FIJI UPDATE 4/5/07: BAINIMARAMA ON PKO; STATE OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SUVA 000199 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2017 TAGS: PREL PHUM MARR ASEC FJ SUBJECT: FIJI UPDATE 4/5/07: BAINIMARAMA ON PKO; STATE OF THE EMERGENCY; FIJI LOOKS TO INDIA REF: SUVA 194 Classified By: Amb. Dinger. Sec. 1.4 (B,D) Bainimarama pleads for PKO -------------- ¶1. (U) Commodore Bainimarama reacted to media reports that Commonwealth SecGen McKinnon asked the UN to remove Fiji from PKO activities by saying any attempt to stop soldiers from participating in peacekeeping missions would be "an attempt to hurt the people" of Fiji. He noted that PKO duties generate significant income for military families and their communities. Bainimarama thanked UN SYG Ban for reportedly saying the UN "needs Fiji peacekeepers." Bainimarama said Ban has the "wisdom of looking at the greater needs of the UN community rather than the narrow interests of a few." Bainimarama added that "bullying tactics" such as shown by the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and the Commonwealth Secretariat "do very little to help the people of Fiji." State of Emergency continues -------------- ¶2. (C) The Fiji interim government announced that the state of emergency declared December 5 will continue for yet another month after the military evaluated the security situation last weekend. No particular reason was given, though presumably public service strike threats were a driving force. The RFMF has turned over daylight manning of road check points to the Police, and also for the first time in years the RFMF handed over responsibility for ceremonial guarding of the President's residence to the Police last weekend. Streets remain quiet, though many observers believe ethnic-Fijian dissatisfaction with the coup remains high and Fiji's economic plight is affecting incomes across the board. Public reports of human rights abuses have declined, but activists continue to receive reports. Media intimidation continues, and some internet websites that featured political topics have recently shut down after complaints "from the barracks." Fiji looks to India for help -------------- ¶3. (C) Interim Foreign Minister Nailatikau has told the media his visit to New Delhi last month is expected to result in considerable Indian assistance. He asked for the provision of "high judicial officers" to join a tribunal to investigate Chief Justice Fatiaki, military training for the RFMF, forensic investigation training for the Commission Against Corruption, assistance for electoral reform, cooperation in negotiating an economic partnership agreement with India, etc. Nailatikau said Indian leaders are "ready and willing to engage with Fiji and to assist us in our efforts to return the country to normalcy." MFA PermSec Ligairi is to visit New Delhi in early May to continue discussions. Nailatikau contrasted India's decision not to impose sanctions with the travel bans imposed by Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S. DINGER