Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SUVA105
2009-03-25 05:53:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Suva
Cable title:
Fiji's Government Intimidates the Opposition; Bainimarama
how-toR 250553Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY SUVA TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1125 INFO AMEMBASSY CANBERRA AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY
UNCLAS SUVA 000105
PLEASE PASS TO EAP/ANP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL FJ KDEM
SUBJECT: Fiji's Government Intimidates the Opposition; Bainimarama
Harassed
UNCLAS SUVA 000105
PLEASE PASS TO EAP/ANP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL FJ KDEM
SUBJECT: Fiji's Government Intimidates the Opposition; Bainimarama
Harassed
1. (U) Summary: A recent spate of late-night vandalism targeting
opponents of Fiji's interim government (IG) ratcheted up a notch
Sunday night with two unsuccessful fire-bombings. Meanwhile, a
group of young men verbally harassed Interim Prime Minister
Bainimarama on March 14 during two apparently orchestrated
occasions, allegedly on instruction of a provincial leader. End
summary.
Escalating Threats Against IG Opponents
--------------
2. (U) A trend of low-level and so far non-fatal acts of vandalism
targeting IG opponents is rising. Attacks have occurred
intermittently since the 2006 coup. In 2008, the homes and cars of
the publisher and the general manager of the Daily Post newspaper
were stoned, and the car windows of a lawyer representing deposed
Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase were smashed, among other incidents.
The recent attacks, however, occurring with increased frequency and
heightened violence, represent an increase in pressure against the
IG's opponents.
3. (U) On January 28, the house and car of IG critic and unionist
Kenneth Zinck were stoned in the early morning hours. In early
February, the car of Akuila Naco, a lawyer representing a chief
charged with attempting to assassinate Bainimarama in 2007, was
smashed with rocks. On March 16, the house and car of unionist
Attar Singh were attacked with stones. Singh is the chairman of the
Movement for Democracy in Fiji, which opposes the IG and includes
the SDL and UPP as well as local NGOs. That same night, the house
and car of Sakiusa Raivoce were attacked by stones. Raivoce sits on
the boards of both the SDL (Qarase's party) and the Movement for
Democracy in Fiji.
4. (U) In the early hours of Sunday morning, March 22, a group of
men threw homemade Molotov cocktails at the homes of Raivoce and
Netani Rika, editor of the Fiji Times, Fiji's largest circulation
daily newspaper. Neither incident resulted in a fire, and there
were no injuries. The attacks were well planned, with the attackers
following pre-determined escape routes to a waiting vehicle.
5. (U) Police claim to be investigating the incidents, and both
Bainimarama and the interim defense minister belatedly condemned the
attacks. In the meanwhile, those attacked remain defiant. Fiji's
newspaper editors say they will continue their work without fear.
Meanwhile, the military has issued a stern warning against
suggesting that it may have had something to do with the attacks.
Harassment of Bainimarama
--------------
6. (SBU) In an unrelated but interesting development, Bainimarama
and his family were set upon and harassed by a group of men on March
14, in what appear to be orchestrated incidents. According to SDL
spokesman Peceli Kinivuwai, who was called to the Queen Elizabeth
Barracks and questioned about the event, Bainimarama and his family
were at a Suva shopping mall when a group of men created a
disturbance to distract the bodyguards. The men then confronted and
swore at Bainimarama. Later that night, at a boxing match, this
same group of men harassed Bainimarama again.
7. (SBU) The military ultimately detained two of the men, who said
they were from Naitasiri Province (inland from Suva) and that
Kinivuwai, along with Naitasiri Provincial Council Chairman and
former SDL minister Ratu Ilaitia Tuisese, asked them to confront
Bainimarama. The military thereafter requested Kinivuwai to report
to the Queen Elizabeth Barracks for questioning. Kinivuwai told us
he had denied having anything to do with the attack, emphasizing
that the SDL is focused on political dialogue and does not want to
see a violent confrontation.
