Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07SUVA2
2007-01-02 23:01:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Suva
Cable title:  

FIJI UPDATE 1/3/07: CJ ON LEAVE; INTERIM PLANS?

Tags:  PREL MARR PHUM ASEC CASC FJ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO7619
PP RUEHPB
DE RUEHSV #0002/01 0022301
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 022301Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY SUVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3633
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 0226
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 1484
RUEHKL/AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR PRIORITY 0031
RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY PRIORITY 1073
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 0114
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 1266
RUEHNZ/AMCONSUL AUCKLAND PRIORITY 0286
RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY PRIORITY 0691
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHHJJAA/JICPAC HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 SUVA 000002 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/03/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR PHUM ASEC CASC FJ
SUBJECT: FIJI UPDATE 1/3/07: CJ ON LEAVE; INTERIM PLANS?
RFMF EVIDENCE OF CORRUPTION NOT YET CONCLUSIVE; BAINIMARAMA
THANKS CHINA, JAPAN, AND MALAYSIA FRIENDS

REF: 06 SUVA 591

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 03 SUVA 000002

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/03/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR PHUM ASEC CASC FJ
SUBJECT: FIJI UPDATE 1/3/07: CJ ON LEAVE; INTERIM PLANS?
RFMF EVIDENCE OF CORRUPTION NOT YET CONCLUSIVE; BAINIMARAMA
THANKS CHINA, JAPAN, AND MALAYSIA FRIENDS

REF: 06 SUVA 591

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

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

1. (C) Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander
Bainimarama today announced Fiji's Chief Justice is going on
indefinite leave, pending a full inquiry into the judicial
system. Bainimarama says he will return executive authority
to President Iloilo within the next few weeks, with an
interim government to follow quickly. The RFMF spokesman
says immunity from prosecution is a key concern. Bainimarama
continues to defend the RFMF's intimidation tactics toward
dissenters. Some political activists are now under a travel
ban. The RFMF's promised New Year's evidence of Qarase
Government corruption relies on suspect sources. It is
possible the accusations are true, but not enough has been
revealed as yet to make the case. Bainimarama publicly
expressed appreciation that China, Japan, and Malaysia have
not imposed sanctions. We hear Malaysia is still
contemplating how to react to the coup. At the reception
following the marriage of a Bainimarama daughter last
weekend, the groom's uncle was bashed to death, reportedly by
a "senior naval officer." A police investigation has yet to
announce findings. End summary.

Bainimarama sends Chief Justice on leave
--------------

2. (U) In a media statement on Jan. 3, Bainimarama announced
that Fiji's Chief Justice and Chief Magistrate "have agreed
to go on leave on full pay" until further notice. This is to
"facilitate a full inquiry" into possible abuses in the
judicial system. Two associate justices, John Connor and
Anthony Gates, will handle file management in the meantime.
Bainimarama said an Acting CJ and Acting CM may be necessary,
in accordance with the Constitution.

Interim government by mid-January?
--------------

3. (U) In an interview on Fijian talk-back radio on Dec. 31,
Commodore Bainimarama said he will return executive authority

to President Iloilo before the end of January. Presumably
the intent is for Iloilo to then appoint the Army's
hand-picked interim government. RFMF spokesman Leweni said
today a guarantee of immunity to everyone in the RFMF is a
primary concern. Iloilo has been in his home village near
Nadi for the past several days, celebrating his 86th
birthday. The military reportedly is carefully controlling
who can gain access to the President. A delegation from the
Great Council of Chiefs unsuccessfully sought access after
the GCC's late December meeting.

Bainimarama reiterates support for intimidation
-------------- --

4. (U) In the talk-back discussion, Bainimarama reportedly
again defended the Fiji military's treatment of dissidents,
saying that he had given everyone fair warning that he would
initiate a "clean up," and that he intended to insist that
the process go forward without dissent. He said he has left
the decision-making about who should be called in and how
they should be treated to the Land Forces Command.

Travel ban on pro-democracy activists
--------------

5. (U) The RFMF issued an order to Fiji immigration
authorities not to permit the six pro-democracy activists
abused early on Christmas morning to depart the country.
When one of the six attempted to travel to Australia,
authorities did not allow her to depart.

