Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SUVA543
2006-12-05 23:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Suva
Cable title:  

FIJI UPDATE 12/6: BAINIMARAMA DISSOLVES

Tags:  PREL MARR PHUM ASEC CASC FJ 
pdf how-to read a cable
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TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3516
INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA IMMEDIATE 1425
RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY IMMEDIATE 1018
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON IMMEDIATE 1207
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
RHHJJAA/JICPAC HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
RUEHNZ/AMCONSUL AUCKLAND PRIORITY 0235
RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY PRIORITY 0638
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 SUVA 000543 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR PHUM ASEC CASC FJ
SUBJECT: FIJI UPDATE 12/6: BAINIMARAMA DISSOLVES
PARLIAMENT, INTIMIDATES VIPS, AND THREATENS FORCE IF
DISSENT REQUIRES IT

REF: A. SUVA 538 (AND PREVIOUS)


B. SUVA 539

C. STATE 195599

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 04 SUVA 000543

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR PHUM ASEC CASC FJ
SUBJECT: FIJI UPDATE 12/6: BAINIMARAMA DISSOLVES
PARLIAMENT, INTIMIDATES VIPS, AND THREATENS FORCE IF
DISSENT REQUIRES IT

REF: A. SUVA 538 (AND PREVIOUS)


B. SUVA 539

C. STATE 195599

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

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

1. (C) Commodore Bainimarama swore in his caretaker Prime
Minister of Fiji Wednesday late afternoon and then dissolved
Parliament. He later announced new Commissioners of Police
and Prisons. The RFMF moved VP Madraiwiwi out of his office
today and convinced PM Qarase to relocate, for now, to his
home in Fiji's Lau Islands. Cabinet members, including FM
Tavola, are lying low, awaiting developments. In a media
statement, Bainimarama acknowledged that some senior civil
servants and the Great Council of Chiefs are not cooperating.
He threatened that if dissension pushes the RFMF to use
force, it will do so "very quickly." Bainimarama and the
RFMF have endeavored to intimidate, at times quite crudely,
public servants, the police, and the media. An effort by
some to drum up a government of national unity looks unlikely
to flower. In a lukewarm reaction, former PM and Fiji Labor
Party (FLP) head Chaudhry has said he cannot condone
Bainimarama's coup, but he understands the substantive
frustrations that motivated it. End summary.

Bainimarama swears in caretaker PM
--------------

2. (C) Just before 5 p.m., RFMF Commander Bainimarama, acting
in his self-appointed role as executive of Fiji, swore in
Jone Baravilala Senilagakali as caretaker Prime Minister (see
ref B). We found out a bit about Senilagakali from a
long-time contact who is a close relative of the man. That
source reports he is 76 years old. He is a medical doctor
who, while semi-retired, serves as a manager for RFMF medical
funds. Twenty or more years ago he was Permanent Secretary
for Health and for Foreign Affairs, and also served at Fiji
missions in Los Angeles and in Japan. He is described as
"not a nationalist," and reportedly he has become close to
Bainimarama, respecting his views on "moral issues."

Senilagakali's family had no idea the appointment was coming.
His wife and children were embarrassed.

CEOs not cooperating; interim government deferred
-------------- --------------

3. (U) In a short media statement after the swearing in,
Bainimarama said that, on the advice of the caretaker PM, he
has dissolved Parliament. Bainimarama announced the
caretaker government he mentioned last night has been "put on
hold" because the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) has deferred
its meeting, earlier scheduled for next week. Bainimarama
said ministerial posts for the new government will be
advertised and anyone can apply. He stressed the importance
of the state continuing to function, then noted that a number
of CEOs are "not cooperating."

RFMF removes VP from office
--------------

4. (C) We are told RFMF troops entered Vice President
Madraiwiwi's office today and then escorted him to his
official residence. Presumably the action was intended to
illustrate Bainimarama's announcement last night that he had
removed the current Government. It also surely exemplified
Bainimarama's intense displeasure that the VP wrote the
statement yesterday decrying the RFMF coup attempt and
convinced President Iloilo to issue it (ref A),thereby
frustrating the RFMF intention to argue that the President
was an accomplice. We gather Iloilo, himself, has not been
resettled, but his office and his home are both in Government
House, and Bainimarama's statement last night indicated an
intention to have the Great Council of Chiefs re-appoint the
President (no mention of the VP) in a few weeks.

