remain
for five days or so, and military patrols would be more
noticeable, but there would be no curfew. He warned anyone
intending "illegal activities" not to do so.

A plea for international understanding
--------------

7. (U) Bainimarama pleaded for the international community to
attempt to learn about and understand the current situation
in Fiji before taking any actions.

Comment
--------------

8. (C) Bainimarama's speech writer clearly had to do a rapid
rewrite after President Iloilo announced this p.m. (ref A)
that he strongly opposes the RFMF actions. We are aware that
some of Bainimarama's behind-the-scenes backers are in the
judiciary. They did their best to make a silk purse out of a
sow's ear. The legal experts we have talked with in Fiji
don't accept for a minute that the RFMF can foment a crisis
and then claim "doctrine of necessity" to remove the PM.
Fiji's Constitution is clear on the very limited
circumstances in which a PM can be removed. This is not one
of them.


9. (C) The meeting Bainimarama announced with Government CEOs
tomorrow will be an early test of how pliable people will be.
Only a couple of days ago, all CEOs reportedly met and
decided unanimously to refuse to assist if the RFMF were to
conduct a coup. The approach of the police will be
interesting, too. As noted in para 6, Police leaders have
denied undertaking the cooperative process with the RFMF that
Bainimarama described. How the general public, especially
the ethnic-Fijian public reacts in coming days will be a key
factor as well. Bainimarama's request for understanding from
the international community is certain to be ignored.
Australia and New Zealand today already made clear their
disgust with the coup and their intention to impose tough
sanctions. Per Ref A, we urge Washington to join that chorus
as soon as possible.
DINGER