Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07SUVA331
2007-06-26 17:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Suva
Cable title:  

SCENESETTER FOR CODEL PAYNE JULY 8-9 VISIT TO FIJI

Tags:  OREP PREL PGOV MARR FJ 
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VZCZCXRO6645
PP RUEHPB
DE RUEHSV #0331/01 1771730
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 261730Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY SUVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0128
INFO RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA 0116
RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY 1290
RUEHUM/AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR 0002
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 SUVA 000331 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

H PLEASE PASS TO CODEL PAYNE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OREP PREL PGOV MARR FJ
SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR CODEL PAYNE JULY 8-9 VISIT TO FIJI

Summary
--------
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 SUVA 000331

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

H PLEASE PASS TO CODEL PAYNE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OREP PREL PGOV MARR FJ
SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR CODEL PAYNE JULY 8-9 VISIT TO FIJI

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

1. (SBU) Your visit comes at a time of great uncertainty in Fiji.
In December of 2006, the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF)
overthrew the elected government of Laisenia Qarase and dissolved
parliament. The military commander, Commodore Frank Bainimarama,
installed an interim government (IG) headed by himself. He argued
that corrupt, racist politics forced the coup. Others saw more
personal motives. The military and the IG have systematically
attempted to quell dissent through coercion, intimidation and, at
times, physical violence. The regime has compromised the
independence of the judiciary, and has installed military officers
into key areas of law enforcement and government. The economy has
plunged into crisis. The regime has alienated significant portions
of the population of Fiji and most of the international community.
The United States believes strongly that a rapid return to democracy
and a permanent rejection of "coup culture" are essential to Fiji's
political and economic stability. The delegation can reinforce the
message in meetings with former legislators and with representatives
of the interim government. End Summary.

U.S. Interests in the Pacific
--------------

2. (SBU) The United States has significant interests in the Pacific.
Hawaii and U.S. territories make the region part of our "homeland."
Sea lanes to Asia and Australia need protecting. Terrorists could
see the islands as stepping-stones to the U.S. Fiji and Tonga
contribute to international peacekeeping. Small Pacific states have
12 votes in the UNGA and are well-represented in other international
fora. The U.S. fishes the waters for tuna and wants to preserve
reefs and bio-diversity. We need to provide services to hundreds of
thousands of American visitors and adjudicate visas for thousands of
islanders annually. Very visibly with Fiji and Tonga, we aspire to
promote U.S. values and encourage democratic institutions.

The 2006 Coup
--------------

3. (SBU) Since 1987, Fiji has been afflicted with a "coup
culture," wherein disaffected groups or individuals believe it is

legitimate to overrule the wishes of the majority via the power of
arms. The 2006 coup, Fiji's fourth, followed several years of poor
relations between Commodore Bainimarama and Prime Minister Laisenia
Qarase. Qarase's government was seen by many as too ethnic Fijian
in orientation. (As a British-colonial legacy, Fiji has a large
ethnic-Indian minority. Racial politics colors all politics.)
Fiji's military bitterly criticized Qarase for three bills, most
prominently one that might have allowed amnesty to some of the
Fijian-nationalist perpetrators of the 2000 coup. Qarase was also
accused of condoning corruption. Another coup motive was the
military's need to gain immunity from prosecution on charges of
murder in 2000 and sedition thereafter. Qarase's SDL party won a
modest majority in the May 2006 general election, defeating Mahendra
Chaudhry's Indian-dominated Fiji Labor Party (FLP),despite an
intense military campaign in ethnic-Fijian villages against Qarase.



4. (SBU) After the election, Qarase immediately reached out to the
FLP, giving nine Labor politicians choice slots in a multy-party
cabinet. Qarase also shelved the controversial amnesty bill. This
"honeymoon period," while warmly welcomed by most of Fiji's
population, lasted only four months. The military resumed making
demands and on December 5, 2006, executed its coup, despite repeated
entreaties from the United States, Australia and New Zealand that it
should stay out of politics.

The Coup's Aftermath
--------------

5. (SBU) Bainimarama established an "interim government" with
himself as acting President. After a month, he made himself interim
Prime Minister and appointed an interim cabinet. Members include
FLP leader Chaudhry (who was the Prime Minister deposed in the 2000
coup) and a mixture of former military officials, FLP officials and
representatives of small parties that had been badly defeated in the
2006 national elections. Bainimarama insists his interim government
will rid Fiji of corruption and racial politics, leading to a
bright, clean, democratic future. The interim regime has decreed
immunity for the military from prosecution for the coup and
associated human-rights violations.


