Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07SUVA130
2007-02-25 20:20:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Suva
Cable title:
FIJI UPDATE 2/26/07: FIJI SUGGESTS PRE-PIF
how-toVZCZCXRO7198 PP RUEHPB DE RUEHSV #0130/01 0562020 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 252020Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY SUVA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3817 INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1596 RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 0003 RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY 1174 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 0018 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 1373 RUEHNZ/AMCONSUL AUCKLAND 0388 RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY 0796 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0299 RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI RHHJJAA/JICPAC HONOLULU HI
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SUVA 000130
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
ROME PLEASE PASS TO MFO SINAI FOR LAROCCO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR PHUM ASEC FJ
SUBJECT: FIJI UPDATE 2/26/07: FIJI SUGGESTS PRE-PIF
DISCUSSIONS; ONGOING SUDAN AND SINAI PKO DEPLOYMENTS;
ANOTHER DEATH FROM MILITARY BEATING; SEEKING A FACADE OF
INTERNATIONAL NORMALITY
REF: SUVA 123
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 000130
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
ROME PLEASE PASS TO MFO SINAI FOR LAROCCO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR PHUM ASEC FJ
SUBJECT: FIJI UPDATE 2/26/07: FIJI SUGGESTS PRE-PIF
DISCUSSIONS; ONGOING SUDAN AND SINAI PKO DEPLOYMENTS;
ANOTHER DEATH FROM MILITARY BEATING; SEEKING A FACADE OF
INTERNATIONAL NORMALITY
REF: SUVA 123
Classified By: Amb. Dinger. Sec. 1.4 (B,D).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) Commodore Bainimarama is seeking interim-government
discussions with the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) before a
Forum ministerial meeting to discuss the PIF Eminent Persons
Group (EPG) report on Fiji. The interim government is
highlighting the (continuing) deployment of RFMF troops to
PKO efforts in the Sinai and Sudan. New Zealand is
reportedly raising concerns at UN HQ. A young man who
suffered a severe RFMF beating Jan. 28, died on Feb. 24 in
Nadi. The interim government trumpeted the departure of
interim Foreign Minister Nailatikau for EU ACP meetings in
Brussels, the first overseas travel by an interim minister.
We hear Japan quietly declined to permit interim Tourism
Minister Rounds Ganilau to visit Tokyo. End summary.
Fiji/Forum discussions?
--------------
2. (U) Commodore Bainimarama suggested on Feb. 23 that a
working group of Fiji and PIF officials meet to discuss how
the report of the PIF EPG and the Fiji interim government's
road map for a return to democracy might be reconciled in the
lead-up to a PIF Ministerial meeting, which we hear is
tentatively scheduled for March 16 in Vanuatu. Thus far, the
Forum has not responded.
The UN, MFO, Fiji, and New Zealand
--------------
3. (C) The interim government announced late last week that
92 Fiji soldiers will depart in the next few weeks to the
Sinai and Sudan to continue RFMF participation in UN
peacekeeping. Six, including Commodore Bainimarama's
personal secretary Capt. Penioni Naliva (who is on the U.S.
visa-ban list),are to depart March 2 to Sudan; 86 are to go
a bit later to the Sinai. (Note: Those to the Sinai
presumably are in the RFMF's normal thrice-yearly rotations
to MFO Sinai, not a deployment to a UNPKO.) According to
media reports, New Zealand has asked the UN to clarify its
position on Fiji participation in UN PKO efforts.
Another death from abuse
--------------
4. (U) A 19-year-old student from Nadi died over the weekend,
apparently from the complications of a military beating on
Jan. 28. RFMF troops and one policeman picked up the student
and three friends on suspicion of being marijuana users and
took them to the Black Rock military camp where they were
abused. When the student returned home he had bruises and
cuts on his body and suffered severe headaches and seizures.
He sought medical treatment, which in the end included
surgery to relieve blood clots on his brain. All to no
avail. He died on Feb. 24. There are reports, as yet
unconfirmed, of another military-beating death in Savusavu in
recent days.
Australian Police and Fiji investigations
--------------
5. (U) Fiji Acting Police Commissioner Tikotikoca told the
media on Feb. 23 that two Australian Federal Police officers
would arrive in Fiji shortly to assist with the interim
administration's "clean up" campaign. Australian High
Commissioner Batley told us he was baffled by the story. Two
AFP officers are in Suva, but only to investigate allegations
against Aussie conman Peter Foster, certainly not to assist
the "clean up." Batley made a media statement to correct the
record.
