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| Identifier | Subject | Date | Office | Classification | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06SUVA100 |
TONGA: GRASSROOTS DEMOCRACY CONSULTATIONS MAKE [...] (C) The National Committee tasked with sounding out Tongans' views and aspirations on political reform is on the road, making progress. Members of the Committee are currently holding village-level consultations in Vava'u. Critics within the pro-democracy movement say the process is redundant. [...] |
2006-03-08 23:25:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON TN |
| 06SUVA107 |
DEPORTEES TO TONGA: A FESTERING PROBLEM. ACTION [...] (U) On each of the Ambassador's three visits to Tonga in the past six months, the issue of deportees from the U.S. has arisen early and often. Tongans blame the deportees, described as hardened criminals, for turning their once-docile kingdom into a crime zone where armed robberies, once unh [...] |
2006-03-14 01:51:00 | Embassy Suva | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | CASC CJAN CVIS KCRM PREL TN |
| 06SUVA109 |
MILITARY INSERTS ITSELF INTO FIJI'S ELECTION [...] (SBU) Summary: In the run-up to May's elections, the war of words between the government and military in Fiji continues to intensify. In radio and print interviews over the past week, Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander, Frank Bainimarama, issued a series of blasts against the [...] |
2006-03-16 01:38:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL MARR PHUM FJ |
| 06SUVA121 |
PRC PREMIER'S EARLY APRIL VISIT TO FIJI MAKING A [...] (SBU) Summary: Heads of government from eight Pacific Island countries will be attending the PRC-sponsored China-Pacific Island economic cooperation conference in Nadi, Fiji April 5-6. Each leader will hold a bilateral with Premier Wen Jiabao April 5. All eight countries will reportedly s [...] |
2006-03-29 00:42:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EAID ETRD ECIN CH FJ PP TW |
| 06SUVA123 |
PRC PREMIER'S EARLY APRIL VISIT TO FIJI MAKING A [...] (SBU) Summary: Heads of government from eight Pacific Island countries will be attending the PRC-sponsored China-Pacific Island economic cooperation conference in Nadi, Fiji April 5-6. Each leader will hold a bilateral with Premier Wen Jiabao April 5. All eight countries will reportedly s [...] |
2006-03-29 19:59:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EAID ETRD ECIN CH FJ PP TW |
| 06SUVA133 |
FIJI MILITARY'S INTENTIONS: A WORRYING UPDATE [...] (S) The secret report of a late-February conversation between Fiji Police Commissioner Hughes (protect) and Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander Bainimarama is worrisome reading, with Bainimarama signaling he is willing to remove Prime Minister Qarase and place himself in power i [...] |
2006-04-03 02:32:00 | Embassy Suva | SECRET | PINS PGOV MARR PREL FJ |
| 06SUVA137 |
FIJI AND TONGA DEPLOYMENT PLANS TO IRAQ: A STATUS [...] (C) As Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander Bainimarama and Tonga Defense Service (TDS) Commander Uta'atu prepare to visit Washington later this month for Iraq Coalition planning talks, we provide this update on the state of play regarding deployment decisions. Fiji and the Iraq [...] |
2006-04-06 23:29:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR PREL KPKO FJ TN |
| 06SUVA138 |
FIJI, TONGA CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARD UN PEACEKEEPING [...] (SBU) Embassy delivered Ref A talking points to the governments of Fiji and Tonga. We do not expect an answer from Fiji anytime soon, since the government is in caretaker mode prior to elections May 6-13. Tonga has not yet responded. We understand that both Fiji and Tonga have been appro [...] |
2006-04-06 23:38:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KPKO FJ TN SU |
| 06SUVA156 |
CHINA WADES MORE DEEPLY INTO THE PACIFIC [...] (C) Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his delegation met with many Pacific Island leaders and businesses during an April 4-5 visit to Fiji. The leader of each of the eight Pacific Island nations with which China has relations held private discussions with Premier Wen, at the conclusion of which t [...] |
2006-04-21 02:56:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EAID ECIN ETRD FJ CH TW |
| 06SUVA167 |
FIJI'S ELECTION: THE SYSTEM AND ITS CONSEQUENCES [...] (C) The campaign for Fiji's May 6-13 general elections is in full force. Paragraphs 2-7 describe aspects of Fiji's Constitution and current electoral procedures that create complications and make it difficult to predict the winner. Most everyone expects the two largest parties, Prime Minister [...] |
2006-04-25 23:31:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL FJ |
| 06SUVA173 |
CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS IN FIJI: ANSWERING [...] (C) Ref A provided a partial response to a number of questions raised by HQ PACOM (ref B) and CIA (ref C) concerning issues raised in Suva reporting (ref D and previous) about the state of play in Fiji between Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander Bainimarama and the Qarase govern [...] |
2006-04-27 22:23:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV MARR PREL FJ |
| 06SUVA174 |
UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL - PACIFIC VIEWS OF IRAN [...] (C) Summary: We delivered reftel demarche on UN Human Rights Council membership to the highest-levels available in Fiji, Tonga, Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu on April 27 and 28. Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, and Tuvalu expressed general concurrence with the points made. All four implied that they are [...] |
2006-04-28 01:22:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM UNHRC FJ TO KR NR TU |
| 06SUVA180 |
UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL - REQUEST FOR EMBASSY SUVA [...] (C) Ref A requested follow-up re Ref B report of the result of Embassy Suva demarches to the Governments of Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu regarding Iran's candidacy for the UN Human Rights Council. While Ref A suggested only Tuvalu had already come on board, actually, per Ref B, Fij [...] |
2006-05-02 00:12:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | KUNR PHUM UNHRC PREL FJ TO KR NR TU |
| 06SUVA185 |
FIJI ELECTION WEEK: CALM, THEN UNCERTAINTY? [...] (C) Voting in Fiji's general election begins Saturday and will run for a week. Most people expect Prime Minister Qarase's SDL and Opposition Leader Chaudhry's FLP to take the bulk of the seats, though minor parties and independents could hold the balance in a close election. With the ethnic [...] |
2006-05-04 01:10:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL MARR PHUM MCAP FJ |
| 06SUVA189 |
UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL - TONGA OPPOSES IRAN [...] No summary [...] |
2006-05-09 01:48:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | KUNR PHUM UNHRC PREL TN FJ KR NR TV |
| 06SUVA201 |
FORMER FIJI PM RABUKA ARRESTED ON 2000 MUTINY [...] (C) Summary: Former Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has been arrested in Fiji and charged with inciting the military mutiny that took place in November 2000. Rabuka has been released on bail and his case has been transferred to the High Court, where a preliminary hearing will take place Jun [...] |
2006-05-12 01:42:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PINS CJAN PREL MARR PGOV PINR FJ |
| 06SUVA206 |
FIJI'S ELECTION: ALL IS CALM AS COUNTING BEGINS [...] (C) Voting has ended in Fiji's national election, and all remains peaceful as counting begins today, May 15. Some of the smaller constituencies with a dominant favorite will know results today. A number of swing constituencies are not likely to have a first-ballot victor and will require co [...] |
2006-05-15 02:49:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL MARR PINS PINR ASEC FJ |
| 06SUVA209 |
FIJI ELECTION TO QARASE'S SDL...PROBABLY [...] (C) In Fiji's general election, Prime Minister Qarase's SDL and Opposition Leader Chaudhry's FLP garnered nearly all seats, with the SDL, supported by two independent candidates, likely to form government with a tiny majority. Final, marginal-seat results are still trickling in. The FLP hasn [...] |
2006-05-17 02:42:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR ASEC FJ |
| 06SUVA210 |
TONGA'S PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCES CABINET SHAKE-UP [...] (U) This message contains an action request. See paragraph 7. 2. (C) Summary: Tongan PM Fred Sevele announced a major cabinet shake up May 16. Five ministerial portfolios were shifted, three new ministers were appointed, and two former ministers were removed. The most significant ch [...] |
2006-05-17 03:16:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV OFDP TN |
| 06SUVA214 |
QARASE CONFIRMED AS FIJI'S PM; MILITARY COMMANDER [...] (C) By scraping through to a win in a disputed seat, Prime Minister Qarase's SDL party secured a tiny parliamentary majority in Fiji's national election. Two SDL-oriented independents add cushion. The losing FLP may still sue, but that is an issue only for the longer term. Qarase has announ [...] |
2006-05-18 02:56:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINS PINR PREL MARR ASEC FJ |
| 06SUVA215 |
POLITICAL REFORM IN TONGA - OPTIMISM REIGNS, FOR [...] (C) Summary. Government officials and diplomats we met during a May 13-16 visit to Tonga are optimistic about prospects for political reform over the next few months. The New Zealand High Commissioner said PM Fred Sevele has gotten off to a good start, and has demonstrated a willingness to [...] |
2006-05-18 23:32:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM ECON TN |
| 06SUVA218 |
FIJI'S NEW MULTI-PARTY CABINET: CONTINUITY AND [...] (C) Fiji Prime Minister Qarase has named his Cabinet of 24 Ministers, plus 12 Ministers of State. FLP leader Chaudhry plans to be Leader of the Opposition, but his party will take 9 portfolios under a multi-party cabinet provision of Fiji's Constitution. A number of FLP leaders want to give [...] |
2006-05-23 02:23:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR FJ |
| 06SUVA222 |
TONGA STRUGGLES TO STABILIZE ITS ECONOMY; HOPES [...] (C) Summary: Tonga's economy continues to feel the impact of last year's public servant's strike settlement. The FY 2006/7 budget deficit, even after implementation of a planned "redundancy package" that will result in 700-1000 fewer government workers, will be in the T$16-20 million range ( [...] |
2006-05-24 03:11:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN EAID TN CH |
