Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07SUVA170
2007-03-19 19:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Suva
Cable title:  

FIJI UPDATE 3/19/07: FIJI SPIN ON MINISTERIAL;

Tags:  PREL PHUM MARR ASEC FJ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO9746
PP RUEHPB
DE RUEHSV #0170/01 0781948
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 191948Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY SUVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3873
INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1622
RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY 1201
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 1393
RUEHNZ/AMCONSUL AUCKLAND 0403
RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY 0811
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 000170 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2017
TAGS: PREL PHUM MARR ASEC FJ
SUBJECT: FIJI UPDATE 3/19/07: FIJI SPIN ON MINISTERIAL;
MORE CLEAN-UP RHETORIC; ACKNOWLEDGING HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES;
PUBLIC-SERVICE STRIKE?

REF: 06 SUVA 519

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 000170

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2017
TAGS: PREL PHUM MARR ASEC FJ
SUBJECT: FIJI UPDATE 3/19/07: FIJI SPIN ON MINISTERIAL;
MORE CLEAN-UP RHETORIC; ACKNOWLEDGING HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES;
PUBLIC-SERVICE STRIKE?

REF: 06 SUVA 519

Classified By: Amb. Dinger. Sec. 1.4 (B,D)

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

1. (C) Fiji's interim government is spinning the Forum
Ministerial last week as a success and is leaving a distinct
impression it does not intend early elections. Commodore
Bainimarama's "clean up" rhetoric continues, though we
predict at some point real evidence will be necessary.
Bainimarama told an interviewer last weekend that an attempt
by three diplomats to incite an RFMF mutiny last November
forced the coup. Bainimarama publicly acknowledged that RFMF
human-rights abuses are a major concern, but they are not
intentional. The military has reconfirmed PM Qarase should
not expect freedom of movement anytime soon. Remittances are
flowing in from abroad to cushion lives in Fiji affected by
the coup. Public-service unions continue preparations for a
possible strike that the military has made clear will not be
allowed to happen. End summary.

Interim Government spins Forum Vanuatu meeting
-------------- -

2. (U) Fiji interim Foreign Minister Nailatikau issued a
media statement late on March 19 saying the interim
government welcomed the outcome of the Forum Ministerial
Meeting in Vanuatu. Nailatikau said the Vanuatu meeting
showed "acceptance by the Forum of the interim government and
its pivotal role to take Fiji to sustained parliamentary
democracy. So the door has not been shut on us." Nailatikau
suggested a proposed working group would provide necessary
information to the Forum on why the interim government was
saying that elections could only be held after three years.
Nailatikau said the interim government is committed to
holding elections sooner rather than later, "as long as the
requirements of holding a free, fair, legally constituted and
properly held election are met." Nailatikau noted the
Forum's offer of a phased package of financial and technical
support to Fiji, including for the electoral process and for
a credible anti-corruption commission. We hear Nailatikau

told the Forum Ministers that Fiji will need F$53 million
(US$32 million) in donor assistance to prepare for and
conduct an appropriate election, an eye-popping figure that
reportedly brought amazed comment once the Fijians left the
room.

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

3. (C) The interim government is spinning as fast as it can
to cast the best light on the Vanuatu meeting, accenting
engagement, suggesting the working group can be the occasion
for the Forum to see the light on an election scenario longer
than two years, spreading through the rumor mill a note that
the Forum communique does not mention explicitly the
"Bainimarama back to the barracks" theme, welcoming offers of
aid without highlighting the strings attached, etc. The Fiji
media seem to have taken their cue, offering up quite a few
soft headlines. International statements, like that of the
U.S., that emphasize the Ministers' wholesale endorsement of
the Eminent Persons Group themes, remain important to
providing the Fiji public a balanced perspective. End
comment.