6. (SBU) While the coup itself was bloodless, the military has used
strong-armed tactics to quell dissent. Many persons who voiced
opposition to the regime were taken to the military camp for intense
interrogations, and sometimes physical beatings. Two young Fijian
men have been killed in military custody since the coup, and one man
was killed while under police custody. Prosecution efforts in those
cases have been snail-like. Under considerable international
pressure, the military and interim government ended the formal

SUVA 00000331 002 OF 003


"state of emergency" imposed after the coup on June 1. The police
force retains a law enforcement role, but serious questions remain
about the rule of law in Fiji. Military personnel are now
co-located at all local police stations, and a high-ranking military
officer has been named Police Commissioner. Fiji's judiciary also
appears to have been compromised. The military suspended the Chief
Justice and replaced him with a judge allegedly sympathetic to the
coup.

The U.S. and International Role in Restoring Democracy
-------------- --------------

7. (SBU) The United States suspended all FMF and IMET military
assistance to Fiji after the coup, as required by law, imposed other
military sanctions, and invoked visa restrictions on coup leaders
and members of the interim government. The visa restrictions by
Australia, New Zealand, and the United States have especially
frustrated the regime. Perhaps in pique over such sanctions, the
interim government recently expelled the New Zealand High
Commissioner (equivalent to Ambassador) from Fiji. The regime gave
no specific reasons except to note that New Zealand has vigorously
opposed the coup and the High Commissioner was "in our face."


8. (SBU) Under international pressure, the interim regime has agreed
"in principle" to a plan put forward by the Pacific Island Forum
(PIF) for elections by early 2009, contingent on electoral
assistance from the international community. (The PIF is a regional
body with membership consisting of 16 Pacific countries, including
Australia and New Zealand). The United States supports the PIF
plan, which actually foresees elections in November 2008, assuming
donor support. The U.S. is considering democracy-promotion
assistance via NGOs, but details are still being developed in
conjunction with other donors. Australia, New Zealand, and the EU
have publicly stated they will assist preparations for early
elections, contingent upon concrete actions by the interim
government to move the process rapidly forward.

Fiji's Role in Peacekeeping
--------------

9. (SBU) The RFMF has long been a respected member of
international peacekeeping missions, especially in the Middle East
where Fiji served for 20 years with the UN in Lebanon, has a 25-year
history with the Multi-national Force of Observers Sinai (320
troops/year) and has 240 troops with the United Nations Assistance
Mission Iraq (UNAMI). Fiji has expressed interest in joining the
Coalition of the Willing in Iraq (MNFI). Because of the coup, the
United States has announced it will not support Fiji's participation
in new peacekeeping operations, including in MNFI, until there is
substantial movement toward a rapid return to democracy.

Your Meetings with Former Legislators and Interim Government
Representatives
-------------- --------------

10. (SBU) We are arranging a dinner for members of the delegation
with deposed parliamentarians in the Nadi area. We have invited the
interim government to send a representative or representatives for a
separate meeting with the delegation. Your meetings will provide
opportunity to stress the U.S. commitment from both the executive
and legislative branches to the rule of law and the protection of
human rights in Fiji, along with our support for a rapid return to
democracy consistent with the timeline proposed by the Pacific
Islands Forum.

The Other Countries Covered by Embassy Suva - Tonga, Kiribati,
Tuvalu, and Nauru
-------------- --------------

11. (U) In addition to Fiji, Embassy Suva formally represents the
United States in four other countries: Tonga, Kiribati, Tuvalu and
Nauru. We provide consular services for Americans in French
Polynesia, and the Embassy Defense Attache Office has
responsibilities for Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and
Vanuatu as well. Embassy Suva's new "environmental hub" office
covers the entire Pacific region. A new public-diplomacy office
with similarly regional responsibilities is set to open this summer.
Local security issues and Embassy Suva's expanding responsibilities
have necessitated construction of a new embassy compound that has a
completion date of early 2009.


12. (SBU) Tonga is a Kingdom of 100,000 people. At least as many
Tongans live abroad, including in portions of the United States.
Tonga has been moving gradually toward a more representative
government. Partly due to frustration over the pace of reform, a
pro-democracy demonstration in November exploded into violence,
resulting in a devastating riot that left eight people dead and much
of the capital's central business district destroyed. The riot
appears to have further slowed the pace of reform, although the King
and the Prime Minister insist reform will continue. The Tonga
Defense Service (TDS) is involved in several peacekeeping missions

SUVA 00000331 003 OF 003


throughout the world. The TDS is scheduled to undertake a second
deployment to Iraq as part of the MNFI later this year.


13. (SBU) Nauru, Tuvalu and Kiribati are microstates. Nauru and
Tuvalu have populations of around 10,000. Kiribati has 90,000
citizens scattered across much of the central Pacific. All are
functioning democracies. A national election took place in Tuvalu
in 2006. Elections in Nauru and Kiribati will take place in 2007.
All three have serious economic difficulties and depend largely on
international assistance. Nauru, Tuvalu and Kiribati all recognize
Taiwan. Fiji and Tonga recognize the PRC. The PRC-Taiwan rivalry
is an important issue throughout the Pacific, with clear
good-governance implications.


Dinger