| 06SUVA254 |
FIJI'S MULTI-PARTY CABINET: IS THE HONEYMOON [...] (C) Summary: The creation of a multi-party Cabinet following the May elections has given rise to a groundswell of hope and optimism that Fiji's rival SDL and Labor parties might finally cooperate for the good of the nation. Across the political spectrum, there have been calls for a new, less [...] |
2006-06-29 01:19:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV FJ |
| 06SUVA255 |
FIJI'S MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT TALKING AGAIN [...] (C) Representatives of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) and Fiji's Ministry of Home Affairs tell us a June 23 meeting between RFMF Commander Bainimarama and Home Affairs Minister Vosanibola appears to have helped put civil-military relations in Fiji back on the right track. RFMF s [...] |
2006-07-02 18:20:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL KPKO PGOV FJ NZ |
| 06SUVA262 |
TONGA'S POLITICAL EVOLUTION: HOW FAR AND HOW FAST? [...] (C) The public drive in Tonga for political change seems to have decelerated in recent months, though debate is no longer about whether change should occur, but about the pace and degree. New Prime Minister Sevele's series of modest reforms may have reduced pressure. Also, people may be awa [...] |
2006-07-05 22:49:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM MARR PGOV PINR EFIN CVIS TN CH |
| 06SUVA271 |
TONGA'S PROPOSED IRAQ DEPLOYMENT: STATE OF PLAY [...] (C) Planning is well under way for a second deployment of Tonga Defense Service (TDS) troops to Iraq. A required step is Tonga Defense Board approval. Reportedly, the Board will decide on July 14. TDS Commander Uta'atu and Foreign/Defense Minister Tu'a are enthusiastic. They presume the Ki [...] |
2006-07-06 17:14:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR PREL TN IR |
| 06SUVA287 |
Fiji's Sugar Industry: An Uncertain Future [...] (SBU) For decades, sugar has been the backbone of Fiji's economy. Nearly a quarter of the population depends on the sugar industry. The EU decision to drastically cut sugar subsidies over the next four years, however, casts a giant shadow over the industry's future. A variety of fixes ha [...] |
2006-07-17 17:43:00 | Embassy Suva | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EAGR ENRG SENV EUN FJ IN |
| 06SUVA309 |
TUVALU ELECTIONS: NEW GROUPING TAKES THE REINS [...] (C) Summary: Tuvalu's governing coalition of seven independent MPs supporting PM Maatia Toafa was resoundingly defeated August 3. AmEmbassy officer observed the elections and concurs with the general observation that the vote was free and fair. Based on still unconfirmed reports from contact [...] |
2006-08-09 01:49:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV TV |
| 06SUVA323 |
CODEL HYDE'S VISIT TO FIJI, AUGUST 15-17 [...] (SBU) Visiting House International Relations Committee Chairman Henry Hyde congratulated Fiji's Minister of Foreign Affairs Tavola on Fiji's recent national elections, testimony to the strong democratic institutions Fiji has developed. The Minister hoped that Fiji will be considered for Mill [...] |
2006-08-17 00:51:00 | Embassy Suva | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL MARR EAID ETRD CVIS FJ TN |
| 06SUVA324 |
FIJI FOREIGN MINISTER AND CODEL HYDE: U.S., UK, [...] (C/NF) Per reftel, HIRC Chairman Henry Hyde's CODEL visited Nadi, Fiji, August 15-17. Other delegation members included Congressmen Rohrabacher (R-CA), Faleomavaega (D-AS), Watt (D-NC), and Flake (R-AZ). During the meeting with Fiji Foreign Minister Tavola and MFA CEO Mataitonga, Congressman [...] |
2006-08-17 00:57:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL EAID FJ CH XV |
| 06SUVA340 |
FIJI'S REVIEW OF PKO: PROSPECTS FOR IRAQ, LEBANON, [...] (C) The Fiji Government is reviewing its participation in peacekeeping operations (PKO) globally. Current deployments include to the MFO in the Sinai, with UNAMI in Iraq, and in Bosnia and Sudan. Prospectively, Fiji has requests to resume participation in UNIFIL in Lebanon and to join the Co [...] |
2006-08-27 20:25:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR KPKO FJ |
| 06SUVA341 |
PACIFIC THOUGHTS ON RESTRUCTURE OF REGIONAL [...] (U) Pacific leaders tasked a group of experts to consider ways regional agencies might be rationalized. The experts' report advocates realigning 10 regional agencies into three pillars. The Pacific Island Forum (PIF), the regional policy-oriented body, would acquire policy/negotiation aspect [...] |
2006-08-28 23:28:00 | Embassy Suva | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AORC PREL EFIS EAID SENV SPC PIF XV |
| 06SUVA350 |
PACIFIC REVIEW OF THE POST-FORUM DIALOGUE [...] (U) At Pacific leaders' request, an experts group consulted widely and has drafted proposals to reform the Pacific Island Forum (PIF) Post-Forum Dialogue (PFD) process. They affirmed that Pacific Island leaders and partners highly value their dialogue; they just want to improve it. The expert [...] |
2006-08-29 23:57:00 | Embassy Suva | UNCLASSIFIED | AORC PREL PIF XV |
| 06SUVA352 |
FIJI AND PKO PARTICIPATION: CURRENT PROSPECTS FOR [...] (C) Fiji's Home Affairs Minister and CEO informed us that Fiji's Cabinet has approved deployment of 34 more troops to UNAMI in Iraq and 2 officers to East Timor. A request for Fiji to join the Coalition of the Willing in Iraq is before Cabinet, but no decision appears imminent. The Minister s [...] |
