FIJI UPDATE 12/20: NO OUTCOME YET AT THE GCC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SUVA 000578

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/20/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR PHUM ASEC CASC FJ
SUBJECT: FIJI UPDATE 12/20: NO OUTCOME YET AT THE GCC

REF: SUVA 573 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: DCM Ted Mann per 1.4 (B) and (D)

Summary
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1. (C) As expected, there was no substantive outcome
announced at the end of the 12/20 meeting of the Great
Council of Chiefs. The GCC meeting will conclude 12/21. The
Chairman of the GCC began the 12/20 session by noting how the
GCC had been ridiculed by the military, and urged Chiefs not
to be intimidated. Bainimarama, PM Qarase and President
Iloilo did not attend. Vice President Madraiwiwi did show
up, despite offering his resignation 12/19. The U.S.
announcement of sanctions against Fiji received considerable
air play. The military government has agreed to a visit by
the Pacific Island Forum's Eminent Persons Group in January,
but will receive a Melanesian Spearhead Group delegation
first. On a day when everyone else in the nation seemed to
be focusing on the GCC, the military government announced
that it was sticking to a "One China" policy.

First Day of GCC Concludes
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2. (C) The first day of the GCC concluded 12/20 with no
substantive outcome. At a short press conference at the end
of the day's deliberations, a GCC spokesperson noted that
meetings will continue 12/21. The spokesperson said the GCC
discussed the origins of the current crisis, but was "deeply
saddened" that legal and constitutional avenues to resolve
grievances had not been adequately explored. She said the
Council hoped to agree on ways to help resolve the crisis in
the 12/21 meetings. She noted that the Council had invited
Commander Bainimarama to the meeting. (He has already said he
won't attend).


3. (C) GCC Chairman Ratu Ovini Bokini addressed the chiefs
at the GCC opening, noting the entire nation is awaiting
their decisions. He said the country is in crisis, with the
economy reeling, tourism down, and international sanctions
biting hard. The chiefs need to "stand united" to help the
country through this difficult time. Clearly referring to
military criticism of the GCC, Ratu Ovini bitterly decried
how the GCC has been ridiculed and its authority questioned.
Chiefs, he said, should not be intimidated, but should
deliberate "in good conscience."


4. (SBU) As reported reftel, neither Commodore Bainimarama
nor PM Qarase attended the meeting; Qarase because the RFMF
wouldn't let him fly into Suva, Bainimarama because he wasn't
invited in the capacity of "Acting President." President
Iloilo did not attend today's GCC, but Vice President Ratu
Joni Madraiwiwi did. Ratu Joni tendered his resignation as
VP to GCC Chairman Ratu Ovini Bokini late on December 19, but
sat in the chair designated for the VP in the 12/20 session.
The GCC did not issue any statements about Ratu Joni's status
during or after the 12/20 meeting. Other attendees at the
GCC meeting included Minister of Education Ro Teimumu Kepa,
Minister without Portfolio Adi Samanunu Cakobau, and State
Minister Ratu Suliano Matanitobua. All are prominent chiefs,
but not members of the GCC. Reportedly, chiefs from all 14
provinces attended the meeting. Several church leaders also
attended. Graham Leung, President of the Fiji Law Society,
met with Ratu Ovini just before the meeting started,
presumably to inform him of the GCC's legal obligations and
options under the Constitution.

U.S. Press Statement Gets Considerable Press Coverage
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5. (U) The statement by State Department Spokesman Sean
McCormick announcing U.S. measures in response to the coup
received considerable air play on TV, radio, and on the
various news websites in Fiji. The press highlighted the
loss of U.S. military assistance and the visa restrictions on
coup and interim government leaders.

MSG Delegation Coming to Fiji, Eminent Persons to Follow
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6. (C) MFA CEO Isikeli Mataitoga told the Australian High
Commissioner today that the military has agreed to a visit by
a four-person Melanesian Spearhead Group delegation later
this week. The delegation will be "CEO level" according to
Mataitoga. Solomon Islands Secretary to Cabinet, Dr. John

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Roughan, told Radio New Zealand the aim of the visit is to
assist Fiji return to democratic rule. In a statement issued
on the RFMF website 12/20, the military announced that it had
also agreed to a visit of the Pacific Island Forum's Eminent
Persons Group. According to the statement, "We reiterate
that Fiji stands ready to hear wise counsel....It must be
stressed that what has taken place is now water under the
bridge. We express the hope that the Eminent Person's Group
would come to offer real assistance and practical solution to
the current difficulties in Fiji." We understand the EPG
visit will take place in mid-January.

Speight Moved From Nukulau
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7. (C) 2000 Coup leader George Speight and 20 CRW soldiers
involved in the 2000 coup were transferred today out of
Nukulau island, as Commodore Bainimarama promised earlier in
the week. Speight has reportedly been transferred to Naboro
prison, about 20 minutes west of Suva.

Meanwhile, the RFMF Reaffirms the "One China" Policy
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8. (C) The "Office of the Acting President and Commander
RFMF" issued a press statement 12/20 reaffirming Fiji's
adherence to the One China Policy. According to the
statement, "Fiji recognizes the People's Republic of China as
the legitimate government of all China including the province
of Taiwan." "This re-statement we feel is necessary to put
beyond any doubt any suggestions that Fiji may have changed
its position on this important objective in Fiji's Foreign
Policy Framework."

Comment
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9. (C) All eyes are on the GCC meeting tomorrow. We are
not particularly optimistic that there will be any
breakthroughs at the meeting to help "resolve" the crisis
caused by the illegal actions of Fiji's military.










DINGER