EAP DAS DAVIES VISIT TO FIJI DRAWS SHARP REACTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 SUVA 000222

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/16/2017
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV ASEC AMGT MARR SCUL FJ
SUBJECT: EAP DAS DAVIES VISIT TO FIJI DRAWS SHARP REACTION

REF: A. SUVA 207

B. STATE 48129

C. SUVA 212

D. SUVA 213

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

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

1. (C) During an April 11-12 visit to Suva, EAP DAS Glyn
Davies met with a cross-section of Fiji opinion leaders,
including interim Foreign Minister Nailatikau and interim
Finance Minister Chaudhry. Interim PM Bainimarama refused a
meeting. Nailatikau and Chaudhry, both heading shortly to
Brussels for crucial talks with the EU, acknowledged Fiji
needs to return to democracy, but they used "process"
arguments to attempt to counter Davies's statements of USG
"principles" for why the pace needs to be rapid. Davies
pushed hard for resolution of the "NEC visas" issue and a
recent "request" for the embassy to remove vehicle barriers.
In other meetings, Davies heard the perspectives of
human-rights activists, former Qarase officials, and others.
Activists complimented USG policy toward Fiji, including our
visa ban. The Reserve Bank Governor confirmed Fiji's
economic situation is dire. Some interlocutors reported
strains within the military; a Bainimarama confidant denied
that. DAS Davies used three media events to convey USG views
publicly. He also consulted with leaders of the Pacific
Islands Forum Secretariat and the Australian and New Zealand
High Commissioners. The visit was extremely useful for U.S.
interests in Fiji. End summary.

Hearing a wide range of views; PM declines meeting
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2. (U) EAP DAS Davies had a busy stay in Fiji April 11-12.
He met with interim Foreign Minister Nailatikau and interim
Finance Minister Chaudhry. We sought a meeting for him with
interim Prime Minister Bainimarama, who declined. Davies
spoke by phone with Prime Minister Qarase, exiled in Lau; had
lunch with Foreign Minister Tavola; and met with many others,
including representatives of the human-rights community.
Davies gave an interview to Islands Business magazine, held a
media conference, and was the guest on Fiji TV's Close-Up
program, the most watched show in Fiji after the evening news.

Explaining the U.S. perspective
--------------

3. (C) In all venues, DAS Davies highlighted USG views about
how Fiji can move forward from last December's coup,
emphasizing that we are on the same page with the Pacific
Island Forum in seeing the clear need for the military
quickly to withdraw to the barracks, end the state of
emergency, halt human-rights violations, remove itself from
politics, and permit free and fair elections within 18
months. The interim ministers, who were to leave shortly for
Brussels to participate in crucial talks with the EU about
post-coup assistance, acknowledged the need for Fiji to
return to democratic rule, but they stressed a step by step
approach. They stuck to a 36-month election time frame,
starting the clock from April 18 when the EU consultations
begin. Nailatikau seemed to signal some flexibility, though
he said flatly, "It will not be 18 months." DAS Davies noted
that the U.S. is talking "principle" while the interim
administration is talking "process," and is thereby delaying
the return of democracy.

Pressing to resolve NEC and street-barrier issues
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4. (C) In the meetings with interim ministers, DAS Davies
pushed hard on the NEC visa issue and the recent "request"
from Bainimarama for the embassy to remove security barriers
that provide the chancery its only set-back from a central
city street. Davies made clear the critical security need
for the barriers, and he laid out the economic benefits of
the NEC project (F$30 million in local expenditures; 12,000
man months of work, F$3 million in tax revenues). Nailatikau
said the NEC issue has been referred to the Attorney General.
We flagged the need for a speedy decision. On hearing the
economic benefits, Chaudhry offered his support on the NEC
visa issue, while acknowledging the matter is not in his
portfolio. Nailatikau asked for a formal diplomatic note re
the barriers. That was subsequently provided (refs A and B).
Chaudhry noted an interim government plan to announce a
national council of prominent persons from all sides to
establish a charter for Fiji's future. Nailatikau had raised

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that concept, vaguely, at the Pacific Forum Ministerial.
Chaudhry suggested it will be part of the Fiji pitch in
Brussels.