2006-08-30 00:26:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR KPKO MCAP PREL FJ |
| 06SUVA364 |
PACIFIC FORUM POST-FORUM DIALOGUE - PROPOSAL FOR [...] (U) When EAP/ANP Director Steven McGann visited the Pacific Island Forum (PIF) Secretariat on Sept. 6, PIF Secretary General Greg Urwin elaborated on current plans for SIPDIS the annual Forum meetings, now to be held in Nadi, Fiji. The schedule has been condensed, with the Forum meetings t [...] |
2006-09-07 00:34:00 | Embassy Suva | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AORC OVIP PIF XV |
| 06SUVA370 |
FIJI THINKING SERIOUSLY ABOUT JOINING COALITION IN [...] (C) Chief Executive of the Fiji Ministry of Home Affairs Korovavala told us on Sept. 11 that recent conversations have convinced him the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) should join the Coalition of the Willing in Iraq. He wants to make the case strongly to a Cabinet subcommittee on Sep [...] |
2006-09-10 22:25:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR MCAP PREL IR FJ |
| 06SUVA389 |
FIJI AND TONGA: PROSPECTS FOR IRAQ PKO [...] (C) Fiji's Cabinet subcommittee has postponed considering PKO issues until Home Affairs Minister Vosanibola returns from a trip to New York and the Middle East. Vosanibola has bones to pick with the UN about UNAMI and UNIFIL issues. He is open to considering Fiji participation in the Coalitio [...] |
2006-09-21 22:16:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR MCAP KPKO PREL UN IR LE FJ TN |
| 06SUVA392 |
SECRETARY RUMSFELD LETTER TO MINISTER VOSANIBOLA [...] (U) The Ambassador passed reftel letter to Minister of Home Affairs Vosanibola September 22. The Minister said he deeply appreciated the condolences expressed by Secretary Rumsfeld for the loss of Fiji's USCentcom Deputy Senior Representative, Warrant Officer Nete Naiduka, as well as for th [...] |
2006-09-24 22:10:00 | Embassy Suva | UNCLASSIFIED | MARR PREL FJ |
| 06SUVA393 |
FIJI MILITARY COMMANDER RESUMES OFFENSIVE V. [...] (C) Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander Bainimarama reignited public conflict with PM Qarase's government during a speech last weekend. In a follow-up interview that was headlined "Army outburst 'on US advice'" on the front page of the 9/25 Fiji Sun, Bainimarama reportedly said [...] |
2006-09-24 23:34:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR PREL FJ |
| 06SUVA401 |
FIJI MILITARY GOES OFF THE WALL RE NEWS ARTICLE [...] (U) This follows up on reftel regarding a Fiji Sun article on Sept. 25 that alleged the U.S., during the recent Pacific Armies Management Seminar (PAMS) in Fiji, encouraged Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander Bainimarama to meddle in domestic politics. Per reftel, we responded to [...] |
2006-09-26 23:44:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR PREL FJ |
| 06SUVA418 |
PIF OFFICIALS DISCUSS RESTRUCTURING PACIFIC ISLAND [...] (SBU) Charge passed Ref A points to Greg Urwin, Secretary General of the Pacific Island Forum (PIF) SIPDIS Secretariat October 2. Charge also passed the points to SIPDIS Jimmie Rodgers, Director General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC). Urwin had no immediate comment. [...] |
2006-10-05 00:26:00 | Embassy Suva | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV XV XU |
| 06SUVA424 |
FIJI REACTION TO DEMARCHE ON RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS [...] (SBU) The Australian and U.S. Ambassadors and the New Zealand Charge d'Affaires presented reftel demarche to Fiji's Foreign Ministry CEO, Isikeli Mataitoga, on October 12. In response, Mataitoga noted Fiji's long-standing interest in bringing a UN resolution on indigenous rights to an UNGA vot [...] |
2006-10-11 20:30:00 | Embassy Suva | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PREL KTIA UN FJ |
| 06SUVA425 |
FIJI CIVIL-MILITARY FRICTIONS RE-HEAT [...] (C) Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander Bainimarama has resumed his public blasts at PM Qarase's government and has issued not-so-veiled threats that Qarase must step down or face the consequences. Current motivators for Bainimarama may include controversial bills coming before [...] |
2006-10-11 23:33:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR PREL FJ |
| 06SUVA427 |
TAIWAN PRESIDENT CHEN'S VISIT TO NAURU; READ-OUT [...] (C) Summary: According to Australia's Consul General in Nauru, security concerns were paramount during Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian's six-hour state visit to Nauru September 6. Of the 80-member Taiwan delegation that made the trip, 30 were security guards. The Nauru Police were required [...] |
2006-10-12 21:47:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EAID TW NR FJ CH XU |
| 06SUVA429 |
FIJI CABINET TO CONSIDER MNFI DEPLOYMENT SHORTLY [...] (C) Jioji Kotobalavu, CEO for the office of Fiji's Prime Minister, informed us today that Home Affairs Minister Vosanibola is lobbying for Fiji to join the Coalition of the Willing in Iraq, the MNFI. Vosanibola just returned from his round-the-world visit to Fiji peacekeeping contingents, inc [...] |
2006-10-16 00:20:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR PREL KPKO IZ FJ |
