Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07SUVA89
2007-02-04 22:17:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Suva
Cable title:  

FIJI UPDATE, FEBRUARY 5, 2007: RFMF LASHES BACK

Tags:  PGOV PHUM MARR ASEC FJ 
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VZCZCXRO7502
PP RUEHPB
DE RUEHSV #0089/01 0352217
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 042217Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY SUVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3757
INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1564
RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY 1144
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 1338
RUEHNZ/AMCONSUL AUCKLAND 0358
RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY 0764
RHHJJAA/JICPAC HONOLULU HI
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
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
-------
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."













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DINGER