FIJI UPDATE 12/21: NO CONSENSUS REACHED BY GREAT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SUVA 000582 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR PHUM ASEC CASC FJ SUBJECT: FIJI UPDATE 12/21: NO CONSENSUS REACHED BY GREAT COUNCIL OF CHIEFS; MEETINGS TO CONTINUE 12/22 REF: SUVA 578 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: DCM Ted Mann per 1.4 (B) and (D) Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) The Great Council of Chiefs failed to reach consensus during their meeting 12/21. The meetings have therefore been extended an extra day. A GCC press release stated that the Council "has agreed in principle on resolutions that are within the legal and constitutional framework," and that final recommendations would be issued 12/22. The failure to reach consensus follows a day of intense speculation that the GCC would endorse a proposal to ask PM Qarase to resign and grant immunity to coup leaders, in return for the establishment of a non-military interim government. PRC Embassy officials told us the "One China" statement posted on the RFMF website 12/20 was the result of a representation by the PRC Embassy to the CEO of Foreign Affairs. GCC Fails to Reach Consensus -------------- ¶2. (C) A press release issued after the conclusion of the day's GCC meeting stated that "the GCC has completed its second day of meeting and has agreed in principle on resolutions that are within the legal and constitutional framework. The Council will meet again tomorrow, Friday 22 December, for final recommendations and endorsement." GCC Chairman Ratu Ovina Bokini told us the Council was "getting closer to making a decision," but that it had not been possible to reach consensus. He offered no further details. Media reports said that two of Fiji's three confederacies had reached a tentative agreement, but a third, the Tovata confederacy, disagreed. Reportedly, the Tovata confederacy's discussions were led by Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara, the son of the late President Ratu Kamisese Mara, and one of the highest ranking officers in the RFMF. The Media and Bainimarama Jump the Gun -------------- ¶3. (C) The failure to reach an agreement followed a day of fevered speculation that the Council would endorse granting immunity to coup leaders in return for the establishment of a non-military interim government. The scenario spelled out in this morning's papers and throughout the day in radio and internet reports suggested that the GCC would "reinstate" President Iloilo, and ask Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase to resign. This would presumably pave the way for a decision by Iloilo to dissolve parliament and appoint an interim administration. The GCC was reportedly prepared to recommend immunity for Commander Bainimarama, all other coup leaders, and all RFMF troops. In return, the military would remove itself from government and "return to the barracks." Apparently mistaking the above-reported scenario as a done deal, Commander Bainimarama told reporters that "This sounds good to me. But it will not happen overnight. It will happen in our own time." Small Protest Outside GCC Venue -------------- ¶4. (U) A small group of protesters outside the FMF Dome, the site of the GCC meeting, were detained by police and later released. The protesters, the same group that built a "democracy shrine" just outside Suva, were carrying Fiji flags and brandishing placards condemning the coup. They were detained because they had no permit to stage the protest. "One China" Policy Statement Explained -------------- ¶5. (C) The DCM at the PRC Embassy in Suva, Fei Mingxing, told us today that the "One China" policy announcement on the RFMF website posted 12/20 (reftel) was the result of a request the PRC Embassy made to Isikeli Mataitoga, the CEO of Foreign Affairs. Fei said the PRC did not want to see Taiwan take advantage of the current situation. In the turmoil after the 1987 coup, he said, Taiwan's trade office in Suva was upgraded to the present "Trade Mission of the Republic of China (Taiwan)." In the 1999-2000 period, Taiwan made further gains, including, at one point, having the Taiwan mission included in the diplomatic registry. Fei said the PRC did not want to see these unfortunate episodes repeated. Fei said Fiji had not yet made requests for additional aid from the PRC. At present, Fiji's civil service is in such SUVA 00000582 002 OF 002 disarray that even previously agreed-upon aid initiatives could not move forward. Fei said the Embassy had no dealings with the military, but only worked through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. ¶6. (C) Sherman Kuo, Taiwan's Representative in Fiji, told us "it is obvious" that the PRC and the military have made a deal: the PRC will provide increased aid, and Bainimarama will actively promote a "One China" policy. Kuo said he had heard from two prominent Indo-Fijian businessmen that the military authorities had approached two countries for help, China and India. Kuo said he has received explicit instructions from Taipei to "stay totally out of the current crisis." No one from the government or military has contacted the Taiwan mission, he said. Comment: One Day More -------------- ¶7. (C) The word in the street now is that the GCC will reaffirm its appointment earlier in the year of Ratu Josefa Iloilo as President and Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi as Vice President, and restate its commitment to the rule of law and the Constitution. Whether that scenario plays out, or another one more favored by the military, remains to be seen. Stay tuned. DINGER