| 06SUVA432 |
FIJI SEEKS MNFI JOB FOR COMMODORE BAINIMARAMA; [...] (S) Fiji Home Affairs Minister Vosanibola has asked if the Coalition of the Willing in Iraq (MNFI) can offer the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, a senior (two star or above) position. The request is with the approval of PM Qarase. According to V [...] |
2006-10-16 19:43:00 | Embassy Suva | SECRET | KPKO MARR PREL PGOV IZ FJ |
| 06SUVA433 |
TONGAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE'S REPORT CALLS FOR [...] (C) The National Committee on Political Reform (NCPR) submitted its report to Tonga's Parliament on Oct. 3. The King received a copy a month ago. The report says Tonga's people want political reform but also want to protect traditional culture. The report recommends an all-elected, 26-memb [...] |
2006-10-16 23:38:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM TN |
| 06SUVA434 |
PIF SECGEN TO RECOMMEND AGAINST PACIFIC-LEADERS' [...] (U) We delivered reftel talking points on Pacific institutions' regional restructuring to Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Secretary General Greg Urwin on Oct. 16. He expressed understanding of USG views and noted that the Forum Officials' advice going to PIF Leaders appears on the same track as o [...] |
2006-10-16 23:54:00 | Embassy Suva | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV XV XU |
| 06SUVA443 |
GUATEMALA-VENEZUELA: FIJI; KIRIBATI; TUVALU VIEWS [...] (C) As requested reftel, we approached Fiji, Kiribati, and Tuvalu again on the UNSC issue: -- Fiji Foreign Minister and CEO are out of town. Acting CEO Ratu Finau Mara heard our request for reconfirmation that Fiji is voting for Guatemala and will continue to do so. He promised to get back [...] |
2006-10-18 23:57:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | UNSC GT VE XV |
| 06SUVA444 |
FIJI'S CIVILIAN LEADERS MOVE TO RESOLVE [...] (U) Fiji Prime Minister Qarase convened a National Security Council (NSC) meeting on Oct. 18 to discuss Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander Bainimarama's recent threat to force the PM to resign in early November if he doesn't withdraw controversial bills from Parliament (see ref [...] |
2006-10-19 00:01:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR FJ |
| 06SUVA452 |
PRC PROTESTS A/S HILL'S PLANNED MEETING WITH TAIWAN VICE [...] (SBU) Summary: China pressed on U.S. diplomats at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) summit in Nadi, Fiji, to cancel an informal encounter between Assistant Secretary Christopher Hill and Taiwan Vice Foreign Minister Chang Siao-Yue. Beijing's new special envoy for PIF affairs, Ambassador Wang Yon [...] |
2006-10-24 23:52:00 | Embassy Suva | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV CH TW FJ |
| 06SUVA455 |
KIRIBATI PROMISES TO SWITCH ITS UN VOTE TO [...] No summary [...] |
2006-10-25 19:59:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | UNSC PREL GT VE KR |
| 06SUVA459 |
ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL'S OCTOBER 25 MEETING WITH PACIFIC [...] (SBU) Summary: Pacific heads of government welcomed EAP Assistant Secretary Hill's participation in a Pacific Islands Forum special session with the U.S. in Fiji on October 25, 2006, as a sign of stepped-up U.S. engagement with the region. A/S Hill proposed to revitalize the Joint Commercial [...] |
2006-10-26 22:41:00 | Embassy Suva | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL ETRD EAID FJ NZ XV |
| 06SUVA460 |
FIJI'S CIVIL-MILITARY CRISIS AT A TIPPING POINT? [...] (S) Fiji President Iloilo is being asked to endorse suspension of Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander Bainimarama and to name an interim replacement. The context is "advanced preparations" for a coup, that could take place as early as late this week, according to Fiji's Police Co [...] |
2006-10-30 15:29:00 | Embassy Suva | SECRET | PREL MARR CASC FJ |
| 06SUVA462 |
FIJI CIV-MIL SITUATION: COB 10/31 UPDATE [...] (S) Following up on reftel, on the morning of 10/31, Fiji President Iloilo signed orders requested by PM Qarase to suspend Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander Bainimarama pending an investigation of subversion charges and to install Col. Meli Saubulinayau as Acting Commander. The [...] |
2006-10-30 22:37:00 | Embassy Suva | SECRET | PREL MARR CASC ASEC FJ |
| 06SUVA463 |
FIJI VICE PRESIDENT DESCRIBES "HOLDING ACTION;" PM [...] (C) Fiji Vice President Madreiwiwi confirmed that the suspension order for Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander Bainimarama remains in force, though events (reftels) have left things in a "holding pattern" pending Bainimarama's return to Fiji. In the meantime, Bainimarama has to [...] |
2006-10-31 16:35:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR CASC ASEC FJ |
| 06SUVA466 |
FIJI MILITARY GRABS AMMO FROM WHARF; PM ADDRESSES [...] (C) Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) troops seized a container of ammunition without police permission on Nov. Â [...] |
2006-11-01 00:04:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR CASC ASEC FJ |
| 06SUVA469 |
