Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SUVA549
2006-12-07 00:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Suva
Cable title:  

FIJI UPDATE 12/7: "CLEAN UP" ATTEMPT CONTINUES, AS

Tags:  PREL MARR PHUM ASEC CASC FJ 
pdf how-to read a cable
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FM AMEMBASSY SUVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3526
INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0281
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
RHHJJAA/JICPAC HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 1431
RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY PRIORITY 1023
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 1213
RUEHNZ/AMCONSUL AUCKLAND PRIORITY 0240
RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY PRIORITY 0645
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 SUVA 000549 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR PHUM ASEC CASC FJ
SUBJECT: FIJI UPDATE 12/7: "CLEAN UP" ATTEMPT CONTINUES, AS
DOES RESISTANCE

REF: A. SUVA 546

B. SUVA 543

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 03 SUVA 000549

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR PHUM ASEC CASC FJ
SUBJECT: FIJI UPDATE 12/7: "CLEAN UP" ATTEMPT CONTINUES, AS
DOES RESISTANCE

REF: A. SUVA 546

B. SUVA 543

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

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

1. (C) Commodore Bainimarama and the RFMF's PM discussed
elections via the media, leaving an impression they intend
Fiji's democracy to adjust some, with an election date a way
off. Both stressed their desire for an improved political
environment. Bainimarama asked again for the international
community to "understand," as his PM criticized the U.S. for
Iraq. RFMF "clean up" efforts continue. Some government
CEOs indicated they will stay on to help keep government
functioning. Bainimarama installed new police leadership.
Media indicated the transition was smooth; a senior police
officer said it was "under duress." Letterhead for
"President Bainimarama" is being used on termination notices.
The RFMF council of advisors has been meeting and may
include some civilian CEOs. NGOs, the Great Council of
Chiefs, and presumably Qarase continue to gear up dissent, as
RFMF intimidation efforts continue. We comment that, given
the variety of factors and actors, no conclusive judgment can
be made on whether Bainimarama's coup effort has yet
succeeded. End summary.

Bainimarama on media, elections, int'l understanding
-------------- --------------

2. (U) In a late p.m. media address, Commodore Bainimarama
said the RFMF "did not totally gag the media." It just
raised concerns regarding messages that can disturb the
peace. Bainimarama confirmed that the head of the Elections
Commission has been terminated. A successor will ready the
machinery for a clean election. Bainimarama said he has been
receiving "some" written applications for ministerial
positions in an interim government. A newspaper ad will be
out tomorrow. Bainimarama appealed for those who have "the
welfare of the nation at heart" to come forward. He said he
is appointing a team to look into Qarase Government
corruption. He appealed again to the international community
to "understand." He said "democracy is good for people but

not to hide corruption or to divide the people."

RFMF's PM on Australia, NZ, U.S., China, and elections
-------------- --------------

3. (C) The RFMF-appointed Prime Minister for Fiji, Jone
Senilagakali, gave a radio interview on Dec. 7 in which he
told New Zealand and Australia to "back off" for a month and
leave Fiji to rebuild a government without corruption. He
emphasized that he wants to help put in place a new system
that will bring prosperity and that will "remove hatred,
especially the hatred toward Indians by the indigenous
Fijians." He said, "Democracy might be all right for
Australia and New Zealand but it is certainly not all right
for Fiji, I can tell you that. I think in Fiji we need a
different type of democracy. Just look at the United States
- the father and mother of democracy. Look at what they have
done in Iraq." Senilagakali suggested that Fiji's next
election, under some different form of democracy, could be a
couple of years away. He told Australian media that if
Australia and New Zealand pull their aid, Fiji will ask the
countries of Southeast Asia, China, and Taiwan to help. He
said he is sure they will.

RFMF works at cleaning house
--------------

4. (U) The RFMF announced today that it has sacked Police
Commissioner Hughes, Acting Police Commissioner Driver,
Assistant Police Commissioner Bulamainaivalu, Public Service
Commission (PSC) chair Huggett, PSC CEO Jale, Prime
Minister's Office CEO Kotobalavu, and Solicitor General Nand.
Per ref B, all of them had spoken out against the RFMF's
illegal actions. Parliament Secretary General Mary Chapman
has also been fired. A military spokesman said other
Government CEOs and civil servants could lose their jobs as
well if they oppose the military. Late in the day, Jale told
the media the RFMF has asked all CEOs to prepare reports on
how to keep the government functioning, and a meeting is to
take place Monday to discuss plans. Kotobalavu appeared late
in the day to say that he accepts the new PM will bring in a
new CEO. Kotobalavu is going on leave. Environment Minister
Bune (a Fiji Labor member of Qarase's multi-party cabinet)
told the media today people should accept a coup and move on.