Comment
--------------
8. (U) Low level attacks against IG opponents have occurred
intermittently since the 2006 coup. The recent increase in
frequency and violence is cause for concern. A number of different
groups could be responsible, with the military at the top of the
list of probable suspects. Past coup governments have used
prisoners or unemployed men from the countryside to do their dirty
work, and certainly that is a possibility in this case as well.
MCGANN
PLEASE PASS TO EAP/ANP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL FJ KDEM
SUBJECT: Fiji's Government Intimidates the Opposition; Bainimarama
Harassed
1. (U) Summary: A recent spate of late-night vandalism targeting
opponents of Fiji's interim government (IG) ratcheted up a notch
Sunday night with two unsuccessful fire-bombings. Meanwhile, a
group of young men verbally harassed Interim Prime Minister
Bainimarama on March 14 during two apparently orchestrated
occasions, allegedly on instruction of a provincial leader. End
summary.
Escalating Threats Against IG Opponents
--------------
2. (U) A trend of low-level and so far non-fatal acts of vandalism
targeting IG opponents is rising. Attacks have occurred
intermittently since the 2006 coup. In 2008, the homes and cars of
the publisher and the general manager of the Daily Post newspaper
were stoned, and the car windows of a lawyer representing deposed
Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase were smashed, among other incidents.
The recent attacks, however, occurring with increased frequency and
heightened violence, represent an increase in pressure against the
IG's opponents.
3. (U) On January 28, the house and car of IG critic and unionist
Kenneth Zinck were stoned in the early morning hours. In early
February, the car of Akuila Naco, a lawyer representing a chief
charged with attempting to assassinate Bainimarama in 2007, was
smashed with rocks. On March 16, the house and car of unionist
Attar Singh were attacked with stones. Singh is the chairman of the
Movement for Democracy in Fiji, which opposes the IG and includes
the SDL and UPP as well as local NGOs. That same night, the house
and car of Sakiusa Raivoce were attacked by stones. Raivoce sits on
the boards of both the SDL (Qarase's party) and the Movement for
Democracy in Fiji.
4. (U) In the early hours of Sunday morning, March 22, a group of
men threw homemade Molotov cocktails at the homes of Raivoce and
Netani Rika, editor of the Fiji Times, Fiji's largest circulation
daily newspaper. Neither incident resulted in a fire, and there
were no injuries. The attacks were well planned, with the attackers
following pre-determined escape routes to a waiting vehicle.
5. (U) Police claim to be investigating the incidents, and both
Bainimarama and the interim defense minister belatedly condemned the
attacks. In the meanwhile, those attacked remain defiant. Fiji's
newspaper editors say they will continue their work without fear.
Meanwhile, the military has issued a stern warning against
suggesting that it may have had something to do with the attacks.
Harassment of Bainimarama
--------------
6. (SBU) In an unrelated but interesting development, Bainimarama
and his family were set upon and harassed by a group of men on March
14, in what appear to be orchestrated incidents. According to SDL
spokesman Peceli Kinivuwai, who was called to the Queen Elizabeth
Barracks and questioned about the event, Bainimarama and his family
were at a Suva shopping mall when a group of men created a
disturbance to distract the bodyguards. The men then confronted and
swore at Bainimarama. Later that night, at a boxing match, this
same group of men harassed Bainimarama again.
7. (SBU) The military ultimately detained two of the men, who said
they were from Naitasiri Province (inland from Suva) and that
Kinivuwai, along with Naitasiri Provincial Council Chairman and
former SDL minister Ratu Ilaitia Tuisese, asked them to confront
Bainimarama. The military thereafter requested Kinivuwai to report
to the Queen Elizabeth Barracks for questioning. Kinivuwai told us
he had denied having anything to do with the attack, emphasizing
that the SDL is focused on political dialogue and does not want to
see a violent confrontation.
Comment
--------------
8. (U) Low level attacks against IG opponents have occurred
intermittently since the 2006 coup. The recent increase in
frequency and violence is cause for concern. A number of different
groups could be responsible, with the military at the top of the
list of probable suspects. Past coup governments have used
prisoners or unemployed men from the countryside to do their dirty
work, and certainly that is a possibility in this case as well.
MCGANN