Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SUVA17
2008-01-22 15:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Suva
Cable title:
BRIG.GEN. (RET) KONROTE CONCERNED ABOUT
how-toVZCZCXRO8409 PP RUEHPB DE RUEHSV #0017 0221552 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 221552Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY SUVA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0267 INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1911 RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY 1457 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0027 RUEHNZ/AMCONSUL AUCKLAND 0581 RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY 0991 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0326 RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI RHHJJAA/JICPAC HONOLULU HI
C O N F I D E N T I A L SUVA 000017
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ASEC CASC FJ
SUBJECT: BRIG.GEN. (RET) KONROTE CONCERNED ABOUT
BAINIMARAMA POLICIES THAT FRUSTRATE ETHNIC-FIJIANS
REF: A. SUVA 013
B. SUVA 005
C. DAO SUVA 220344Z JAN 08
Classified By: Amb. Dinger. Sec. 1.4 (B,D).
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SUVA 000017
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ASEC CASC FJ
SUBJECT: BRIG.GEN. (RET) KONROTE CONCERNED ABOUT
BAINIMARAMA POLICIES THAT FRUSTRATE ETHNIC-FIJIANS
REF: A. SUVA 013
B. SUVA 005
C. DAO SUVA 220344Z JAN 08
Classified By: Amb. Dinger. Sec. 1.4 (B,D).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) George Konrote, well-connected retired soldier,
diplomat, and deposed State Minister, is deeply concerned
that Fiji interim Prime Minister Bainimarama, his friend, has
been listening to poor advice, particularly from Interim
Finance Minister Chaudhry and interim Attorney General
Sayed-Khaiyum, and has made a series of decisions that were
bound to infuriate the ethnic-Fijian community. Konrote
noted frustrations within the Republic of Fiji Military
Forces (RFMF),which stem in part from the same decisions
that frustrate the ethnic-Fijian community more broadly.
Konrote did not suggest such frustrations will boil into
anti-Bainimarama action by the Army, but he left no doubt the
frustrations are real. Bainimarama has asked Konrote to be
Fiji's Permanent Representative at the UN, but Konrote will
decline because of the prospect of Australian and New Zealand
visa sanctions against his family. End summary.
Turning down UN role
--------------
2. (C) George Konrote, a retired RFMF Brigadier General, a
State Minister in the deposed Qarase government, and a former
Fiji High Commissioner to Australia, stopped by for a chat on
Jan. 23. He is a savvy observer of the Fiji scene, and he
retains cordial relations with his military colleagues,
including interim PM Bainimarama. Bainimarama has asked
Konrote to be Fiji PermRep to the United Nations. Konrote
said he has decided to decline the offer because of the
threat of Australian and New Zealand visa sanctions which
apply to family members. Konrote has two sons who are pilots
with Air Pacific and could lose their livelihoods. Konrote
said, otherwise, he would be willing to take the job (IG).
Worry about the ethnic-Fijian mood
--------------
3. (C) We asked Konrote what the mood is in the public. He
expressed great concern about the ethnic-Fijian community,
which remains very unhappy about IG policies and
relationships. Konrote mentioned in particular recent IG
decisions to reform "land" policies, to appoint an Electoral
Boundaries Commission with no ethnic-Fijian members, and to
consider changing Fiji's constitutionally-entrenched
electoral system. (See reftels). He said the "land" issue,
in particular, may stimulate ethnic-Fijians "enough to get
them off their butts." Konrote also expressed concern about
recent IG moves against Fiji Water and other prominent
businesses that will surely affect investor confidence.
Konrote noted a sense that Bainimarama is "listening to the
wrong people," in particular to interim Finance Minister
Chaudhry and interim Attorney General Sayed-Khaiyum. Konrote
observed that the recent interim-Cabinet reshuffle accented
those relationships.
RFMF frustrated
--------------
4. (C) Asked the mood within the RFMF, Konrote indicated that
many of his Army colleagues are frustrated. They resent
(Navy Commodore) Bainimarama's purge of many of the best and
brightest within the Army during the past six years in order
to solidify Bainimarama's own position. They resent the
insertion of Navy officers in senior roles that "green suits"
(Army) should hold. And officers, as ethnic-Fijians, are
frustrated by the IG decisions, as noted above, that seem
tilted toward the interests of Chaudhry and Sayed-Khaiyum.
