Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07SUVA161
2007-03-12 20:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Suva
Cable title:  

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

Tags:  PREL MARR PHUM ASEC FJ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO3247
PP RUEHPB
DE RUEHSV #0161/01 0712018
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 122018Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY SUVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3859
INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1614
RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY 1195
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 1387
RUEHNZ/AMCONSUL AUCKLAND 0399
RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY 0807
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RHHJJAA/JICPAC HONOLULU HI
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
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
-------
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