Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SUVA558
2006-12-14 20:01:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Suva
Cable title:  

FIJI UPDATE 12/15: GCC AND THE FUTURE; HUMAN

Tags:  PREL MARR PHUM ASEC CASC FJ 
pdf how-to read a cable
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RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY PRIORITY 1043
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 1234
RUEHNZ/AMCONSUL AUCKLAND PRIORITY 0260
RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY PRIORITY 0665
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHHJJAA/JICPAC HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SUVA 000558 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR PHUM ASEC CASC FJ
SUBJECT: FIJI UPDATE 12/15: GCC AND THE FUTURE; HUMAN
RIGHTS ISSUES; HIGH COMMISSION SECURITY JUDGMENTS

REF: SUVA 557

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 000558

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR PHUM ASEC CASC FJ
SUBJECT: FIJI UPDATE 12/15: GCC AND THE FUTURE; HUMAN
RIGHTS ISSUES; HIGH COMMISSION SECURITY JUDGMENTS

REF: SUVA 557

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

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

1. (C) PM Qarase, RFMF Commander Bainimarama, and Great
Council of Chiefs (GCC) Chair Bokini remain headline players
for how Fiji's political future will unfold. There is no
obvious clarity. Reports of troubling RFMF intimidation
tactics continue to flow in. We offered support to human
rights defenders via a letter to newspapers. Fiji's Human
Rights Commissioner Shameem is drawing fire from NGOs for
perceived bias toward the military. The Australian High
Commission has been lowering its security profile a bit. The
UK may forbid people with RFMF links from applying to become
British soldiers. End summary.

Qarase, Bainimarama, the GCC, and the future
--------------

2. (U) PM Qarase told a radio interviewer today that it is
looking "more and more difficult" to get back into power, but
he still sees a possibility for the RFMF to withdraw and let
the legitimate government return. It remains unclear whether
the Great Council of Chiefs will meet next week. Commodore
Bainimarama threatened publicly today that "if the Great
Council decides to hold off appointing a president, this
transitional regime can rule for up to 50 years." He added
that if the GCC wants to re-install Qarase, then it should
expect "another thing coming." GCC Chair Bokini told an
interviewer he expects the meeting to take place.

Embassy supports human rights v. RFMF intimidation
-------------- --------------

3. (C) The Ambassador submitted a letter to Suva's three
newspapers, celebrating International Human Rights Day and
supporting efforts by media and NGOs to protect human rights
in Fiji. On that front, when the RFMF brought in Attorney
General Bale for interrogation, Col. Driti reportedly put a
pistol to Bale's head. When the RFMF brought in Post editor
Wolfgramm yesterday (ref),LtCol. Mara reportedly hit the
journalist across the face with a newspaper while announcing
he would be deported. The Australian HighComm tells us the
deportation has been delayed while Fiji authorities sort out
if a person born in Fiji, though now a citizen elsewhere, can
legally be expelled.

Fiji HRC's Shameem drawing fire
--------------

4. (C) The NGO community is becoming very displeased with the
Chair of the Fiji Human Rights Commission (HRC),Dr. Shaista
Shameem, sister of High Court Judge Nazhat Shameem. Rumors
in Suva are spreading that both sisters have unsavory links
with the RFMF. Ever since the coup, Shaista has been
unnaturally quiet, while evidence has mounted of RFMF
intimidation efforts. The only time she has gone public was
to announce that the HRC would help RFMF lawyers defend
against their possible expulsion from the Fiji Law Society
for having allegedly advised Bainimarama he could undertake a
coup. NGOs figured the RFMF lawyers could take care of
themselves, whereas many victims in Fiji really need HRC
assistance. We hear that when the head of a prominent NGO
visited HRC offices earlier this week seeking an explanation,
Shaista said she has been engaged in "confidential
discussions" with the RFMF that she could not reveal.

Aussie HighComm to-ing and fro-ing
--------------

5. (C) The Australian High Commission told us that, effective
tomorrow, dependents will be allowed to return to Suva. Most
plan to, in order to celebrate Christmas in Fiji. We hear
the three Australian Navy ships that have hovered off Fiji
are taking a break. We have noticed that most of the extra
security personnel who were in Suva for weeks, planning for
contingencies, have departed. NZ High Commission dependents
are not yet being allowed to return. As previously reported,
the UK High Commission went on authorized departure in
November, but no dependents left Fiji.

UK military recruiting in Fiji on temporary hold
-------------- ---

6. (C) The UK will announce next week that the scheduled
visit of a recruiting team from the British Army, scheduled
for mid-January, will be delayed by at least one month.
This visit was to have finalized recruitment of about 200

SUVA 00000558 002 OF 002


soldiers into the British army. The UK High Commission would
like to announce that, in future recruitments, no RFMF or
former RFMF soldiers would be eligible. This is mostly
symbolic. It appears no RFMF soldiers have been selected in
the three years of the program. London has yet to decide the
issue.
DINGER