Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SUVA13
2009-01-13 05:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Suva
Cable title:  

AGEING BUT HEALTHY FIJI PRESIDENT PRAYS FOR

Tags:  PGOV PINR PREL FJ 
pdf how-to read a cable
R 130526Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY SUVA
TO AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 
AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY 
AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 
HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
SECSTATE WASHDC 0947
C O N F I D E N T I A L SUVA 000013 


E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2019
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL FJ
SUBJECT: AGEING BUT HEALTHY FIJI PRESIDENT PRAYS FOR
DEMOCRACY

Classified By: Ambassador C. Steven McGann for reason 1.4(C)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SUVA 000013


E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2019
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL FJ
SUBJECT: AGEING BUT HEALTHY FIJI PRESIDENT PRAYS FOR
DEMOCRACY

Classified By: Ambassador C. Steven McGann for reason 1.4(C)


1. (C) Summary: Fiji President Iloilo, despite memory
challenges likely caused by early Alzheimer,s disease, can
be remarkably lucid and is well aware of the political
situation in Fiji. Iloilo longs to retire but feels he must
remain in office until a new government is elected, in order
to prevent interim Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama from
assuming the presidency. Ilolo,s suspicion is consistent
with speculation that Bainimarama is considering a possible
bid for the presidency or vice-presidency as part of an
election deal. End summary.

Healthy but forgetful


2. (C) Eighty-eight year old Fiji President Ratu Josefa
Iloilovatu Uluivuda recently returned from his annual
Australian medical checkup. According to Dr. Joji Malani
(protect),his personal physician who accompanied him on the
trip, President Iloilo is quite healthy for his age despite
some minor health issues. When asked about Iloilo,s mental
acuity, Malani acknowledged a very slight decrease in ability
over the previous year. He said Iloilo has difficulty with
his short-term memory and probably suffers from early
Alzheimer,s. He noted that on this trip Iloilo often asked
him the exact same questions every five minutes or so, but he
added that the president can also be surprisingly alert and
cognizant of events and issues, especially when public
decorum is needed.

No Parkinson's


3. (C) When asked if Iloilo suffered from Parkinson,s
disease, as had been reported in some circles, Malani said he
does not. More than a year ago, when Iloilo came to him with
visible hand shakiness, Malani diagnosed him with familial
tremors. Iloilo responded well to treatment and the
associated body tremors/shakiness ceased. Malani said that
Iloilo,s heart is in surprisingly good condition and that
the only obvious recent deterioration in health is a
substantial calcification of the spinal column in the neck
and growing arthritis in both knees, which is making it
painful for Iloilo to move around.

Staying close to home


4. (SBU) Iloilo had planned original to attend a royal
invitation to England in November and then to travel on to
Australia, but Malani convinced him that traveling farther
than Australia was unwise. (Note: The Embassy had processed
visas for Iloilo and his entourage for a proposed stopover in
Los Angeles.)

Praying for Democracy


5. (C) Malani admitted that Iloilo is fairly powerless as
"others" make the major decisions in the presidential
office. However, Malani said that Iloilo made it quietly
clear that he is aware of Fiji,s political situation and
deeply wishes Fiji to return to parliamentary democracy as
soon as possible. Malani confessed surprise by this as
Iloilo supported coup leader Frank Bainimarama and the
interim government in the year following the December 2006
military coup. He reported that Iloilo and his wife, who are
devout Methodists (Fiji,s largest and most influential
denomination),regularly pray for a speedy return to
democracy. According to Malani, Iloilo no longer enjoys his
work and is ready to retire but wants to hang on through
elections lest his departure open the way for Bainimarama to
assume the presidency prior to a poll.

Comment


6. (C) Ambassador McGann,s experience during the
presentation of his credentials in early November tracks with
Malani,s assessment. Given what he had heard previous to
his visit, Ambassador was surprised by the clarity of his
talk with Iloilo. Ambassador was taken when, as he rose to
depart, Iloilo asked his staff why tea was not being served
to the Ambassador to extend the visit.


7. (C) Under Fiji,s 1997 constitution, Iloilo,s
presidential powers are limited. Some have surmised that
Iloilo,s younger wife, Adi Salaseini Kavunono Ulivuda, calls
the shots in collaboration with Presidential Office Permanent
Secretary Rupeni Nacewa. Anyone who wishes to speak to
Iloilo must go through Nacewa, who was close to Bainimarama
before the military coup. The recent expulsion of the New
Zealand Acting High Commissioner was tied partially to the
denial of a student visa for Nacewa,s son to continue his
medical studies in New Zealand. The expulsion may have been
a way for Bainimarama to demonstrate his reciprocal loyalty
to Nacewa.


8. (C) Despite the president,s wishes, Nacewa would likely
support any Bainimarama attempt to succeed Iloilo. Although
Bainimarama earlier disbanded the Great Council of Chiefs,
which has the authority to select Fiji,s president, he
recently has courted the chiefs and gained some traction.
Iloilo,s suspicion is consistent with speculation that
Bainimarama is considering a bid for the presidency or
vice-presidency as part of an election deal, in which
scenario Bainimarama would retain significant influence over
an elected government. End Comment.


MCGANN