Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SUVA587
2006-12-22 01:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Suva
Cable title:  

FIJI UPDATE 12/22

Tags:  PREL PGOV MARR PHUM ASEC CASC FJ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4988
RR RUEHPB
DE RUEHSV #0587/01 3560118
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 220118Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY SUVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3621
INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1476
RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY 1065
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 1258
RUEHNZ/AMCONSUL AUCKLAND 0280
RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY 0685
RHHJJAA/JICPAC HONOLULU HI
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 SUVA 000587 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR PHUM ASEC CASC FJ
SUBJECT: FIJI UPDATE 12/22


SUVA 00000587 001.2 OF 003


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

Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 SUVA 000587

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR PHUM ASEC CASC FJ
SUBJECT: FIJI UPDATE 12/22


SUVA 00000587 001.2 OF 003


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

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

1. (C) In a statement issued after the conclusion of its
meeting 12/22, the Great Council of Chiefs reaffirmed the
status of the appointed President and Vice President. The
Council condemned the coup, but recognizing the reality of
the military takeover, called for the PM to resign. The
Council asked the President to appoint an interim
administration to rule Fiji until elections could be held,
based on the advice of a proposed "privy council" composed of
stakeholders in Fiji's political process. The RFMF, which
had earlier declared that it no longer recognizes the GCC or
its decisions, refused to meet a GCC delegation which wanted
to explain the proposal. A meeting may take place after
Christmas. Commander Bainimarama said in a press interview
that he had heard from the UN that Fiji's peacekeeping
operations would not be impacted by the coup. France
announced military and travel sanctions against Fiji. The
PIF Secretariat said PNG had agreed to replace Fiji as Forum
Chair.

GCC Statement Issued
--------------

2. (SBU) The GCC "reached consensus" and released a
statement 12/22 with the following main points:

--The GCC condemns the unlawful overthrow of Fiji's
democratically elected government and reaffirms its support
for democracy and the rule of law;

--It notes the political reality that the military is in
control;

--The GCC reaffirms that President Iloilo and Vice President
Madraiwiwi remain in office, despite the military commander's
claim he has usurped executive authority;

--It advises the Prime Minister to resign in light of his
inability to carry out his constitutional duties;

--The GCC calls on the RFMF Commander to order his troops to
"return to camp"; and

--The GCC recommends that President Iloilo appoint an interim
administration to return Fiji to early elections and

constitutional government.

Interim Administration Proposal
--------------

3. (SBU) The GCC proposes that the President establish a
"privy council" to advise him how to establish the interim
government. Representatives of the GCC, the military,
Qarase's SDL party, and other political parties would be
represented. The privy council will recommend a choice for
Prime Minister and the membership of the interim government.
Upon the appointment of the interim government, the RFMF will
"return to camp." In other parts of the document, the GCC
states that in addition to the President, the military, the
GCC, and various political parties, VP Madraiwiwi and PM
Qarase should have a role in helping determine the "roadmap"
to take Fiji forward.

No Mention of Immunity; Discord over
Status of President and Vice President
--------------

4. (SBU) The GCC document makes no mention of immunity for
coup leaders and soldiers. This was apparently the subject
of considerable discussion, but lawyers advised against any
GCC statements on the issue, leaving that to the proposed
interim government. Media reports indicate that the issue of
the status of the President was the source of discord at the
meetings, with Lt. Colonel Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara, a
high ranking chief for Lau and one of the coup leaders,
arguing that Bainimarama had taken executive authority from
the President and that Iloilo therefore needed to be
reappointed. The other chiefs clearly did not agree.

Military Refuses to Meet GCC Now; Perhaps After Christmas
-------------- --------------

5. (SBU) The GCC held up publication of the statement for
several hours. Apparently the Council wanted to present its
proposal to the military before making it public. Commander
Bainimarama refused a meeting, stating that he had other
scheduled appointments. According to media reports, the

SUVA 00000587 002 OF 003


Commander has agreed to a meeting next week, after Christmas.


