Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SUVA213
2009-05-21 03:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Suva
Cable title:
FIJI REGIME DETAINS PROMINENT LAWYERS FOR
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SUVA 000213
SIPDIS
PLEASE PASS TO EAP ACTING A/S DAVIES
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/20/2010
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM FJ
SUBJECT: FIJI REGIME DETAINS PROMINENT LAWYERS FOR
ALLEGEDLY BREAKING PUBLIC EMERGENCY REGULATIONS
Classified By: Ambassador McGann for reasons 1.4 (b)(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SUVA 000213
SIPDIS
PLEASE PASS TO EAP ACTING A/S DAVIES
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/20/2010
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM FJ
SUBJECT: FIJI REGIME DETAINS PROMINENT LAWYERS FOR
ALLEGEDLY BREAKING PUBLIC EMERGENCY REGULATIONS
Classified By: Ambassador McGann for reasons 1.4 (b)(d)
1. (C) On May 20, armed with a search warrant, at least ten
Fiji Police officers entered the legal offices of Munro Leys,
confiscated equipment and detained two senior partners. The
police erroneously suspected that the lawyers were the source
of Auckland-based anti-regime blog rawfijinews. Munro Leys
is one of Fiji,s most prestigious law firms. It currently
represents American-owned Fiji Water and represented the U.S.
Embassy during its land-purchase negotiations for a new
embassy site. Post saw copies of the search warrant that
authorized the police to remove "laptops, desktop computers,
storage devices and other relevant electronic devices" on the
grounds that they contain "negative comments against the
current Government published on the blog Websites." The two
senior partners, Richard Naidu and Jon Apted were remanded to
the Police Criminal Investigative Division (CID). The police
also raided the residence of Jon Apted and removed computer
equipment with other personal items. In a separate action,
police detained noted Suva lawyer Tevita Fa to CID for
questioning.
2. (C) A senior executive with Fiji Water met Ambassador
McGann. Munro Leys successfully represented Fiji Water in a
protracted legal battle with the Fiji Government over
transfer pricing. Concerned that the police now had access
to its most sensitive files, the executive commented that
this abuse of attorney-client confidentiality would ¬
have a chilling effect, but a freezing effect on the business
investment climate in Fiji." While admitting that he didn,t
believe the raid was about Fiji Water, the executive
expressed that this action was a further diminishment of the
rule of law international public perceptions of Fiji.
3. (C) Comment: Richard Naidu had been arrested in the
aftermath of the 2006 coup. Jon Apted, a former supervisor
of elections, is well known in Suva for his anti-Bainimarama
views. Embassy also learned that all three lawyers had been
listed in realfijinews, a pro-regime blog, as contributors
to the anti-government blog rawfijinews. Realfijinews also
listed 2007 International Women of Courage recipient,
Virisila Buadromo and former vice president Ratu Jone
Madrawiwi as contributors. Neither has yet been contacted
by police, but we remain concerned for both . Today,s
crackdown represents the continued overreaction by the regime
to opposing views and its expanding authoritarianism.
MCGANN
SIPDIS
PLEASE PASS TO EAP ACTING A/S DAVIES
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/20/2010
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM FJ
SUBJECT: FIJI REGIME DETAINS PROMINENT LAWYERS FOR
ALLEGEDLY BREAKING PUBLIC EMERGENCY REGULATIONS
Classified By: Ambassador McGann for reasons 1.4 (b)(d)
1. (C) On May 20, armed with a search warrant, at least ten
Fiji Police officers entered the legal offices of Munro Leys,
confiscated equipment and detained two senior partners. The
police erroneously suspected that the lawyers were the source
of Auckland-based anti-regime blog rawfijinews. Munro Leys
is one of Fiji,s most prestigious law firms. It currently
represents American-owned Fiji Water and represented the U.S.
Embassy during its land-purchase negotiations for a new
embassy site. Post saw copies of the search warrant that
authorized the police to remove "laptops, desktop computers,
storage devices and other relevant electronic devices" on the
grounds that they contain "negative comments against the
current Government published on the blog Websites." The two
senior partners, Richard Naidu and Jon Apted were remanded to
the Police Criminal Investigative Division (CID). The police
also raided the residence of Jon Apted and removed computer
equipment with other personal items. In a separate action,
police detained noted Suva lawyer Tevita Fa to CID for
questioning.
2. (C) A senior executive with Fiji Water met Ambassador
McGann. Munro Leys successfully represented Fiji Water in a
protracted legal battle with the Fiji Government over
transfer pricing. Concerned that the police now had access
to its most sensitive files, the executive commented that
this abuse of attorney-client confidentiality would ¬
have a chilling effect, but a freezing effect on the business
investment climate in Fiji." While admitting that he didn,t
believe the raid was about Fiji Water, the executive
expressed that this action was a further diminishment of the
rule of law international public perceptions of Fiji.
3. (C) Comment: Richard Naidu had been arrested in the
aftermath of the 2006 coup. Jon Apted, a former supervisor
of elections, is well known in Suva for his anti-Bainimarama
views. Embassy also learned that all three lawyers had been
listed in realfijinews, a pro-regime blog, as contributors
to the anti-government blog rawfijinews. Realfijinews also
listed 2007 International Women of Courage recipient,
Virisila Buadromo and former vice president Ratu Jone
Madrawiwi as contributors. Neither has yet been contacted
by police, but we remain concerned for both . Today,s
crackdown represents the continued overreaction by the regime
to opposing views and its expanding authoritarianism.
MCGANN