Gathering perspectives on human rights...
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5. (C) In the other meetings, DAS Davies received a variety
of views of the coup and subsequent events. Former
Qarase-government officials and civil-society representatives
were very appreciative of the strong stance the U.S. has
taken with Fiji. They encouraged us to keep the pressure on
the military and the interim government, including with visa
sanctions which, they said, clearly are having a salutary
effect. Three human-rights activists noted firm evidence
that senior RFMF officers have led the intimidation of
human-rights leaders and the media. Virisila Buadromo of the
Fiji Women's Rights Movement identified Land Forces Commander
Col. Pita Driti as leading the group that abused her early
Christmas morning. The activists named 3FIR Commander LtCol.
Ratu Tevita Mara and Major (now LtCol.) Qiliho as others who
clearly have led such abuses. (All are on the U.S. visa ban
list.) The activists said abuses continue, though military
intimidation has reduced media attention. Activists were
very skeptical of the "Public Charter" concept, predicting
that it will be an orchestrated attempt to give the interim
regime unwarranted legitimacy. Former VP Madraiwiwi was
asked to participate, but he has declined to do so.

...and on economic and military strains
--------------

6. (C) The Governor of Fiji's Reserve Bank confirmed the
negative impact of the coup. He said the economic situation
is dire, and restoring democracy is crucial to economic
welfare. He confirmed that an IMF visit later this month
will analyze Fiji's difficult current-account situation.
Several interlocutors suggested there are major strains
within the military, which did not expect the post-coup
period to be so difficult. However, Paul Manueli, a retired
military commander who remains a Bainimarama advisor, denied
any troubles in the barracks. DAS Davies dined with the
Australia and New Zealand High Commissioners, an opportunity
to confirm the three nations' policies are closely aligned on
Fiji.

Working the media
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7. (U) In media events, DAS Davies had a one-on-one interview
with Laisa Taga, editor in chief of Islands Business
magazine. Ms. Taga has been selected for PD's "Year of the
Pacific" journalism tour. Davies held a media conference
that attracted TV, radio, and print reporters from all major
outlets. Subsequent coverage was extensive, including the
front-page lead headline in the Fiji Post. FijiTV's "Close
Up" program taped a half-hour interview with Davies that ran
Sunday evening. "Close Up" is widely watched. A respected
media advisor in Suva phoned today to compliment Davies's
approach: offering an explanation of Fiji's issues and U.S.
views; making clear the problem was the coup, not the U.S.
response; plus expressing willingness to help Fiji move
forward, if the interim government will only make the right
moves.

Consulting with PIF re Fiji issues and the PICL
-------------- --

8. (C) DAS Davies had lunch with Pacific Islands Forum
Secretary General Greg Urwin and other PIF officials. Urwin

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reported on the PIF/interim-government working group
established to follow-up on the recent Vanuatu ministerial re
Fiji. The group has three months to report back to PIF
ministers. Member-country ambassadors in Suva make up the
PIF side. The PM's PermSec Parmesh Chand and MFA Advisor
Isikeli Mataitoga lead the Fiji side. (Note: in a meeting
late last week, the working group agreed to terms of
reference and to see about hiring an elections expert to
advise on the Fiji road map.) Urwin told us he is very
confident the expert will advise an election can take place
within 18 months. Davies and Urwin also discussed the
upcoming Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders (PICL). Urwin
confirmed he is happy to lead the subsequent core-group
session on regional issues.

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

9. (C) The visit of DAS Davies came at an "interesting" time
in Fiji. Commodore Bainimarama is feeling the strain of

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governing a country that doesn't salute like an army. He is
frustrated that the international community, in particular
Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S., are not accepting his
interim government as legitimate and have imposed painful
sanctions. His instinct is to lunge, thus the directive last
week for the embassy to remove its vehicle barriers on the
street (ref C) and the renewal of the military's claim that
U.S., Aussie, and UK chiefs of mission attempted to incite
mutiny last November (ref D). DAS Davies' comment at the
media conference that Bainimarama's unwillingness to meet was
a "missed opportunity" brought another attack. Per ref D,
Bainimarama said he only meets with friendly countries these
days, and we are not one of them. One might have thought the
coming meeting with the EU, which clearly has Bainimarama's
attention, might have tempered his approach, but it clearly
has not. We presume he is using the "foreign power"
bogeyman, yet again, to attempt to solidify his army support
and divert domestic attention from the interim regime's poor
performance.


10. (C) We believe the Davies visit more than achieved its
aims, despite Bainimarama's petulance. Davies forcefully
delivered the U.S. vision re Fiji to one and all. The media
coverage was extensive. Those in Fiji, and there are many,
who aspire to a rapid return to democracy, received a lift.
Those who see advantage in using "process" issues to delay
elections were reminded that the U.S. stands firmly with
Fiji's island neighbors for rapid progress.


11. (U) See septel regarding the Tonga portion of DAS Davies'
trip. DAS Davies has cleared this message.
DINGER