Konrote speculated that the alleged assassination plot
against Bainimarama last November could accurately reflect
frustration within the Fijian chiefly community. Konrote did
not suggest any moves are afoot within the RFMF to replace
Bainimarama, but he left no doubt he believes many Fijians,
including Army officers, are deeply frustrated by a number of
recent Bainimarama decisions. Konrote clearly believes
Bainimarama needs to seek and accept better advice than he
has been relying on lately.
DINGER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ASEC CASC FJ
SUBJECT: BRIG.GEN. (RET) KONROTE CONCERNED ABOUT
BAINIMARAMA POLICIES THAT FRUSTRATE ETHNIC-FIJIANS
REF: A. SUVA 013
B. SUVA 005
C. DAO SUVA 220344Z JAN 08
Classified By: Amb. Dinger. Sec. 1.4 (B,D).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) George Konrote, well-connected retired soldier,
diplomat, and deposed State Minister, is deeply concerned
that Fiji interim Prime Minister Bainimarama, his friend, has
been listening to poor advice, particularly from Interim
Finance Minister Chaudhry and interim Attorney General
Sayed-Khaiyum, and has made a series of decisions that were
bound to infuriate the ethnic-Fijian community. Konrote
noted frustrations within the Republic of Fiji Military
Forces (RFMF),which stem in part from the same decisions
that frustrate the ethnic-Fijian community more broadly.
Konrote did not suggest such frustrations will boil into
anti-Bainimarama action by the Army, but he left no doubt the
frustrations are real. Bainimarama has asked Konrote to be
Fiji's Permanent Representative at the UN, but Konrote will
decline because of the prospect of Australian and New Zealand
visa sanctions against his family. End summary.
Turning down UN role
--------------
2. (C) George Konrote, a retired RFMF Brigadier General, a
State Minister in the deposed Qarase government, and a former
Fiji High Commissioner to Australia, stopped by for a chat on
Jan. 23. He is a savvy observer of the Fiji scene, and he
retains cordial relations with his military colleagues,
including interim PM Bainimarama. Bainimarama has asked
Konrote to be Fiji PermRep to the United Nations. Konrote
said he has decided to decline the offer because of the
threat of Australian and New Zealand visa sanctions which
apply to family members. Konrote has two sons who are pilots
with Air Pacific and could lose their livelihoods. Konrote
said, otherwise, he would be willing to take the job (IG).
Worry about the ethnic-Fijian mood
--------------
3. (C) We asked Konrote what the mood is in the public. He
expressed great concern about the ethnic-Fijian community,
which remains very unhappy about IG policies and
relationships. Konrote mentioned in particular recent IG
decisions to reform "land" policies, to appoint an Electoral
Boundaries Commission with no ethnic-Fijian members, and to
consider changing Fiji's constitutionally-entrenched
electoral system. (See reftels). He said the "land" issue,
in particular, may stimulate ethnic-Fijians "enough to get
them off their butts." Konrote also expressed concern about
recent IG moves against Fiji Water and other prominent
businesses that will surely affect investor confidence.
Konrote noted a sense that Bainimarama is "listening to the
wrong people," in particular to interim Finance Minister
Chaudhry and interim Attorney General Sayed-Khaiyum. Konrote
observed that the recent interim-Cabinet reshuffle accented
those relationships.
RFMF frustrated
--------------
4. (C) Asked the mood within the RFMF, Konrote indicated that
many of his Army colleagues are frustrated. They resent
(Navy Commodore) Bainimarama's purge of many of the best and
brightest within the Army during the past six years in order
to solidify Bainimarama's own position. They resent the
insertion of Navy officers in senior roles that "green suits"
(Army) should hold. And officers, as ethnic-Fijians, are
frustrated by the IG decisions, as noted above, that seem
tilted toward the interests of Chaudhry and Sayed-Khaiyum.
Konrote speculated that the alleged assassination plot
against Bainimarama last November could accurately reflect
frustration within the Fijian chiefly community. Konrote did
not suggest any moves are afoot within the RFMF to replace
Bainimarama, but he left no doubt he believes many Fijians,
including Army officers, are deeply frustrated by a number of
recent Bainimarama decisions. Konrote clearly believes
Bainimarama needs to seek and accept better advice than he
has been relying on lately.
DINGER