PM Qarase prodded to depart Suva
--------------

5. (C) Fiji PM Qarase flew from Suva's Nausori airport to his
home island in eastern Fiji's Lau Group early this morning.
We spoke with him around mid-day by phone and conveyed the
U.S. statement (ref C). He appreciated the sentiments.
Qarase said intelligence reports had indicated the RFMF was
intending to forcibly remove him from his residence, put him
on a Fiji Navy ship, and send him off to Lau. He instead
made arrangements to fly. Qarase told us that, with multiple

SUVA 00000543 002 OF 004


phone lines in hand, he is keeping in contact with his team
in Suva. They are discussing next steps. Qarase confirmed
that he has not/not resigned as PM, and he said he intends to
return to Suva as soon as is reasonable.

FM Tavola is lying low; RFMF hit list
--------------

6. (C) We spoke with Foreign Minister Tavola today to let him
know of the U.S. statement. He expressed appreciation for
the American views, but said Bainimarama, unfortunately, is
"beyond logic. He doesn't see the full implications of his
actions. It is sad." Tavola said the Cabinet has decided to
"lie low" as the situation unfolds. He said the RFMF is
known to have a "hit list" that includes Attorney General
Bale, PM CEO Kotobalavu, and others. Tavola said Bale has
shifted from his usual lodging. RFMF troops took Kotobalavu
from his office to Queen Elizabeth Barracks (QEB) at
mid-morning.

Bainimarama warns all: cooperate, or else...
--------------

7. (C) In today's media statement, Bainimarama said the "life
of the state is threatened" by efforts to stir opposition,
thus he must regretfully, under the doctrine of necessity,
derogate from the Constitution's Bill of Rights and declare a
state of emergency. He noted that Qarase has continued to
make statements, as have Acting Police Commissioner Moses
Driver, Solicitor General Nainendra Nand, Public Service
Commission (PSC) Chairman Stuart Huggett, Elections
Commission Chair Karavaki, and others. Bainimarama said such
people "do not have the freedom to incite riots" and their
comments "are not helping create a peaceful transition to a
democratic government." He said all parties must cooperate.
"There is no point in debating legalities, Qarase and his
cronies are not coming back." If the RFMF is "pushed to use
force, it will do so very quickly." He noted the possibility
of a curfew. (Note: In a short chat with the Embassy DATT
today, Bainimarama said he will impose a curfew beginning
tonight.) The RFMF has distributed its Declaration of State
of Emergency which announces several security measures under
Bainimarama's name: a two-tier security cordon around Suva; a
notice that RFMF reserves will march into camps for the
purpose of being deployed to support the RFMF's current
efforts; and a grant to RFMF reserves of the right to enforce
curfews.

Intimidating public servants
--------------

8. (C) Bainimarama told the DATT he would not meet with
ministry CEOs today. Still, RFMF troops reportedly broke up
a meeting of CEOs with the PSC head Huggett and chief
Government lawyer Nand this morning, and then, under protest,
took the group to the RFMF Strategic Headquarters. Another
source reports the group was forced to listen to a lecture on
the military version of "doctrine of necessity." Huggett,
head of the PSC, told a contact that someone from the RFMF
threw him to the ground, then Bainimarama grabbed him by the
ear and threatened: "don't f*** with the military." By late
afternoon, CEOs were reportedly back in their offices, but
without instructions from the RFMF.

Also attempting to intimidate police
--------------

9. (C) RFMF troops forced Acting Police Commissioner Driver
and the Deputy Commissioner for Crime to go to QEB around
mid-day, breaking up a meeting of senior Police officers at
the Police Tactical Response Unit (PTR) headquarters. The
two were later released, and Driver told us he had met for
only 30 seconds with Bainimarama who told him: "stop making
statements." With the DATT, Bainimarama said he intends to
"sack" Driver and appoint new blood at the top ASAP. In the
media statement this afternoon, the Commodore announced he
has appointed BrigGen Naivalurura, until recently head of
RFMF forces in UNAMI in Iraq, as Commissioner of Prisons, and
LtCol. (ret.) Jim Koroi as Police Commissioner. (Note:
Naivalurura, a highly respected straight shooter, reportedly
told Bainimarama he would not participate in a coup. The
shift to Prisons removes a rival and potential dissident from
the RFMF. Koroi is a close advisor to Bainimarama.)

