FIJI - BAINIMARAMA "NO" ON REEVES' DIALOGUE;

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 SUVA 000089 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/07/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV CJAN PHUM PINR MARR FJ SUBJECT: FIJI - BAINIMARAMA "NO" ON REEVES' DIALOGUE; QARASE COURT CASE; PEOPLE'S CHARTER COMPLICATIONS; RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF NSC AND FIS; COMMANDER'S INTENT REF: SUVA 085 Classified By: Amb. Dinger. Sec. 1.4 (B,D). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Fiji interim Prime Minister Bainimarama has declined a proposal to meet with deposed PM Qarase and others, under the auspices of Commonwealth Secretariat envoy Sir Paul Reeves. Bainimarama said the Military Council objected, but Reeves reportedly puts the blame on interim Finance Minister Chaudhry. Qarase's constitutional challenge against the December 2006 coup and subsequent interim government (IG) has begun. The defense is proposing that presidential reserve powers trump the Constitution's actual language. Bainimarama has appealed for the Fiji public to support the IG and its People's Charter process "if they want elections to go ahead." A third prominent member of the People's Charter process resigned this week. The IG has announced it is re-formulating the National Security Council and re-establishing the Fiji Intelligence Service. Bainimarama, wearing his Commodore hat, issued his "Commander's Intent 2008." It acknowledges considerable internal short-comings, while insisting that the military must play a long-haul, very prominent role in good governance for Fiji. In light of the military's confusing public signals about how tax-evasion allegations against Chaudhry should be handled, Bainimarama has added "military spokesman" to all his other hats. End summary. Reeves mediation -- Bainimarama says "no" -------------- ¶2. (C) As discussed reftel, former New Zealand Governor General Sir Paul Reeves is undertaking an effort at Commonwealth Secretariat behest, to facilitate a political dialogue in Fiji. Reeves tested the waters in December, and is now back on a March 1-9 visit. He visited Embassy Suva March 4. Reeves is savvy about Fiji, and he clearly recognized that the chances would be slim to get Bainimarama in a useful dialogue with Qarase and others. However, he reported the initial soundings were reasonably positive, except for interim Finance Minister Chaudhry, who flatly opposed the effort. Reeves aimed to host an all-day session for Bainimarama, Qarase, and others today, March 7, and Bainimarama was still agreeable during a dinner on March 5. But on March 6, Bainimarama informed Reeves that the Military Council had advised him not to participate because of concern that a dialogue could complicate the court case now under way in which deposed PM Qarase is challenging the constitutionality of the coup and the subsequent IG. Reeves reportedly believes Bainimarama's real reason for saying "no" is his reliance on Chaudhry's advice. ¶3. (C) Comment: From Chaudhry's perspective, and most likely from Bainimarama's, the Reeves dialogue, which Sir Paul has made clear would be separate from the IG's National Council for Building a Better Fiji (NCBBF, People's Charter) process, would only complicate IG efforts. The IG is attempting to convince the public and the courts that the IG is the only game in town and the People's Charter is the only vision for the future. It may well be that an element in the strategy is eventually to use People's Charter imperatives to delay elections. Qarase court case and the President's powers -------------- ¶4. (C) After nearly a year of lead-up, three judges began hearing Qarase's challenge to the constitutionality of the coup this week. Acting Chief Justice Gates and two retiree judges (Byrne and Pathik) hand-picked by Gates are sorting out case-management issues with Queen's Counsel brought in by all sides from Australia and New Zealand. That Gates and Byrne have not recused themselves from the case is shocking, given their behind-the-scenes involvement with the IG. The defense earlier had indicated it would rely on doctrines of necessity and acquiescence to attempt to justify the coup and IG. This week, defense counsel announced instead that their case relies on inherent, reserved powers of the President to do whatever he deems necessary to save the nation. The argument continues that, while Bainimarama initially deposed President Iloilo, the President's reinstatement a month later, and his then blessing of Bainimarama's actions, make the actual coup a "non-issue." Defense counsel added that SUVA 00000089 002 OF 003 the President's actions are not justiciable, a separation of powers argument, and that nobody from the President's office can be called as a witness, kind of an executive privilege argument. Bainimarama has refused to be a witness. ¶5. (C) Comment: A truly neutral court would not buy these defense arguments that attempt to ignore the 1997 Fiji Constitution's clear limitation of the President to a ceremonial role, acting only on advice of the PM (Qarase). Whether the current three judges or an eventual Court of Appeals made up of post-coup local judges will stand up for rule of law remains to be seen. Presumably Fiji's Supreme Court, still made up of neutral expatriate judges, would do the right thing, but appeals take time, and in the meantime the IG would remain in