FIJI UPDATE 3/13/07: MEDIA FREEDOM; UNION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SUVA 000161 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2017 TAGS: PREL MARR PHUM ASEC FJ SUBJECT: FIJI UPDATE 3/13/07: MEDIA FREEDOM; UNION AGITATION; SOLDIERS NOT SO CLEAN; FHRC ODDITIES REF: SUVA 150 Classified By: Amb. Dinger. Sec. 1.4 (B,D) Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) The RFMF and the interim AG have emphasized yet again that media freedom has distinct limits in post-coup Fiji. The interim government is expected to announce shortly its choices for permanent secretaries in the civil service. Police investigators are in Lau to interview PM Qarase about allegations of treason. Public-sector unions continue strike preparations over a pay cut and a reduction in retirement age, despite RFMF insistence that no strike can be allowed under the state of emergency that has been extended for another month. When soldiers broke up a late-night gambling session for Taiwanese fishermen, they reportedly confiscated far more money than has been publicly revealed...an interesting version of "cleaning up." New Zealand AID is upset with the Fiji Human Rights Commission over a revised human-rights handbook. The FHRC Director reportedly wants to sue Embassy Suva for defamation over her depiction in the 2006 Human Rights Report. End summary. Media freedom, just no controversy -------------- ¶2. (U) Commodore Bainimarama re-emphasized on International Women's Day that the RFMF and its interim government believe in media freedom. In fact, he said, media freedom is important for the military's image. He then added that media reporting must be responsible, and journalists will continue to be taken up to the barracks if the RFMF perceives that reporting is biased. On the Sunday evening Fiji TV "Close Up" news program, RFMF spokesman Major Leweni conveyed a similar set of points. During the program, the presenter noted that the RFMF has forbidden use of the term "torture" in the post-coup context. A Fiji Times editor noted that when one of their photographers was "taken to the barracks," the RFMF insisted a follow-up news story could not say the photographer was "abused." "Man-handled" was OK. On March 13, interim Attorney General Sayed Khaiyum, who has several times said publicly that trips to the barracks would cease, told the media that journalists can still be taken in if the RFMF believes they are "deliberately misinforming the public about the military." He suggested some journalists are "siding with the ousted Qarase Government and are promoting an agenda which could disturb the public order." Permanent Secretaries -------------- ¶3. (U) Interim Minister for the Public Service Bune said choosing 16 permanent secretaries to replace 23 CEOs from the Qarase days is almost completed. The Public Service Commission has made selections and has forwarded the names to Bainimarama. Not surprisingly, Bune noted that a key factor is loyalty to Bainimarama and the interim government. Bune said most applicants were ethnic-Fijian, and he suggested a number of ethnic-Indians refused to apply because of the Australia and New Zealand visa bans. Announcement of appointees may follow today's interim cabinet meeting. Police investigation of Qarase treason -------------- ¶3. (U) Fiji police investigators are reportedly visiting PM Qarase's home island of Vanuabalavu in the Lau Group with the mission to interview Qarase about an allegation that he sought an Australian and New Zealand military invasion to preserve his government at the time of the coup. Qarase has acknowledged seeking assistance but has denied requesting an invasion. He suggested that Bainimarama is being hypocritical in pursuing the treason charge when he has been determined to quash investigations into subversion allegations against himself. Public-sector unions still threaten strike -------------- ¶4. (U) The interim government's 5% pay cut for civil servants came into effect last weekend; and the reduction of the public-sector retirement age from 60 to 55 was formalized as well. Those over 60 are to retire immediately. There is to be a phased implementation for those between 55 and 60, with all over age 55 to be retired by the end of 2008. Public sector unions remain very unhappy. A number are polling their members for permission to call a strike. The military SUVA 00000161 002 OF 002 remains adamant that no strike can take place under the state of emergency, which has been extended for another 30 days. In the current Fiji climate, the armed RFMF thus far has been winning all tests of strength. RFMF "clean up" of gambler stakes -------------- ¶5. (C) RFMF soldiers broke up a late-night "Chinese" gambling session at a Suva restaurant last week and arrested 16 people, 14 men and 2 women. Media reports said F$4000 (US$2700) was confiscated. A knowledgeable source tells us the gamblers were all Taiwanese, off fishing boats, and this had been a regular game whenever in port. The soldiers "roughed up" the group, including the women. The actual amount of money reportedly confiscated from the gamblers was about F$100,000 (US$67,000),and the soldiers also emptied the restaurant till. The gamblers can make no protest. It is not clear who reaped the rewards: the RFMF as an institution or the individual soldiers. NZAID, the FHRC, and a human-rights handbook -------------- ¶6. (U) Several years ago, New Zealand AID provided funding to the Fiji Human Rights Commission (FHRC) to produce a human-rights handbook to be distributed to "disciplined services of Fiji." After the December coup, the FHRC did a redraft in the Fijian language that included supportive language about the coup and references to reduced human rights under a state of emergency. FHRC then distributed the revised version to soldiers and police at highway check-points with orchestrated media play. NZAID noticed that the revised version includes mention that NZAID provided assistance for preparation and publication. That was not the case. NZAID has called for the FHRC to recall the new edition and to provide a public statement acknowledging fault. FHRC denied it is in the wrong and has called for mediation. FHRC Director may sue USG for "defamation" -------------- ¶7. (C) A Suva lawyer has reported to our Aussie colleagues that FHRC Director Shaista Shameem asked his assistance to prepare a "defamation" lawsuit against U.S. Embassy Suva. Presumably the context is language in the 2006 Human Rights Report on Fiji (Sec. 1.c. and Sec. 4) that describes the FHRC Director's actions after the coup in December. Per previous reporting, Shameem issued a media statement on the day the HRR was released suggesting that the U.S. government was in contempt of court for commenting on issues currently before the Fiji courts. Comment -------------- ¶8. (C) The continuing effort to control media coverage and to suppress dissent suggests that the RFMF and its interim government remain nervous about public support. FHRC Director Shameem's odd behavior suggests she is very thin-skinned. Some suggest she is "losing it" in the face of criticism by many NGOs and lawyers. The HRR descriptions are actually complimentary about aspects of FHRC efforts prior to the coup and are accurate about Shameem's role in December. DINGER