and the media, too
--------------

10. (C) Bainimarama told the DATT he didn't force closure of
the Fiji Times and Fiji TV news last night. However, when

SUVA 00000543 003 OF 004


Qarase appeared on Fiji TV immediately after the coup speech
(ref B),Bainimarama said, "I had to act." (Note: we are
told RFMF troops visited both media organizations, along with
several others, and insisted on overseeing news reporting.
The two media organizations refused to comply, preferring to
close.) The Fiji Sun tells us no RFMF troops visited them,
so they went ahead and published today. They covered
Bainimarama's speech but declined to run the President's
statement of opposition. The editor told us The Sun couldn't
get confirmation of authenticity from Government House. The
Fiji Post, after closing down under reported RFMF threat two
days ago (ref A),managed to publish a short edition this
morning. It had significant news about Bainimarama's speech,
the President's opposition, and continuing expressions of
dismay from the public. The two biggest Fiji radio networks
had RFMF visitors but continued to report the news, seemingly
in full. The head of Fiji's Media Council spoke out publicly
decrying RFMF efforts to censor free speech and press.


11. (U) We hear from media sources that, during the day,
representatives of the media organizations met with RFMF
Chief of Staff Teleni, who apologized for the RFMF
interference. He said the troops would be removed, and they
have been. Teleni tendered a request that "journalism be
responsible and not incite violence." The media said they
would abide by that.

Closing down Parliament
--------------

12. (U) Reportedly, RFMF troops entered Parliament this
morning during the Senate's sitting and closed it down. The
House concluded its fall sitting a couple of weeks ago, after
passing the budget for 2007. We have heard the Senate rushed
to pass the budget yesterday, worried about military
intentions. Reportedly, the RFMF escorted Speaker of the
House Nacuva (a former Ambassador to the U.S.) to QEB,
joining the crowd there.

Gov't of National Unity?
--------------

13. (C) We hear that Opposition Leader Mick Beddoes, who has
spoken clearly against the takeover, and Independent Minister
Rob Irwin are attempting to negotiate a government of
national unity (GNU),to be composed of parliamentarians, but
with no Qarase ministers. The concept would have Qarase step
down as PM. Not surprisingly, Qarase reportedly expressed
reluctance. (Note: Some 23 of the 36 parliamentarians from
Qarase's SDL party have been Ministers or State Ministers in
the current government, including all those considered
capable of ministerial assignments. The proposed GNU
seemingly would be heavy with non-SDL members, obviously not
very attractive to Qarase.) We doubt Bainimarama would find
it particularly attractive either.

Former PM Chaudhry speaks
--------------

14. (U) Fiji Labor Party leader Chaudhry told the media last
night that he will not serve in an interim government since
Bainimarama's actions are obviously illegal. Chaudhry issued
an FLP media release today calling for the restoration of
democratic rule ASAP. Much of the release described in
detail the faults of the Qarase Government; however, it
concluded by saying: "Quite simply, we cannot condone coups
as each coup sets the country back at least 20 years."
Chaudhry said there is still time to salvage the situation,
but it will require a genuine desire by those concerned to
act in the best interest of the nation and its people.

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

15. (C) Somewhat surprisingly, Bainimarama in his media
statement today acknowledged that senior civil servants, the
GCC, and other malcontents, including Qarase, are frustrating
his plans. Not surprisingly, Bainimarama is striving to
undercut those efforts, including by threats of force.
Bainimarama's reported mistreatment of PSC head Huggett is a
disturbing insight into bullying instincts, as were the
efforts to throttle the media and police. Qarase's mention
that his team is discussing next steps and Bainimarama's
mention of a curfew, etc., indicate impressions that the
current calm in Suva might heat up a bit. That said, it
appears Qarase and his followers accept they would lose if
they were to create a major public disturbance that could
give the RFMF an opportunity to justify a hard crack-down.

SUVA 00000543 004 OF 004


DINGER