FIJI'S CIV-MIL SITUATION AWAITS NEXT STEPS [...] (C) Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander Bainimarama is returning early to Fiji. On the way, he has had a series of media interviews, reiterating past rhetoric: that he does not intend a coup but that bloodshed will come if Prime Minister Qarase fails to accede to military demands [...] |
2006-11-01 23:55:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR CASC ASEC FJ |
| 06SUVA470 |
TONGA MILITARY COMMANDER FRUSTRATED WITH HIS [...] (C) Summary: The Commander of the Tonga Defense Services (TDS), BG Tau'aika Uta'atu, told us he has become increasingly frustrated with the inability of his government to decide whether the TDS should deploy a second time in Iraq. Uta'atu firmly believes a deployment would be in the best i [...] |
2006-11-02 18:56:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KPKO TN |
| 06SUVA471 |
FIJI PM SEEKS HELP FROM FRIENDLY FOREIGN [...] (C) In a meeting with selected diplomats on Nov. 3, Fiji PM Qarase thanked governments for publicly supporting Fiji's democratic system in recent days. He responded to complaints by Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander Bainimarama about controversial bills, stressed his "open doo [...] |
2006-11-02 23:53:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR CASC ASEC FJ |
| 06SUVA477 |
FIJI MILITARY CASTS BLAME ON AUSTRALIA AND NEW [...] (S) With RFMF Commander Bainimarama's return to Suva, the Fiji Police reportedly have indications that coup planning continues. RFMF senior officers are directing media attacks at Australia, New Zealand, and Police Commissioner Hughes. Vice President Madraiwiwi counseled dialogue in a Remembra [...] |
2006-11-05 23:51:00 | Embassy Suva | SECRET | PREL MARR ASEC CASC FJ |
| 06SUVA479 |
FIJI UPDATE: BAINIMARAMA CANCELS CHODS TRIP [...] (C) Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander Bainimarama today canceled his PACOM-sponsored trip to the CHODS in Kuala Lumpur. He gave no explanation. We comment that the move raises questions about the Commodore's next steps. He and his senior officers have focused attention on al [...] |
2006-11-06 22:16:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR ASEC CASC FJ |
| 06SUVA480 |
NEXT STEPS IN TONGA'S POLITICAL REFORM [...] (SBU) Tonga Prime Minister Sevele has responded to the proposals for political reform put forward by the National Committee on Political Reform (ref) with an alternate reform model. The NCPR called for all members of Parliament to be elected, with the PM and all cabinet members to be chosen [...] |
2006-11-06 22:48:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM TN |
| 06SUVA483 |
FIJI UPDATE: 11/8: BAINIMARAMA SPEAKS; DENIES [...] (C) Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander Bainimarama spoke to the media for the first time since returning from abroad last weekend. He raised many previous themes and attacked PM Qarase for a litany of faults, a number of them relating to events of 2000, others more recent. Bai [...] |
2006-11-07 23:44:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR ASEC CASC FJ |
| 06SUVA486 |
FIJI UPDATE 11/9: BAINIMARAMA SKIPS GCC; QARASE [...] (C) Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander Bainimarama declined to attend Fiji's Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) session on Nov. 9, claiming the chiefs' minds were already made up. PM Qarase told the GCC he is ready to discuss a list of issues the Army provided him yesterday. He sai [...] |
2006-11-08 22:42:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR ASEC CASC FJ |
| 06SUVA489 |
FIJI UPDATE 11/13: GCC TRIES TO MEDIATE; NO STABLE [...] (C) Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander Bainimarama appeared before the Great Council of Chiefs on Nov. 10 and angrily attacked PM Qarase and his policies. Thereafter, the GCC tilted toward Qarase and initiated an effort to mediate. It is possible an attempt will be made to resu [...] |
2006-11-12 22:46:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PGOV ASEC CASC FJ |
| 06SUVA490 |
PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM 2006: A/S HILL UNDERSCORES [...] (C) EAP Assistant Secretary Christopher Hill emphatically reaffirmed U.S. commitments and interests in the Pacific at the 2006 Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) summit in Nadi, Fiji. In a new PIF-Leaders "special session" for the United States, Hill countered a suggestion that the U.S. has disengaged [...] |
2006-11-13 15:26:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | AORC PREL EAID ECIN ETRD FJ XV |
| 06SUVA494 |
FIJI UPDATE 11/14: "GUILTY" IN CORRUPTION CASE; [...] (C) Peniasi Kunatuba, who was CEO of the Agriculture Ministry during part of the Qarase interim administration in 2000-2001, was found guilty on corruption charges on Nov. 14 in Justice Nazhat Shameem's Suva court. PM Qarase and several of his current and former Ministers were called to testi [...] |
2006-11-13 22:34:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PGOV ASEC CASC FJ |
| 06SUVA497 |
FIJI UPDATE 11/15: WAITING FOR CIV-MIL MEDIATION; [...] (C) Suva remains superficially calm. Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) reserves are finishing a two-week camp and are about to return home, at least temporarily. At the same time, the Army has added to its list of "political" complaints to Prime Minister Qarase. The Chair of the Great [...] |
2006-11-14 22:14:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PGOV ASEC CASC FJ |
