Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07SUVA22
2007-01-09 21:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Suva
Cable title:  

FIJI UPDATE 1/10/07: GCC, MAJOR CHURCHES ACCEPT

Tags:  PREL MARR PHUM PINR ASEC CASC FJ 
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PP RUEHPB
DE RUEHSV #0022/01 0092133
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 092133Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY SUVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3654
INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 1502
RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY PRIORITY 1087
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 1280
RUEHNZ/AMCONSUL AUCKLAND PRIORITY 0300
RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY PRIORITY 0706
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 02 SUVA 000022 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR PHUM PINR ASEC CASC FJ
SUBJECT: FIJI UPDATE 1/10/07: GCC, MAJOR CHURCHES ACCEPT
INTERIM GOVERNMENT; MORE APPOINTMENTS

REF: SUVA 20

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 000022

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR PHUM PINR ASEC CASC FJ
SUBJECT: FIJI UPDATE 1/10/07: GCC, MAJOR CHURCHES ACCEPT
INTERIM GOVERNMENT; MORE APPOINTMENTS

REF: SUVA 20

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

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

1. (C) The Chairman of Fiji's Great Council of Chiefs (GCC)
and leaders of the Methodist and Catholic churches have
accepted Bainimarama's interim government while urging a
return to democracy soon. Military pastors have asked their
flock to do a Lenten-type fast for the next month as all pray
for Bainimarama to receive "divine help" in steering Fiji.
The military has reinforced its message for PM Qarase to
remain in Lau. Opposition Leader Beddoes, one of the few
prominent people continuing to protest publicly against
abuses, was visited by troops last weekend. They threatened:
stop speaking or be "taken away." Former Police Assistant
Commissioner Tikotikoca, who has been working in the Solomon
Islands, has accepted Bainimarama's offer to be Police
Commissioner. A well-regarded CEO, Parmesh Chand, is moving
to become CEO in the PM's office. Our comment discusses the
motives driving various interim ministers. End summary.

GCC and major churches accept interim government
-------------- ---

2. (U) According to media reports, GCC chairman Bokini said
on Jan. 10 that he fully supports President Iloilo's
appointment of the interim government. Bokini reportedly
urged the people of Fiji to support Bainimarama and his
ministers. He said, "It is time to move on," and he urged
the interim administration to work hard to return Fiji to
democratic rule. The Methodist Church and the Catholic
Church of Fiji also announced support for the interim
government, asking the nation to get behind efforts to move
forward toward a return to democracy.

Military to Qarase: stay in Lau
--------------

3. (U) PM Qarase has told the media that a military officer
phoned late last week. The message was: stay in Lau and let
the interim government run the country. RFMF spokesman
Leweni today reconfirmed the message. Qarase, who had

predicted he would travel to Suva shortly, now says he does
not know when he will return to the capital.

RFMF month of fasting
--------------

4. (U) At special church services in major RFMF camps on
Sunday, Jan. 7, pastors announced that everyone in the RFMF
will fast for a month, until Feb. 4. All soldiers will be
expected to give up some pleasure, kind of like Lent.
Pastors asked all to pray during the month, seeking "divine
help" for Commodore Bainimarama "in steering the nation
forward."

Protesting intimidation
--------------

5. (U) Mick Beddoes, Opposition Leader during the Qarase
Government, made public yesterday that six soldiers visited
him during the weekend on orders from Land Forces Commander
Driti. They told him to stop speaking out or he "would be
taken away." Thereafter, Beddoes expressed public
disappointment that his colleague in Parliament, Bernadette
Rounds-Ganilau, accepted a position in the interim
administration.

No Chaudhry follow-through re protesters
--------------

6. (C) When we raised the plight of human-rights protesters
during a phone call from FLP leader Chaudhry on Jan. 8 (see
Suva 18),he said he intended to highlight the issue during
remarks at his swearing-in as an interim minister the next
day. In fact, he described the text he intended to use,
apparently reading from a script. In the end Chaudhry did
not raise the issue publicly.

More appointments
--------------

7. (C) Two more appointments for the interim administration
have surfaced:

-- Romanu Tikotikoca, Commissioner of Police. Tikotikoca
told Fiji TV on Jan. 9 that he has accepted the position,
replacing acting Commissioner Jimi Koroi. Tikotikoca most
recently was head of security for the Solomon Islands Gold

SUVA 00000022 002 OF 002


Ridge mine, after serving as a Fiji Police official with
RAMSI in the Solomons. Previously, Tikotikoca was an
Assistant Commissioner of Police. He reportedly had received
advice from former Police Commissioner Hughes and Deputy
Commissioner Driver not to take the Commissioner job until a
civilian-led government is in place in Fiji. He, like most
other appointees, said he feels the need to help the nation
move forward.

-- Parmesh Chand, CEO for the PM's Office. Chand is shifting
from CEO for Public Enterprise Reform. In the Qarase
Government, Chand was the only remaining ethnic-Indian CEO.
He has a very strong reputation as a manager. Some weeks
ago, just after the coup, he gave us the distinct impression
that he thought the takeover was very unfortunate. More
recently, some old friends of his have sensed a personality
change. Bainimarama called on Chand to head an investigative
team looking into the close-down of the Vatukuola gold mine,
and we hear he complained that one expat mine manager ought
to be "roughed up." We understand Chand has been one of
those phoning people, recruiting for the interim cabinet.

Comment on motives
--------------

8. (C) A number of the civilians who have taken jobs in the
interim government have commented, one way or another, that a
factor was their growing sense that the "interim"
administration will be in place for quite a while. Nobody is
saying just how long, but certainly there is a sense it will
be years, not months, before the military decides the "clean
up" is concluded and appropriate systems are in place for a
fresh election. We expect some un-electable figures, like
Ratu Epeli Ganilau, see this as a "once in a lifetime"
opportunity to govern. Some, perhaps including Ganilau, must
see it as an opportunity to scramble out of financial crises.
The Interim Minister for Local Government, Jone Navakamocea,
was surprisingly frank in a TV interview. He said he spent
F$40,000 (US$27,000) to win an SDL seat in the 2006 election,
and he owed it to his family to seek a ministerial portfolio
in the interim government in order to recoup his investment.
Some, perhaps like Rounds-Ganilau, appear to have judged that
Bainimarama has clearly won, and good people must now attempt
to help bring Fiji back from the abyss.
DINGER