Qarase Says He'd Consider Resigning
--------------

6. (SBU) In a television interview after the GCC proposal
was released, PM Qarase said he would consider resigning if
it is in the best interests of the country. He said he'd
need to study the GCC proposal more fully, and consult with
colleagues and advisors.

Military Says it "Does Not Recognize" the GCC
--------------

7. (C) When it became clear the evening of 12/21 that the
GCC was not going to totally cave in to the military, the
military spokesman issued a statement that "the RFMF does not
recognize the GCC." In a radio interview 12/22, Commodore
Bainimarama said "we are now running the country and people
have to accept it." "No one will stand in our way to clean
up the government, not even the chiefs." Pulling out his
standard "corruption" trump card, Bainimarama alleged that
Bokini and Adi Litia Qionibaravi of the GCC Secretariat
(fired last week by the Commander as CEO of the Fijian
Affairs Board) were using the GCC for personal gain. He said
the only GCC head who had moved the Council in the right
direction in recent years was former RFMF head (and apparent
coup supporter) Ratu Epeli Ganilau. We understand that Ratu
Tevita Uluilakeba Mara gave Bainimarama updates throughout
the GCC meetings. Apparently, Bainimarama did not like what
he heard.

Bainimarama Says UN Peacekeeping Missions Intact
-------------- ---

8. (C) During the radio interview, Bainimarama said he had
received a note from the Under Secretary of Political Affairs
at the United Nations, affirming that while the UN does not
agree with the actions taken by the RFMF, Fiji's operations
in the UN peacekeeping arena would continue. Bainimarama
also insisted Fiji is taking steps to resume normal relations
with other countries, pointing to the Melanesian Spearhead
Group delegation now in Suva.

The Commander's Thin Skin Shows
--------------

9. (C) In the radio interview, Bainimarama lashed out at the
small group of democracy advocates who have built a
"democracy shrine" outside Suva and who demonstrated outside
the GCC venue yesterday. He said the group is "really
irritating the military," and alleged that the advocates'
stand for democracy is a smokescreen engineered by the SDL.
Bainimarama also warned PM Qarase to stop making comments
from his home island of Lau. Otherwise, he said, the
military will have to take steps to cut off Qarase's
communications links with the outside world. (Comment: We
hear that Fiji Telecom and Vodafone protested the military's
earlier written order to cut off telephone links to Qarase's
home island, noting the inconvenience, possible lawsuits and
bad publicity it would bring. The military reportedly then
rescinded the order.)

France Announces Sanctions;
New Zealand Amends Travel Advisory
--------------

10. (U) France announced 12/22 that it has suspended
military ties with Fiji and will not issue visas to members
of the military or civilians involved in the coup. All
visits by Fiji military officials to France or French
territories are suspended, as are any encounters and
exercises between the two militaries.


11. (U) New Zealand downgraded its travel advisory,
recommending against non-essential travel to Suva, but no
longer warning its citizens to avoid travel to the rest of
Fiji. This makes the New Zealand advisory roughly equivalent
to the U.S. Public Announcement language on travel to Fiji.

PNG is Forum Chair
--------------

12. (U) The Pacific Island Forum Secretariat announced
today that PNG President Somare will take over as Forum
Chair. Forum Secretary General Greg Urwin said the RFMF has
prevented PM Qarase from exercising his leadership of the
government of Fiji and made it impossible to fulfill his
duties as Forum Chair. Urwin said PNG would assume the
position of Chair until a lawful head of government in Fiji
was in place to re-occupy the position.

SUVA 00000587 003 OF 003



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

13. (C) The military is clearly not happy with several
aspects of the GCC proposal. Only if the military shows some
willingness to compromise will the GCC have any hope of
influencing how Fiji resolves the crisis caused by the
military takeover. The RFMF has shown no such signs of
flexibility to date.









DINGER