FIJI UPDATE 1/4/07: BAINIMARAMA RETURNS EXECUTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 SUVA 000005 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/04/2017 TAGS: PREL MARR PHUM CASC ASEC FJ SUBJECT: FIJI UPDATE 1/4/07: BAINIMARAMA RETURNS EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY TO PRESIDENT, WHO ENDORSES ALL RFMF ACTIONS; BAINIMARAMA SEEKS USG "CLEAN UP" ASSISTANCE; FIJI HR DIRECTOR ISSUES STARTLING REPORT REF: SUVA 002 (AND PREVIOUS) Classified By: Amb. Dinger. Sec. 1.4 (B,D). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander Bainimarama told the nation on Jan. 4 that he has returned executive authority to President Iloilo. Iloilo then publicly endorsed all RFMF actions and said he will appoint an interim government shortly, with a broad mandate to improve Fiji and provide immunity to the RFMF. Bainimarama and Iloilo both called for the international community to be supportive. Bainimarama announced a few more personnel actions before returning power. We received a letter from him requesting USG help to "clean up" corruption. (We seek guidance.) Shaista Shameem, Director of the Fiji Human Rights Commission has issued a report criticizing the Qarase Government for "massive human rights violations," chastising the international community, suggesting Bainimarama's coup has a legal basis, and downplaying RFMF human rights violations during the coup period. We hear Bainimarama's brother-in-law will be indicted for murder. In comment, we note that any interim government will be illegal under Fiji's constitution, and we discuss rumors about Shameem's relationship with the RFMF. End summary. Return of executive authority to the President -------------- - ¶2. (U) Commodore Bainimarama spoke to the nation by radio on Jan. 4, announcing that he has returned all executive authority to President Iloilo, effective immediately. Bainimarama said Iloilo has been "tremendously supportive of our actions," and he will exercise his power with resolve. Bainimarama also announced that Acting PM Senilagakali submitted his resignation this morning. Much of the rest of Bainimarama's speech was a rehash of previously stated explanations for why the coup was necessary for the good of Fiji and for the RFMF. He suggested that, at the time he acted, Fiji was in a "state of limbo." He concluded by appealing to the international community to work with Fiji into the future. President Iloilo endorses all RFMF actions -------------- ¶3. (U) In a 4 p.m. address to the nation, President Iloilo described early December as a "crossroads when hard and decisive decisions needed to be made." He said "cultural issues" (yet to be elaborated but presumably related to Vice President Madraiwiwi) prevented him at the time from fulfilling his duties. But otherwise he would have done exactly what Bainimarama did. Those actions were "necessary and valid in law." Thus, Iloilo said he "fully endorses" Bainimarama's actions. He thanked the Commodore for stepping in, and now for handing back all executive powers. Iloilo said Fiji must move on and initiate steps toward a genuine democracy. He appealed to overseas governments to accept the new reality. Interim Government shortly -------------- ¶4. (U) Iloilo said he will appoint an interim government shortly with a mandate to: uphold the Constitution; facilitate, as necessary, protection and immunity for the RFMF; give effect to all actions taken by the RFMF, including government personnel changes; steady the economy; improve living standards; restructure the Native Lands Trust Board; create an anti-corruption unit; improve relations with the international community; move to elections after appropriate systems are in place and political and economic conditions are conducive; and establish a code of conduct. More changes in senior positions -------------- ¶5. (C) Late on Jan. 3, Bainimarama announced two changes within the RFMF. Capt. (Navy) Esala Teleni, who has been Chief of Staff, will now be Deputy Commander. That role was established earlier this year, seemingly to provide a role for BGen. Naivalurua when he returned from deployment with UNAMI in Iraq. When Naivalurua evidenced unwillingness to back the coup, Bainimarama transferred him to be head of Prisons. Bainimarama also announced that Col. Apakuki Kurusiga will take over the Territorial (reserve) forces, SUVA 00000005 002 OF 003 replacing Col. Henry Manulevu, who is being reduced to the rank of reserve Major. We heard in late November that Manulevu was not prepared to participate in a coup. Yesterday's announcement signals he did decline and has been shunted aside. ¶6. (C) In the Jan. 4 speech, Bainimarama appointed Hector Hatch to be Chairman of the Public Service Commission, tasked to streamline the civil service. Hatch replaces Stewart Huggett, whom Bainimarama fired early on. Bainimarama also announced he has terminated Navi Naisoro as Chairman of Fiji Pine, Ltd. Naisoro is one of the two SDL Party officials shown on video with conman Peter Foster allegedly discussing electoral irregularities (see ref). Naisoro subsequently denied making the alleged statements. While there have long been allegations that Naisoro is thoroughly