place. Bainimarama urges the public to cooperate -------------- ¶6. (C) Bainimarama has spoken out several times in recent days, mostly in radio interviews in the Fijian language. A major theme has been that "if people want the elections to go ahead, then they need to cooperate and be part of the People's Charter process which will also end the coup culture in Fiji." He accused some Fijian politicians of stirring racial hatred so they can return to power. He suggested that Fijians should stop worrying about Indians taking their land since, without the Indians, Fijians would be "left only with their old traditional clothes and canoes." Comment: The remarks reflect Bainimarama's frustration that his People's Charter process is not gaining support from the Fijian community. He is directly threatening: jump on board my train or I will postpone your elections. Another People's Charter departure -------------- ¶7. (C) The head of Fiji's Media Council, Daryl Tarte, announced on March 6 that he has resigned from his seat in the People's Charter process, joining deposed Opposition Leader Beddoes and prominent Fijian NGO activist Siwatibau in departing. When the process convened in January, Beddoes and Tarte were the two participants perceived to be from outside the IG umbrella. Now the process is entirely in-house. We understand the Media Council was divided on whether Tarte should withdraw, some arguing he could have more influence from within. However, Tarte concluded the reality is that the Charter is dominated by the IG, with Bainimarama a co-chair, IG ministers as co-chairs of each working group, and IG/military reps heading teams to sell the concept in the villages. Tarte said a second reason for protest was the recent IG assault on media freedom via the Russell Hunter expulsion from Fiji. Revival of NSC and Military Intelligence -------------- ¶8. (U) On Feb. 27, the interim Cabinet approved re-creating the National Security Council (NSC) and the Fiji Intelligence Service (FIS) "in order to ensure a safe and secure Fiji from increasing terrorism threats." The NSC is to be composed of the interim PM (Bainimarama) as chair, the interim Attorney General (Sayed-Khaiyum),the Defense Minister (Ganilau),the Finance Minister (Chaudhry),and the Police Commissioner (Teleni). Critics challenged the need, and Qarase suggested the military commander and police commissioner should be merely advisors, with their minister (Defense) being the actual member. Chaudhry disbanded the previous FIS in 1999 when he became PM, arguing it duplicated the police special branch. He says he now sees the need for the military to have its own intelligence service. RFMF Commander's intent 2008: challenges -------------- ¶9. (U) The Fiji military (RFMF) posted Commodore Bainimarama's "Commander's Intent 2008" on its website in late February. In it, Bainimarama says the RFMF's "clean up campaign" mission remains un-accomplished. He blames the "global push for western style democratic governance, including the enforcement of human rights" for interfering with Fiji's sovereignty and causing much opposition to the military and interim government. He says the military as "the major partner" in the IG, "has copped a lot of negative criticism." Attempts may continue to "revert the status quo." Bainimarama sees ethnic conflict as "latent at this stage," but says there are no guarantees it will stay so. He SUVA 00000089 003 OF 003 predicts the military "will be required to play a very prominent role in the good governance of our country." He endorses the People's Charter to create a "collective sense of destiny." ...Need for internal RFMF clean up; PKO uncertainty -------------- -------------- ¶10. (U) In the "Intent" document, Bainimarama acknowledges that the military "had done poorly" in accomplishing its Strategic Plan 2002-2007. He notes that repeated calls for the military to take the "clean up campaign" to heart internally "seem not to have been very well understood." He describes "people acting unprofessionally" and says proper understanding and application of systems for good governance are "sadly lacking" in the military. He admits the military has repeatedly failed to stay within its budget and says that must be corrected. He says British, Australian, and New Zealand recruitment of Fijians for their armies during a "crisis time in Fiji seems suspect." Retention of troops "becomes paramount." Otherwise, "we will have to review our participation" in PKO. Bainimarama adds another hat: RFMF spokesman -------------- ¶11. (C) Reports have circulated through Suva in recent days that the Military Council is pushing Bainimarama to suspend Finance Minister Chaudhry pending an independent audit of tax-evasion allegations. IG spokesmen put out confusing official signals on the topic. Late on March 6, Bainimarama announced he has removed LtCol. Qiliho and Col. Aziz as spokesmen, though both officers retain their other duties. Qiliho is Ops Officer for Land Forces; Aziz is the military's chief lawyer. Henceforth, Bainimarama, himself, will be point of contact for "all public relations work regarding the military." When media attempted to query Bainimarama about the change, he declined to comment. Comment: Qiliho and Aziz are seen as among Bainimarama's most loyal supporters, but it appears Bainimarama's intent to keep a damper on the Chaudhry issue overcame any concerns about embarrassing the Colonels. DINGER