SUVA 00000549 002 OF 003


Bune, who was in the Chaudhry Government deposed in 2000,
seemed resigned to a repeat.

Police reconcile? or not?
--------------

5. (C) The RFMF's choice to be Police Commissioner, LtCol Jim
Koroi, met with Acting Commissioner Driver and other senior
police leaders in the morning. According to media reports,
the police leadership then accepted Koroi as the new boss
during a traditional Fijian ceremony, and as Driver departed,
he graciously stated he is leaving the police "in good
hands." A senior police officer has informed us that the
entire scenario was acted out "under duress." Before Koroi
arrived, the senior police leadership agreed that those not
fired would stay on, since someone must lead the rank and
file. There is concern that police might become tainted by
orders to undertake illegal acts. The force has orders to
report to senior leadership any concerns. Police at all
levels are instructed to resign if necessary. We hear,
confidentially, that Driver plans to depart Fiji Saturday,

SIPDIS
worried that "Bainimarama might have one of his mood swings"
and come after him.

President Bainimarama...
--------------

6. (C) The Aussies have seen a copy of the notice Bainimarama
sent to Police Commissioner Hughes, terminating his
employment. The letterhead is in the name of "President
Bainimarama." To date, the Commodore has not publicly used
that title.

The Council of Advisors
--------------

7. (C) In Bainimarama's media statement declaring a takeover
Tuesday evening, he said a council of advisors would assist
him until the Great Council of Chiefs could re-appoint
President Iloilo and set up an interim government. The
council has reportedly met each morning since and seems to
consist mostly of senior RFMF officers. While visiting RFMF
HQ this a.m., our DATT observed four or five civilians
engaging with advisory council members and the
RFMF-designated PM. One civilian was PSC Deputy Director for
Operations Tom Lee, who said he "has to keep things running"
or Fiji will be even worse off. He said government workers
are nervous, and leadership needs to calm them. Another
civilian was Foreign Affairs CEO Isikeli Mataitoga, whom PM
Qarase warned several diplomats not to deal with some weeks
ago because Isikeli's allegiance to the Government was
suspect. We are seeking a full list of council members.

New NGO coalition formed
--------------

8. (U) Nine NGOs and a number of prominent activists formed a
broad-based new Coalition for Democracy and Peace yesterday,
Dec. 6, to oppose Bainimarama's coup effort. They stress
devotion to the Constitution, democracy, and the rule of law,
announce they fully support the constitutionally elected
government, and declare they do not accept the authority of
the RFMF or any interim administration imposed on the people.
A resolution the group has distributed calls on the
President to establish a Commission of Truth and Justice with
a mandate to dig into the RFMF list of demands and make
binding decisions.

Intimidation efforts continue
--------------

9. (U) RFMF intimidation efforts continue. Vice President
Madraiwiwi reportedly has been booted out of his official
residence and is looking for an apartment to rent. Our
efforts to contact him today were unsuccessful. The Chair of
the GCC strongly criticized such disrespect for a senior
chief in remarks to the media, and said Madraiwiwi remains VP
in the eyes of the appointing authority, the GCC. Several
Qarase Ministers reportedly are continuing to show up for
work, letting the media know they consider Bainimarama's
termination announcement illegal. Some activists established
a "shrine to democracy" a few days ago on the face of their
home in the Suva suburb of Lami. They put up signs saying:
yes democracy, no to guns," and framed Fiji flags. Yesterday
evening, RFMF troops arrived and told the activists to have
the shrine dismantled by 8 a.m. today. The activists have
told the media they are not intimidated, and they intend to
continue exercising their rights. In remarks today,
Bainimarama acknowledged cautioning people who are trying to

SUVA 00000549 003 OF 003


destabilize things on the "consequences" that can follow.

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

10. (C) Bainimarama and the RFMF are still endeavoring to
bring the rest of Fiji on board for their coup effort.
Replacing the Police senior leadership may help in that,
depending on how the rest of the police force responds.
Today's indications from a number of CEOs that they are
prepared to stay on the job to keep government functioning
also would appear to give Bainimarama an edge. However, PM
Qarase, President Iloilo, the Great Council of Chiefs, many
in the NGO/activist community, at least some in the civil
service, and others have not bought in yet. This is Fiji and
things sometimes take a while to work through. As of COB
today, we still believe no conclusive judgment can be made
that Bainimarama's coup effort has succeeded.
DINGER