corrupt, including regarding the timber industry, we expect the reason Bainimarama fired him was his denial of the video's authenticity. Bainimarama seeks USG "clean up" assistance -------------- ¶7. (U) The Ambassador received today a letter from "Acting President" Bainimarama dated Dec. 30. Bainimarama notes "the deep concerns" the U.S. has expressed about RFMF actions, seeks "patience and understanding with regards to the reasons behind the move," says governmental corruption was one of the compelling reasons, and asks for USG assistance for the "clean up" campaign. In particular, Bainimarama seeks: forensic accounting experts to examine corruption evidence; advice for setting up an anti-corruption commission; and assistance to both uncover new cases of corruption and put in place measures to eradicate the problem. We have faxed a copy of the letter to EAP/ANP. Fiji HR Commission Director's startling report -------------- - ¶8. (C) Shaista Shameem, Director of the Fiji Human Rights Commission, has published a 32-page report on Fiji's political trauma. Shameem has been under attack by human-rights NGOs and by one of the FHRC Commissioners for bias in favor of the RFMF. The report confirms the bias, though its intent was presumably the opposite. Shameem accepts the RFMF's legal justifications for the 2006 coup as plausible; claims human rights protesters were "deliberately antagonizing the military;" decries the Qarase Government's failings at great length, including by alleging "massive violations of human rights;" argues that neither the 2001 nor 2006 general elections were legal; blames Australia, New Zealand, and "possibly other embassies" for "taking a populist view" and "facilitating or encouraging a passive/aggressive resistance campaign;" and charges some local NGOs with going down a "slippery immoral path." ¶9. (U) Shameem acknowledges that the "ideal form" of government is democracy; however, "we may need other provisions to consolidate the idea of real democracy in our times, rather than an outdated 20th century model which gets increasingly more remote as the voting process becomes more mathematical and positivist." She suggests that "the Qarase Government relied on majoritarianism, and collaboration with some powerful members of the international community including close neighbors as well as some NGOs, to shield its extensive human rights violations in Fiji from scrutiny." Shameem suggests that "a State that can effectively and forcefully protect its people, not only from armed invasion, but also from unsavory practices from within, is actually quite a rarity in the modern world and should not be lightly dismissed as a military dictatorship." Murder case update -------------- ¶10. (C) Per reftel, an assailant beat to death the uncle of the groom during a reception after Bainimarama's daughter's wedding last weekend. A police source says the assailant was the head of the Navy, CDR Francis Kean, Bainimarama's brother-in-law. Kean has reportedly agreed to appear with his lawyer for initial criminal processing tomorrow. Reportedly there was a delay because most all the witnesses to the crime are military, and they initially declined to respond to police inquiries until authorized by military lawyers to do so. SUVA 00000005 003 OF 003 Comment -------------- ¶11. (C) Today's announcements by Bainimarama and Iloilo seemingly should mean that the RFMF is returning to the barracks. However, Bainimarama did not state that, and we would be surprised if Bainimarama, himself, actually departs the political arena. The goals he set out for the coup are nowhere near accomplished. The RFMF has clearly been deciding who will be named in the interim government, so presumably the RFMF will continue to control government. Iloilo's statement today dramatically contradicts the statement he issued, at Vice President Madraiwiwi's request, just before the coup. Today's statement obviously was dictated by the RFMF. That said, it does reflect Iloilo's long-standing close relationship with the Commodore. ¶12. (C) A fundamental aspect of the new scenario is that, even with Iloilo's blessing, an interim government will not be valid under Fiji's Constitution, according to most all legal experts. It will be just as illegal as the RFMF military council. Iloilo's statement that new elections will take place when proper systems are in place and the political and economic conditions are conducive suggests that the interim government may be in place for quite a while. ¶13. (C) Shaista Shameem's report is amazing. We have heard from several human-rights activists that Shaista (and allegedly her sister Nazhat, a High Court judge) have been behind-the-scenes supporters of the RFMF's recent actions. Shaista reportedly admitted to FHRC Commissioner Shamima Ali (protect) a series of "confidential communications" with the RFMF's chief lawyer Mohammed Aziz. The FHRC report appears to buttress the allegations. Action request -------------- ¶14. (U) Please advise if/how we should respond to the Bainimarama letter described in para 7. Our inclination is not to respond at all, since the U.S. has made clear we do not consider the coup a legitimate endeavor. DINGER