Allegations of electoral corruption; dubious sourcing
-------------- --------------

6. (U) As forecast (ref),the Fiji military on New Year's day
publicized video footage and a transcript alleging that PM
Qarase's SDL Party stuffed ballot boxes in key constituencies
in order to win last May's elections and that government
ministers have taken bribes. Peter Foster, an Australian
conman, reportedly had conversations with two SDL senior
officials while wearing a wire, with the RFMF covertly
filming. Qarase and the SDL's chief campaign manager have

SUVA 00000002 002 OF 003


denied any wrongdoing and have suggested the RFMF should
provide any evidence to the Police for investigation. The
two senior SDL officials deny making the incriminating
statements attributed to them. The RFMF promises more
revelations at "an appropriate time."


7. (C) Despite the RFMF spokesman's bombastic lead-up
suggesting that the tapes and transcripts would provide
conclusive justification for the Dec. 4 coup, the actual
evidence so far appears inconclusive, at best. The alleged
conversations are reported to have taken place after the
coup, in the week before Christmas. SDL sources note that
Foster and one of the SDL figures shown on tape are both
under indictments on criminal charges dating from the days of
the Qarase Government. The SDL alleges that Foster has
negotiated a deal with the RFMF: he will manufacture evidence
in exchange for being freed. Foster enjoyed the holidays
with his mother at a rented home in Nadi's exclusive Denarau
resort complex, even though a Fiji court had insisted he be
in police custody in Suva. Foster today said he met with
Bainimarama two weeks ago, and Bainimarama allegedly agreed
that, if Foster can provide clear evidence he is innocent,
the RFMF will provide that evidence to the prosecutor office
with a request for charges to be dropped.

RFMF says it still has friends
--------------

8. (U) Bainimarama told the media during the weekend that
China, Japan, Malaysia, and others are continuing
relationships with the RFMF, so military-targeted sanctions
imposed by Australia, New Zealand, the U.S., and the UK are
not a major concern.

Wedding, murder: Bainimarama saga continues
--------------

9. (C) The wedding of one of Commodore Bainimarama's
daughters took place on Dec. 30 at Suva's Catholic Cathedral.
At the reception that evening, someone beat up an uncle of
the groom, killing him. Media sources report the assailant
was a "senior naval officer." Police are investigating.
Observers are watching to see whether "rule of law" applies
in this criminal case.

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

10. (C) Chief Justice Fatiaki told us just before the coup of
rumors he was on an RFMF list for removal. Since the coup,
rumors have flourished in Suva that two associate justices,
Nazhat Shameem and Anthony Gates, have been avid Bainimarama
supporters and advisors. For several years, Shameem and
Gates have been vocal with the diplomatic community about
their dissatisfaction with Fatiaki's leadership. In
particular, they have been scathing in their criticism of
Fatiaki, previous CJ Tuivaga, and another justice for
allegedly giving legal advice to President Mara on how to
formally remove PM Chaudhry during the events of 2000. If
Shameem and Gates have now provided equivalent advice to
Bainimarama on how to remove PM Qarase in 2006, it is
difficult to understand the logic of their turn-around
concerning the judiciary's proper role.


11. (C) It is certainly possible that the SDL attempted to
augment its votes during last May's elections, although the
actual count of ballots, as observed by all political parties
and by international observers, did not reveal any
eye-popping irregularities in the constituency totals. If,
as alleged, the SDL stuffed additional SDL ballots in boxes
in key urban constituencies without removing ballots cast for
other parties, one would presume the vote totals in those key
constituencies would have been unusually high, maybe even
more than the number registered. That did not appear to be
the case, and in several of those constituencies the margins
were very close. In some cases the SDL won; in some it lost.
The RFMF will need to provide more detailed and credible
evidence to prove its allegations.


12. (C) Bainimarama's mention of China, Japan, and Malaysia
as continuing benefactors to the RFMF is interesting. China
has not spoken out against the coup, and Bainimarama made a
point of reconfirming Fiji's "one China" pro-PRC policy
publicly. The governments of both Japan and Malaysia did

SUVA 00000002 003 OF 003


make public statements just after the coup, calling for a
rapid return to democracy. Japan's embassy in Suva is closed
this week. Malaysia's High Commissioner told us
Bainimarama's comments were unfortunate. She said Malaysia
has decided not to suspend defense cooperation just yet, "but
that does not mean we approve of what the military has done."
She reported that Malaysia will review the situation after
the first quarter of 2007. If the RFMF has not taken
concrete steps to return Fiji to democracy by then, Malaysia
will consider defense-focused sanctions.
DINGER