FIJI UPDATE, FEBRUARY 5, 2007: RFMF LASHES BACK

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 SUVA 000089 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 2/05/17 TAGS: PGOV PHUM MARR ASEC FJ SUBJECT: FIJI UPDATE, FEBRUARY 5, 2007: RFMF LASHES BACK AFTER METHODIST CHURCH DENOUNCES COUP; NEWSPAPER PHOTOGRAPHER ROUGHED UP; INTERIM GOVERNMENT SEEKS TO WITHDRAW FROM UNION AGREEMENT REF: SUVA 84 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Ambassador Dinger per 1.4 (B) and (D) Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Fiji's Methodist Church issued a strongly worded statement February 2 condemning the coup. It asked Bainimarama, the interim government, and President Iloilo to resign. The RFMF responded by barging into the church's headquarters (inside one of Suva's most well-known churches) and "interviewing" church leaders. A Fiji Times photographer on hand was roughed up and brought to the military camp. The RFMF claims the Methodist statement was made by "politically motivated" members of the church hierarchy and urged church members not to be misled. The Fiji Times called RFMF treatment of its photographer "an indirect form of censorship." The interim regime has proposed withdrawing from its collective agreement with public unions; the unions have suggested labor actions might result if the government follows through. The "clean up campaign" has reached the Native Land Trust Board and government-owned companies like Fiji Telecom, whose board is now stacked with interim government appointees. The Police Tactical Response Unit will be disbanded. Fiji's Pacific neighbor, Kiribati, has accepted the "reality" of the interim regime. Methodist Church Speaks Out -------------- ¶2. (U) The Methodist Church of Fiji issued a statement February 2 condemning the coup as "a treasonous act." All actions taken by the interim government, said the statement, are illegal. The church called for the resignation of Interim PM Bainimarama and the interim government, to be replaced by a politically-neutral administration. "It is the view of the church that major policy issues such as the restructuring of the civil service, ..amendments to our Constitution and our electoral system and so on should be left to a government mandated by the people." The church also called upon President Iloilo to resign, stating that it is in the interest of the people of Fiji that a "capable person" perform the function of President in this time of uncertainty. RFMF Reacts Angrily - Storms Into Church Offices -------------- --- ¶3. (SBU) The RFMF reacted quickly, with armed soldiers entering Methodist Church headquarters at Centenary Church in Suva soon after the statement's release. Several church officials were interviewed and one person was detained, later identified as former RFMF Col. Tevita Bukarau. Bainimarama reportedly went to the church later to speak to church officials. Military spokesman Leweni urged Methodists not to be misled by the Church's statement, saying the fact that the authors of the statement did not sign it is "unchristian." Leweni said the military knew who drafted the statement and that "these people are known to the military as politically motivated." Leweni said Bukarau "is someone who was prominent in the 2000 crisis...and is out to discredit the RFMF." Church spokesman Iliesa Navalu, who Leweni identified as one of the drafters of the document, refused to back down, insisting that the document was approved by the President of the Methodist Church. (Comment: The Methodist Church has vacillated at times about the coup after being a strong supporter of PM Qarase's government. This latest statement, particularly the language about Iloilo, is remarkably confrontational. Since the Church is very important in Fijian villages, it is no surprise that the army has expressed immediate concern. End comment.) RFMF Roughs Up Photographer - Fiji Times Cries Censorship -------------- -------------- ¶4. (SBU) A Fiji Times photographer at Centenary Church to cover the RFMF entry into the church and its offices was roughed up by soldiers and later taken to the military camp for questioning. A Fiji Times editorial February 3 deplored "this unwarranted attack by the military," and said the newspaper had received no explanation why the photographer was taken to the camp. It called the soldiers' actions "an indirect form of censorship on the media." (Note: The photographer, Sitiveni Moce, was roughed up during the 2000 coup as well, when renegade soldiers broke several of his ribs.) SUVA 00000089 002 OF 003 Interim Government Proposes Withdrawal from Union Agreement -------------- -------------- ¶5. (U) The interim government proposed today a "withdrawal" from the collective agreement between the government and the Confederation of Public Sector Unions, with the agreement to be renegotiated. PSC Chairman Rishi Ram said this was necessary because of a lack of finances. Union officials responded quickly, saying the government must honor the agreement and that any changes to it must be made with the consent of both parties. Teacher's Union General Secretary Agni Deo Singh said the union "will take necessary actions" if the agreement is not honored. Comment: Signs of Fiscal Desperation -------------- ¶6. (C) The interim government's proposal is a clear sign that its faces a dire fiscal situation. It needs to pay for a significant increase in RFMF expenses at the same time as it copes with aid cut-offs, a drop in revenue from tourism, and a probable general economic slump in 2007. The Central Bank has already announced that 2006 GDP estimates will have to be revised downward because of a drop in economic activity in December. That trend will almost certainly continue in ¶2007. The interim regime made a political decision early on not to implement the SDL's planned VAT increase. It appears that cost cutting measures such as lowering the retirement age and withdrawing from union agreements are among the few available options it has left to help make ends meet. However, alienating unions will presumably exact a political cost. End comment. Native Land Trust Board "Clean Up" Begins; Parent of Fiji Telecom, Vodafone Stacked with Interim Gov. Appointees -------------- -------------- ¶7. (U) Interim Minister of Fijian Affairs Ratu Epeli Ganilau announced that Native Land Trust Board (NTLB) General Manager Kalivati Bakani and another high-ranking official have been sent on indefinite leave. Ratu Epeli said his ministry would audit the NTLB, with special focus on a FJ$16 million IT system installed in 2004. Amalgamated Telecom Holdings (ATH),the parent company of Fiji Telecom and majority owner of Vodafone Fiji, announced that four members of its board (out of seven total board members) had been replaced by board members of the Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF),which is the majority shareholder in ATH. All four, Acting Secretary of Finance Aisake Taito, Howard Politini, Felix Anthony and Daniel Urai, were appointed to the FNPF Board by the military government. Police Tactical Response Unit Disbanded -------------- ¶8. (U) The RFMF announced on February 5 plans to disband the Police Tactical Response (PTR) Unit, saying the unit is not needed and is a waste of taxpayer money. This action is no surprise, as the RFMF has been a fierce critic of the unit since it was set up by then-Police Commissioner Andrew Hughes in 2004. The RFMF disarmed the PTR on December 4. It was the only armed police unit. Kiribati Accepts Interim Government -------------- ¶9. (U) We received a diplomatic note from the Republic of Kiribati, dated January 25, which expresses Kiribati's willingness to work with the interim regime. The note states that, despite the unfortunate coup, "the Kiribati Government emphasizes the importance that Kiribati and its people attach to its relations with Fiji and the people of Fiji, and has acknowledged the reality and necessity of having to work closely with the interim Government in Fiji in support of its efforts to take Fiji forward towards the restoration of normalcy and democratic governance." SUVA 00000089 003 OF 003 DINGER