Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07SUVA387
2007-08-05 20:30:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Suva
Cable title:  

FIJI UPDATE AUG. 6, 07: STRIKES; AUSTRALIA-FIJI;

Tags:  PREL MARR PHUM FJ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1882
PP RUEHPB
DE RUEHSV #0387/01 2172030
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 052030Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY SUVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0217
INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1749
RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY 1321
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 1519
RUEHNZ/AMCONSUL AUCKLAND 0481
RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY 0888
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHHJJAA/JICPAC HONOLULU HI
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SUVA 000387 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR PHUM FJ
SUBJECT: FIJI UPDATE AUG. 6, 07: STRIKES; AUSTRALIA-FIJI;
BAINIMARAMA SCORE CARD; GCC STATUS

REF: SUVA 379

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 000387

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR PHUM FJ
SUBJECT: FIJI UPDATE AUG. 6, 07: STRIKES; AUSTRALIA-FIJI;
BAINIMARAMA SCORE CARD; GCC STATUS

REF: SUVA 379

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

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

1. (C) Some Fiji public-sector unions remain on strike.
Others have gone back to work, at least for now. The interim
government (IG) is adamant thus far that no lucrative
settlement will take place. A war of words between Australia
and the IG continues. Interim PM Bainimarama is spinning the
IG's "anti-corruption" and "building a bright future" themes
as fast as he can. Today's pressured resignation of the head
of Fiji's Revenue and Customs Authority suggests less savory
IG motives. The IG's suspension of Fiji's Great Council of
Chiefs (GCC) has been lifted, sort of. Details are murky but
may relate to the need to appoint a Vice President sooner
rather than later. End summary.

Strike news
--------------

2. (SBU) Four Fiji public-sector trade unions have been on
strike over interim government decisions to reduce pay and
cut the retirement age from 60 to 55. The Fiji Nursing
Association (FNA) was first in line and has now been out for
two weeks. The Fiji Teachers Association (FTA),Public
Employees Union (PEU),and Viti National Union of Taukei
Workers (VNUTW) went on strike last week (ref). When the
Education Minister pulled forward a two-week school holiday
from late August to the present, the FTA called off its
strike for now, attempting to regain paid vacations for
teachers, but with a threat to resume strike action later.
The Education Minister said he considers the unionists to
still be on strike so they should not be paid. Media report
the PEU may be near settlement. Still, the FNA and VNUTW
remain insistent, asking for compulsory arbitration if the
interim government won't meet their demands. Interim PM
Bainimarama has said the cupboard is bare, and he has refused
to let interim Labor Minister Rounds-Ganilau go down the
arbitration route, presumably fearing a negative ruling. The
head of the FNA admits her union is "stuck," since "the
powers now rest with the interim prime minister."
Bainimarama has made clear publicly that he feels no

compunction to meet strikers demands, since his is "not an
elected government." The relatively light strike turnouts,
except for the nurses, has made Bainimarama's stance less
difficult than it might have been.

Australia-Fiji war of words continues
--------------

3. (C) Australian Foreign Minister Downer reportedly has
stated publicly in Auckland that Bainimarama will not be
welcomed at this year's Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) in Tonga.
Downer said that is now a widely-held view among Forum
partners. Bainimarama responded by accusing the PIF
Secretariat of being used by Australia and New Zealand to

SIPDIS
campaign against Fiji's interim regime. Bainimarama accused
the Secretariat of appointing two former CEO's of the Qarase
Government into key PIF positions in Solomon Islands (Lesi
Korovavala) and Nauru (Paula Uluinaceva). (Note: PIF
officials have told us they vetted the appointments with very
senior levels of the Fiji IG, including the Foreign Minister,
and received assent at the time.) Bainimarama also lashed
out at Australia and New Zealand for campaigning to get him
disqualified from attending the Forum meeting in Tonga.
Bainimarama said, "Their reaction typifies the lack of
understanding and arrogance. They have a condescending
attitude to the unique problems and challenges a small
country like Fiji is facing."

Bainimarama on his motives and results
--------------

4. (U) In remarks at a Pacific Islands Business Forum in Nadi
on Aug. 6, Bainimarama said the Dec. 6 coup was "not a power
grab." It was about rescuing a young and fragile nation
that was being plunged into the abyss by manipulative,
corrupt, racist, and divisive political leaders. Now all
those issues will be addressed through a proposed National
Council to Build a Better Fiji. Efforts to streamline
regulatory frameworks, install good-governance practices, and
implement the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption
(FICAC) are producing results. Bainimarama said the IG
remains fully committed and engaged with the PIF initiative
to return Fiji to parliamentary democracy, as illustrated by
release of funds for a census, appointment of an electoral

SUVA 00000387 002 OF 002


commission, and acceptance in principle of a March 2009 time
frame for elections.

Revenue and Customs CEO resigns
--------------

5. (C) A few weeks ago, Fiji Islands Revenue and Customs
Authority (FIRCA) CEO Tevita Banuve refused to release tax
records of suspended Chief Justice Fatiaki to FICAC. Banuve
sourced his decision in Fiji's tax law. FICAC reportedly
went to a magistrate friendly to the IG, got a warrant, and
barged into FIRCA headquarters to grab the Fatiaki file.
Interim PM Bainimarama then ordered FIRCA to fire Banuve.
Banuve went on leave, as FIRCA staff expressed unhappiness
over the affair. Over the weekend, Banuve reportedly
submitted his resignation letter.

GCC reinstated...sort of
--------------

6. (U) The IG and the Great Council of Chiefs seem to have
cut some sort of deal, though details are very murky.
Interim Fijian Affairs Minister Ganilau announced Aug 3 that
the suspension of the GCC he had announced in April (after
the GCC refused to bless the IG's choice as Vice President)
has now been rescinded. Four senior GCC members announced
they had withdrawn their lawsuit against the interim regime
challenging the suspension. Supposedly details were to
follow; however, thus far the only details have been
contradictory, with both sides blaming the media for the
confusion. GCC leaders indicated they may call a meeting for
this week, but Bainimarama says any official meeting will not
be allowed. An element in all this could be the IG's strong
desire to fill the VP position, given President Iloilo's
feeble state. Under the Fiji Constitution, the GCC is
instrumental in that process.

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

7. (C) Commodore Bainimarama is spinning a tale of success in
his "clean up" campaign. Many observers are skeptical.
FICAC is a rogue organization without legal legitimacy. One
FICAC court case has already been withdrawn, presumably to
keep from having a near-term constitutional challenge. The
strikes have been a chance to observe grassroots moods.
Turnout for the nurses' strike reportedly has been pretty
strong. The others have been spotty, and strike organizers
blame military and police intimidation. A couple days before
the strikes were to commence, national TV news showed
security forces exercising strong-arm contingency
preparations. Also, per reftel, the military took the head
of the VNUTW to Queen Elizabeth Barracks where he was
reportedly abused and threatened with death. That said,
people at the Fijian grassroots still have yet to show
overtly what so many sources say is the state of play beneath
the surface: a deep-seated anger about the coup and its
aftermath. The strikes are an opportunity, but the nurses
have appeared to be the only ones prepared to exercise
anti-IG courage on a mass scale.
DINGER