FIJI UPDATE 3/30/07: VP SELECTION; QARASE TRAVEL;

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SUVA 000191

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/30/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR PHUM ASEC FJ
SUBJECT: FIJI UPDATE 3/30/07: VP SELECTION; QARASE TRAVEL;
CORRUPTION COMMISSION; RFMF TRANSITIONS

REF: SUVA 187

Classified By: Amb. Dinger. Sec. 1.4 (b,d)

Summary
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1. (C) Fiji's Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) is to consider
President Iloilo's choice for Vice President on April 11-12.
Rumored candidates include a woman and an ethnic-Indian, but
the favorite remains interim Foreign Minister Nailatikau.
The Acting Chief Justice is considering whether PM Qarase has
the right to attend court sessions in Suva. The interim
Cabinet has approved an Independent Commission against
Corruption with sweeping powers. Commodore Bainimarama's
brother-in-law, Fiji's Navy Commander, has pleaded "not
guilty" to a New Year's Eve murder. The Republic of Fiji
Military Forces (RFMF) has promoted four majors and has
acknowledged that ten officers, including four lawyers, have
left the military since the coup. End summary.

Fiji Vice Presidential sweepstakes
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2. (C) President Iloilo (read Commodore Bainimarama) has
reportedly made his choice for the replacement of Ratu Joni
Madraiwiwi as Vice President and has placed the name into a
sealed envelope, awaiting a meeting of the GCC on April
11-12. Under the Fiji Constitution, the GCC has approval
rights over the President's selection. Interim Foreign
Minister Ratu Epeli Nailatikau is still the presumed
favorite. His brother Ratu Tuakitau "Tuki" Cokanauto has
also been mentioned. Both come from Bau, the chiefly island,
as does Madraiwiwi. The RFMF spokesman says LtCol. Tevita
Mara, the late President Mara's son, is not in the running.
Interestingly, in recent days two other names have entered
the rumor mill. Both would be firsts. Adi Koila Mara, wife
of Nailatikau and sister of Tevita Mara, would be Fiji's
first woman VP. Sir Moci Tikaram, retired Chief Justice of
the Fiji Court of Appeals, would be the first ethnic-Indian
VP. Proposing an ethnic-Indian, in particular, would really
shock the ethnic-Fijian community and would test the mettle
of the GCC.

The travel ban on Qarase v. the courts
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3. (U) Acting Chief Justice Anthony Gates on March 30 heard
arguments from PM Qarase's lawyer about the need for Qarase
to be present in court in Suva for the hearing of his case
against the coup perpetrators. Gates reserved judgment,
sought additional affidavits, and scheduled the next hearing
for April 11.

Independent Corruption Commission decree
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4. (C) The Fiji interim cabinet has approved creation of an
Independent Commission against Corruption that is to report
directly to the President. The Commission is charged to
receive, investigate, and prosecute complaints in its own
capacity, independent of the Director of Public Prosecution
and the Fiji Police Force. The Commission will have powers
of search, seizure, and arrest, and the mandate will include
investigation of election irregularities. Since the coup, an
"anti-corruption unit" under oversight of Deputy RFMF
Commander Teleni and headed by Nasir Ali has been undertaking
raids against businesses and government ministries on the
basis of rumor and with no noticeable rule-of-law restraints.
Presumably that unit will be subsumed within the new
Commission. Interestingly, the anti-corruption unit and the
Fiji Police competed this week to investigate the Ministry of
Public Works. Police have had an investigation under way
(slowly) since 2003. On March 28, they entered and seized
documents only hours before anti-corruption unit officials
arrived to do the same. Reportedly, the anti-corruption unit
put its foot down and Police investigators are backing off.

Navy Commander pleads "not guilty" re murder
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5. (U) Francis Kean, Commander of the Fiji Navy and
brother-in-law of Commodore Bainimarama, pleaded "not guilty"
in criminal court on March 30 to charges he beat a man to
death New Year's Eve during a wedding reception for
Bainimarama's daughter. Trial is to begin Oct. 29. In the
meantime, Kean, who is on paid leave from the RFMF, remains
free on bail. His lawyer is seeking an easing of bail
restrictions.


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Military promotions
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6. (C) The RFMF announced on March 28 the promotion of four
officers from major to lieutenant colonel: Jone Kalouniwai,
Sitiveni Qilio (Qiliho),Inia Seruivatu, and Ifereimi Vasu.
Land Forces Commander Col. Driti said all four had worked
hard and had been majors for a long time. Kalouniwai and
Qilio are on the U.S. visa-sanction list. Vasu reportedly
just completed studies at Malaysia's Military Staff Academy.

Military departures
--------------

7. (C) The RFMF has acknowledged that ten officers have left
the service since the coup. Some reportedly are lawyers,
including Major Amani Bale, Major Davina Chan-Ligaiula, and
Major Ana Rokomokoti, all of whom are on the U.S.
visa-sanction list. Other departures include Navy Commander
Bradley Bower, Lt. John Fong, Captain Joeli Pickering,
Captain Solomone Raravula, and Captain Bernie Ramafono. We
know Bower resigned in protest of the coup, though at the
time the RFMF spokesman claimed there was no connection.
Presumably some or all of the others were similarly
motivated.
DINGER