More clean-up rhetoric and a swipe at the NZ PM
-------------- --

4. (C) Commodore Bainimarama told the media on March 18 that
a preliminary, partial report on an audit of the May 2006
general elections indicates the interim government should ask
the judiciary to declare those elections null and void.
Bainimarama said the interim government has accumulated a
huge body of evidence awaiting the formal creation within the
next few weeks of an Anti-Corruption Commission which will
take cases to the regular courts. Bainimarama suggested the
process should convince critics, including Australia and New
Zealand, of the reality that the change of government was not
a coup but an essential clean-up campaign. Bainimarama
accused NZ PM Clarke of "a personal vendetta," which has
motivated an equivalent response.

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

5. (C) At some point, the interim government will need to
move beyond rhetoric to hard facts regarding its evidence of

SUVA 00000170 002 OF 002


corruption. A savvy observer who recently visited the
anti-corruption unit offices noted that the current team
consists of only about ten people. They make well-publicized
raids on offices and grab loads of files, with no due process
involved; but it is not at all clear that anyone is doing any
real digging into whatever has been seized. Of course, the
tainted evidence, obtained without warrants, would presumably
not be welcomed in a neutrally constituted court of law. It
remains to be seen how judicial Fiji's courts will be in the
current environment. End comment.

Bainimarama claims ambassadors forced him to coup
-------------- --------------

6. (C) When asked by a New Zealand newspaper what ultimately
led to removal of the Qarase government, Bainimarama
reportedly said: "My hand was forced. In November when I was
in New Zealand, three high commissioners and ambassadors went
up to the camp to convince my troops and senior officers to
stop following my orders - they were inciting mutiny. If
they were successful, we would be fighting one another in the
camp. But my troops know what action they must take. They
warned me immediately." (Note: See reftel report of the
meeting at the camp. All three diplomats were under
instructions to discourage a coup, not to foment a mutiny.
By that late November date, there was no doubt of
Bainimarama's intention.)

Human rights abuses happen, but not by design
--------------

7. (U) In a media interview, March 18, Bainimarama reportedly
acknowledged there have been cases of RFMF human-rights
abuses, and he said that has been a major concern to him. He
is quoted as saying: "We need to get rid of the human rights
abuse by telling soldiers to follow human rights processes
correctly. Our troops don't go out to do that intentionally.
It's just that some of them think that's the way."
Bainimarama reportedly dismissed suggestions he lacks control
over his troops, saying he spends much time emphasizing not
to abuse power.

No Qarase travel anytime soon
--------------

8. (U) RFMF spokesman Leweni told the media March 19 that
travel restrictions on PM Qarase are not likely to be lifted
anytime soon. Qarase has sought permission to travel to Suva
to tend to legal matters, including his lawsuit against the
coup perpetrators. Qarase's public suggestion last week that
ethnic-Fijians might still rise up against the interim
government accented the RFMF's desire to keep him isolated on
his home island in Lau.

Remittances in time of need
--------------

9. (U) The head of the WestPac Bank in Fiji, David Evans,
says remittances from abroad have surged in the three months
since the coup. He estimates the current flow would be about
F$400 million (US$240 million) per year. The presumed
explanation is expatriates attempting to support families,
especially those whose family members have lost jobs in
recent months. Evans noted disappointment that those
receiving the money are heading out to spend it on consumer
goods rather than investing for the longer term.

Injecting a dose of military into the civil service
-------------- --------------

10. (U) RFMF Deputy Commander Capt. (N) Teleni has
acknowledged that some officers are receiving short-term
training preparatory to being seconded to government
departments. Teleni admitted that some civil servants have
been reluctant to cooperate with the interim government.

Still rumblings about public service strike
--------------

11. (U) Public-sector unions continue preparations for strike
action, despite a plea from Commodore Bainimarama to put the
country first. Several unions have undertaken pre-strike
ballots, with the results reportedly demonstrating
overwhelming support for industrial action. Bainimarama and
Teleni have warned that the RFMF has contingency plans in
place to keep strikes from happening, since the interim
government's emergency decree bans such activity if it
threatens security.
DINGER