Comment
--------------
6. (C) The interim government is trying its best to signal
international normality to the Fiji public and to RFMF
troops. The announcement of the latest PKO deployments fed
that effort, as did the Acting Police Commissioner's spin re
the AFP, as did publicity over the departure on Feb. 23 of
SUVA 00000130 002 OF 002
interim Foreign Minister Nailatikau for EU ACP meetings in
Brussels, billed as the first foreign travel of an interim
minister. Qarase FM Tavola told us the ACP meeting would not
have required an invitation, and would not have merited press
mention in normal circumstances. We hear interim Tourism
Minister Rounds Ganilau sought a visit to Tokyo in recent
days but was turned down by the Japanese Government. That
bit of information has not reached the press.
DINGER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
ROME PLEASE PASS TO MFO SINAI FOR LAROCCO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR PHUM ASEC FJ
SUBJECT: FIJI UPDATE 2/26/07: FIJI SUGGESTS PRE-PIF
DISCUSSIONS; ONGOING SUDAN AND SINAI PKO DEPLOYMENTS;
ANOTHER DEATH FROM MILITARY BEATING; SEEKING A FACADE OF
INTERNATIONAL NORMALITY
REF: SUVA 123
Classified By: Amb. Dinger. Sec. 1.4 (B,D).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) Commodore Bainimarama is seeking interim-government
discussions with the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) before a
Forum ministerial meeting to discuss the PIF Eminent Persons
Group (EPG) report on Fiji. The interim government is
highlighting the (continuing) deployment of RFMF troops to
PKO efforts in the Sinai and Sudan. New Zealand is
reportedly raising concerns at UN HQ. A young man who
suffered a severe RFMF beating Jan. 28, died on Feb. 24 in
Nadi. The interim government trumpeted the departure of
interim Foreign Minister Nailatikau for EU ACP meetings in
Brussels, the first overseas travel by an interim minister.
We hear Japan quietly declined to permit interim Tourism
Minister Rounds Ganilau to visit Tokyo. End summary.
Fiji/Forum discussions?
--------------
2. (U) Commodore Bainimarama suggested on Feb. 23 that a
working group of Fiji and PIF officials meet to discuss how
the report of the PIF EPG and the Fiji interim government's
road map for a return to democracy might be reconciled in the
lead-up to a PIF Ministerial meeting, which we hear is
tentatively scheduled for March 16 in Vanuatu. Thus far, the
Forum has not responded.
The UN, MFO, Fiji, and New Zealand
--------------
3. (C) The interim government announced late last week that
92 Fiji soldiers will depart in the next few weeks to the
Sinai and Sudan to continue RFMF participation in UN
peacekeeping. Six, including Commodore Bainimarama's
personal secretary Capt. Penioni Naliva (who is on the U.S.
visa-ban list),are to depart March 2 to Sudan; 86 are to go
a bit later to the Sinai. (Note: Those to the Sinai
presumably are in the RFMF's normal thrice-yearly rotations
to MFO Sinai, not a deployment to a UNPKO.) According to
media reports, New Zealand has asked the UN to clarify its
position on Fiji participation in UN PKO efforts.
Another death from abuse
--------------
4. (U) A 19-year-old student from Nadi died over the weekend,
apparently from the complications of a military beating on
Jan. 28. RFMF troops and one policeman picked up the student
and three friends on suspicion of being marijuana users and
took them to the Black Rock military camp where they were
abused. When the student returned home he had bruises and
cuts on his body and suffered severe headaches and seizures.
He sought medical treatment, which in the end included
surgery to relieve blood clots on his brain. All to no
avail. He died on Feb. 24. There are reports, as yet
unconfirmed, of another military-beating death in Savusavu in
recent days.
Australian Police and Fiji investigations
--------------
5. (U) Fiji Acting Police Commissioner Tikotikoca told the
media on Feb. 23 that two Australian Federal Police officers
would arrive in Fiji shortly to assist with the interim
administration's "clean up" campaign. Australian High
Commissioner Batley told us he was baffled by the story. Two
AFP officers are in Suva, but only to investigate allegations
against Aussie conman Peter Foster, certainly not to assist
the "clean up." Batley made a media statement to correct the
record.
Comment
--------------
6. (C) The interim government is trying its best to signal
international normality to the Fiji public and to RFMF
troops. The announcement of the latest PKO deployments fed
that effort, as did the Acting Police Commissioner's spin re
the AFP, as did publicity over the departure on Feb. 23 of
SUVA 00000130 002 OF 002
interim Foreign Minister Nailatikau for EU ACP meetings in
Brussels, billed as the first foreign travel of an interim
minister. Qarase FM Tavola told us the ACP meeting would not
have required an invitation, and would not have merited press
mention in normal circumstances. We hear interim Tourism
Minister Rounds Ganilau sought a visit to Tokyo in recent
days but was turned down by the Japanese Government. That
bit of information has not reached the press.
DINGER