| 06SUVA499 |
FIJI UPDATE 11/16: STALEMATE CONTINUES [...] (U) Late on Nov. 15, RFMF Commander Bainimarama provided the media a statement concerning his latest set of demands on PM Qarase's government (reftel). He reportedly said the demands are non-negotiable and must be met before any Bainimarama-Qarase meeting can take place. Bainimarama suggeste [...] |
2006-11-15 22:49:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PGOV ASEC CASC FJ |
| 06SUVA500 |
RIOTS IN TONGA; AMCITS HUNKER DOWN [...] (C) Rioters in downtown Nuku'alofa, Tonga, this afternoon (Nov. 16) trashed properties of PM Sevele, King George Tupou V, and some Indian and Chinese businesses. They may have been responding to a reported decision of the Tonga Parliament, that has been discussing political reforms, to end it [...] |
2006-11-15 22:55:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV MARR KDEM ASEC CASC TN |
| 06SUVA502 |
FIJI UPDATE 11/17: PRES AND COMMANDER TO MEET; [...] (C) Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander Bainimarama is scheduled to meet with President Iloilo next Monday, presumably to discuss the President's suspension order of Oct. 31. At the moment, given entrenched views by both Bainimarama and PM Qarase, insiders are not placing great [...] |
2006-11-16 20:15:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR ASEC CASC FJ |
| 06SUVA504 |
RIOTS DEVASTATE NUKU'ALOFA; TONGA IN UNEASY CALM [...] (C) Up to 70% of downtown Nuku'alofa was laid to waste by rioters 11/16 after a pro-democracy demonstration ignited into the streets. The city now appears calm, but authorities are concerned about potential continued unrest. Media is reporting that six people were killed in the rioting. A [...] |
2006-11-16 21:21:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ASEC CASC MARR KDEM TN |
| 06SUVA506 |
FIJI UPDATE 11/20: [...] (C) Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander Bainimarama informed the media over the weekend that he has no intention of meeting with Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) mediators or with PM Qarase (Ref A) until the PM accepts all the RFMF's demands. Bainimarama said that, if there has been [...] |
2006-11-19 23:32:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR ASEC CASC FJ |
| 06SUVA508 |
TONGA NAT'L COMMITTEE CHAIR BLAMES PM SEVELE FOR [...] (C) According to Sitiveni Halapua, the Chairman of Tonga's National Committee on Political Reform (NCPR), and a person whose instinct is always to find the middle ground, much of the blame for the atmosphere that led to last week's riot in Nuku'alofa rests on the shoulders of Prime Minister Sev [...] |
2006-11-20 22:33:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EAID TN |
| 06SUVA509 |
FIJI UPDATE 11/16: PM QARASE WON'T CAPITULATE; [...] (C) Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander Bainimarama indicated publicly on Nov. 21 what he told Embassy DATT privately on Nov. 20 (Ref A): that he intends to remove the Qarase Government o/a Dec. 4. Diplomats met with Home Affairs Minister Vosanibola and PM Qarase, and also infor [...] |
2006-11-20 22:37:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR ASEC CASC FJ |
| 06SUVA512 |
FIJI UPDATE 11/22 - A RATHER QUIET DAY IN SUVA [...] (C) Colonel Henry Manulevu is Commander nation-wide for Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) "territorial" forces (reservists). The RFMF called up all territorial forces a few weeks ago for an "annual" exercise. There are reports the territorials will be called up again within the next wee [...] |
2006-11-21 19:03:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR ASEC CASC FJ |
| 06SUVA516 |
FIJI UPDATE FRI. 11/24: PM OFFERS OLIVE BRANCH; [...] (C) Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander Bainimarama has declined to receive a U.S. message (Ref A) during his holiday in New Zealand. We are attempting to schedule delivery to RFMF senior officers in Suva. We did deliver on 11/22 Ref. A's short message for PM Qarase. The UK DA [...] |
2006-11-23 20:21:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR ASEC CASC FJ |
| 06SUVA518 |
FIJI UPDATE 11/27: BAINIMARAMA TENSION WITH THE [...] (C) We are tentatively scheduled to meet with Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander Bainimarama on Wednesday. We intend to join others in a joint demarche on RFMF senior officers Tuesday. Over the weekend, New Zealand FM Peters got nowhere with Bainimarama. The GNZ considered ar [...] |
2006-11-26 22:24:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PGOV ASEC CASC FJ |
| 06SUVA519 |
FIJI UPDATE 11/28: QARASE-BAINIMARAMA IN NZ; AMB [...] (C) Fiji PM Qarase and RFMF Commander Bainimarama have agreed to meet in New Zealand 11/29 under an agreement brokered by NZ FM Peters. The Ambassador and other diplomats had a useful, scheduled meeting with RFMF leaders in Suva. However, Bainimarama later reacted angrily, and the RFMF issued [...] |
2006-11-27 23:41:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PGOV ASEC CASC FJ |
| 06SUVA52 |
TONGAN PRIME MINISTER RESIGNS [...] (U) Summary: Tongan Prime Minister, Prince 'Ulukalala Lavaka Ata, has resigned. Lavaka Ata, youngest son of the King of Tonga, submitted his resignation on Saturday, February 11, to his older brother Prince Regent Tupouto'a. Tupouto'a named Minister of Labour, Commerce, and Industries Fred Se [...] |
