FIJI: INTERIM GOV'T ALLEGES ASSASSINATION PLOT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SUVA 000518

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/05/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR PHUM ASEC FJ
SUBJECT: FIJI: INTERIM GOV'T ALLEGES ASSASSINATION PLOT

REF: SUVA 480

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

Summary
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1. (C) Fiji military and police arrested at least 16 suspects
during the weekend, allegedly for plotting to assassinate
interim PM Bainimarama and other senior figures in the
interim government (IG). Those arrested included the High
Chief of Naitasiri Province, New Zealand businessman Ballu
Khan, two retired Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF)
Colonels, and a senior leader of deposed PM Qarase's SDL
party. Khan was badly beaten during his arrest, and Fiji
authorities only reluctantly allowed NZ consular access.
Police Commissioner Teleni told the media the IG has credible
evidence of the plot. (Note reftel, which reported on Khan's
plans for a counter-coup.) Teleni alleged some local NGOs
helped fund the plot with assistance from neighboring
nations. We hear interrogators of arrestees are alleging
Australian, New Zealand, and U.S. involvement. Bainimarama
says the RFMF remains "solid as a rock," which may be the
case. However, there is no doubt many ethnic Fijians are
very unhappy with the IG. Whether the arrests stifle dissent
or spur it remains to be seen. An Embassy Suva EAC meeting
Nov. 5 concluded that the current Public Announcement is
appropriate for now. If the IG publicly alleges a USG role,
we will flatly deny that. End summary.

Arrests of prominent assassination plotters
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2. (C) On Saturday afternoon, Nov. 3, Fiji military and
police forces at a checkpoint in suburban Suva arrested Ballu
Khan with a number of bodyguards and family members. Per
reftel, Khan, a prominent businessman with close connections
to "Fijian nationalists," informed the Aussies a month ago
that he and others were plotting to remove interim PM
Bainimarama and others by force. Khan said the Qaranivalu
(High Chief of Naitasiri Province),and at least four Army
Colonels were co-conspirators. Later Nov. 3, the Fiji Police
arrested the Qaranivalu when he sought to visit Khan. As of
Monday p.m. Nov. 5, the Fiji Police said 16 suspects are in
custody, undergoing interrogation. Among them are Army Col.
(Ret.) Metuisela (Matt) Mua, head of Military Intelligence in
the Rabuka era of the 1990s and a convicted conspirator in
the 2000 coup; Col. (Ret.) Jone Baledrokadroka, former RFMF
Land Forces Commander and brother-in-law of the Qaranivalu,
who challenged Bainimarama's leadership in Jan. 2006 and
lost; Peceli Kinivuwai, the National Director of deposed PM
Qarase's SDL Party; and at least two Khan bodyguards who were
members of the now-disbanded RFMF Counter-Revolutionary
Warfare (CRW) group that participated in the 2000 coup and
mutiny against Bainimarama. More arrests are expected.

NZ citizen severely beaten; limited access for HighComm
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3. (C) According to credible sources, soldiers beat Khan and
the other adult males in his party quite severely immediately
on their arrest. All the adults in the Khan party were then
dispersed to police stations around Suva for interrogation.
Soldiers reportedly then strip-searched all, including the
three women. We are told the Qaranivalu has not been beaten.
Khan, born in Fiji, is a New Zealand citizen. When the NZ
High Commission sought access to him, the request was refused
until late Sunday morning. At that time, a NZ emboff
observed that Khan had been severely beaten about the face.
He could speak but not clearly. He said the military had
assaulted him. Media have reported that Khan suffered a
broken jaw and broken ribs. An MD who treated Khan has told
the NZ HighComm that Khan does not appear to have suffered
broken bones, though he was to receive a medical "scan"
today. A media account on the afternoon of Nov. 5 said Khan
has complained of chest pains. Subsequent NZ requests to
visit Khan have been denied.

IG says credible intel led to arrests
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4. (C) Police Commissioner Teleni (a senior RFMF officer
until recently) has been the interim government (IG)
spokesman concerning the arrests. RFMF spokesman Tikoitoga
suggested the military only assisted the police because Khan
and his cohort were rumored to be armed and dangerous.
Teleni said the IG acted because it had developed credible
intelligence of an assassination plot against Bainimarama,
others in the IG, and senior military officers, utilizing
firearms and explosives. A source informed us the RFMF has

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audio tapes of incriminating conversations. Teleni admitted
no arms or explosives have been uncovered to date. Teleni
said Khan and his bodyguards were beaten while resisting
arrest. (Others at the scene denied that.) Teleni said
formal charges would be laid shortly. Late on Nov. 5, the
Fiji Police announced they have charged three as-yet-unnamed
suspects with treason, inciting mutiny, and conspiracy to
murder.

Allegation NGOs, neighbors, even U.S. involved
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5. (C) Teleni claimed in his public statement to have
evidence that some local NGOs helped to fund the
assassination plot and that some international "neighbors"
funded those NGOs. Teleni added that some nations are
"lurking" behind the scenes to take advantage of the
situation. We have heard second-hand from a lawyer
representing the Qaranivalu that an interrogator specifically
sought confirmation of involvement by Australia, New Zealand,
and the United States. Observers in Suva are speculating
that NGO activists Angie Heffernan (PCPI) and Shamima Ali
(Fiji Women's Crisis Center) will be arrested. A media
source reports the list for arrest also includes deposed PM
Qarase. When Qarase had a scheduled meeting with the EU
heads of mission this morning, we are told he was ashen and
clearly distracted.

Comment
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6. (C) Interim PM Bainimarama told the media that the RFMF
remains united, "solid as a rock." Nonetheless, many in Fiji
are now holding their breaths. As previously reported, there
has been deep disquiet within the ethnic-Fijian communities
in Fiji ever since the December coup. Both the Qaranivalu
and Baledrokadroka are senior chiefs. We are told the
Qaranivalu recently claimed to have kept a damper on fiery
Naitasiri youths who have wanted to attack Bainimarama and
his IG crowd. Qarase has reported holding back his
supporters from violence as well. Per reftel, Khan and the
Qaranivalu have been plotting a counter-coup for at least the
past month. It remains to be seen if the IG's arrests will
suppress such dissent or enflame it. Suva is quiet, with
roadblocks around the Central Police Station. The Embassy
held an EAC meeting today, Oct. 5, and concluded that the
current Public Announcement and state of Embassy readiness
remain appropriate for now.

Press guidance
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7. (SBU) We have received media inquiries seeking Embassy
reaction to the weekend arrests. Since the IG has not
publicly attempted to tie the USG into the plot, we have not
yet responded. NZ PM Clark complained publicly during the
weekend about the beating received by NZ citizen Khan and
about the initial lack of consular access. Today Clark went
on to deny any GNZ funding for NGOs to be involved in an
assassination plot. Australia FM Downer made a media
statement that any claims of Australian involvement "are
absurd." NGO activists Heffernan and Ali made media
statements over the weekend decrying the attempt to wrap NGOs
into some sort of conspiracy. As necessary, the Embassy is
ready to flatly deny any USG involvement in any assassination
plot, via NGOs or otherwise, and to emphasize that the U.S.
continues to believe that political change in Fiji needs to
take place by elections, not by coups or other forms of
violence.
DINGER