2006-02-13 03:10:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON PHUM TN |
| 06SUVA524 |
TOURISM TAKES A NOSE-DIVE IN FIJI [...] (SBU) Managers of several of Fiji's top hotels told us the tourism industry is "bleeding" due to RFMF Commander Bainimarama's repeated threats to take action against the government. Occupancy for most major resorts in Fiji is 40% or below, when it should be in the 70-75% range this time of [...] |
2006-11-28 22:58:00 | Embassy Suva | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON CASC PGOV PREL FJ |
| 06SUVA525 |
FIJI UPDATE 11/29: CURIOSITY ABOUT WELLINGTON [...] (C/NF) Fiji hungers for details of what went on in the meeting between PM Qarase and RFMF Commander Bainimarama in Wellington. Tonight, the RFMF is conducting an exercise in the Suva area, preparing for the possibility of foreign military intervention. We issued a warden notice. President I [...] |
2006-11-28 23:04:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL MARR PGOV ASEC CASC FJ |
| 06SUVA527 |
FIJI UPDATE 11/30: QARASE SAYS "GENERAL [...] (C) The RFMF spokesman described a tragic accident yesterday in which a helo flying off an Australian ship crashed in international waters south of Fiji as evidence that a foreign invasion is in the works. (Three Aussie naval ships are in the area for evacuation contingencies.) PM Qarase add [...] |
2006-11-30 00:10:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR ASEC CASC FJ |
| 06SUVA528 |
FIJI UPDATE 12/1: PRESIDENT STATEMENT ON RULE OF [...] (C) President Iloilo issued a statement reaffirming his belief in rule of law, seemingly contradicting a claim by RFMF Commander Bainimarama last week. In a meeting today (12/1), Bainimarama and Iloilo reportedly discussed the recent Wellington meeting and did not discuss the future. Police C [...] |
2006-11-30 19:35:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR CASC ASEC FJ |
| 06SUVA529 |
ACTION REQUEST: PIF EMINENT PERSONS GROUP FOR [...] (C) Per ref A, a Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) ministerial meeting in Sydney last Friday proposed that an "eminent persons group" attempt to help mediate a solution to Fiji's current civil-military crisis. In EAP/ANP Director McGann's discussions with regional leaders on Saturday (ref B), the p [...] |
2006-12-03 15:57:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR ASEC CASC FJ |
| 06SUVA530 |
TONGA AFTER THE FIRES: WHAT NEXT? [...] (C) Summary: Tonga's King, Prime Minister, and others are demanding that those who looted and burned Nuku'alofa's central business district November 16 be brought to justice. At the same time, they have acknowledged that, while the national dialogue on democratic reforms has stumbled, it must [...] |
2006-12-03 21:41:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV PHUM TN |
| 06SUVA531 |
FIJI UPDATE 12/4: [...] (C) The Fiji coup may have officially commenced in late morning, 12/4, when Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) troops confiscated the firearms of the Police Tactical Response Unit (PTR). At mid-afternoon, the RFMF set up a road block on the outskirts of Suva, reportedly to block "thugs" [...] |
2006-12-03 22:37:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR ASEC CASC FJ |
| 06SUVA534 |
PIF EMINENT PERSONS GROUP FOR FIJI ON HOLD [...] (C) We conveyed Ref A points regarding an "eminent persons group" to Pacific Island Forum (PIF) Secretary General Urwin in late a.m. of 12/5. This was before many of today's events unfolded in Fiji (see septels). Urwin noted, per Ref B, that the PIF was awaiting a Fiji Cabinet invitation for [...] |
2006-12-04 22:37:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV FJ |
| 06SUVA538 |
FIJI UPDATE 12/5: COUP OR NO COUP? ACTION REQUEST [...] (C) Dec. 5 was an "only in Fiji" sort of day. RFMF Commander Bainimarama moved further to force his coup on the Qarase Government. The PM told the media he had heard from the President's office that the President had dissolved Parliament and given Bainimarama his green light. Certainly it a [...] |
2006-12-04 23:58:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR ASEC CASC FJ |
| 06SUVA539 |
FIJI MILITARY COMMANDER ANNOUNCES COUP [...] (C) RFMF Commander Bainimarama held a media conference at 6 p.m. to announce that he has "stepped into the shoes of the President" under the "doctrine of necessity" and is invoking the Fiji Constitution's "reserve powers" to remove PM Qarase and install an interim government. An hour earlier, [...] |
2006-12-05 01:08:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR ASEC CASC FJ |
| 06SUVA540 |
CHINESE IN FIJI KEEP THEIR HEADS DOWN, HOPE FOR [...] (C) Summary. The Chinese community in Fiji, estimated at 6,000-10,000 persons, is hoping to ride out the crisis caused by the military's announcement that it is deposing the lawfully elected government of Fiji. A PRC Embassy official told us the Embassy knows of only 17 Chinese residents wh [...] |
2006-12-05 18:34:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL FJ CH TW |
| 06SUVA543 |
FIJI UPDATE 12/6: BAINIMARAMA DISSOLVES [...] (C) Commodore Bainimarama swore in his caretaker Prime Minister of Fiji Wednesday late afternoon and then dissolved Parliament. He later announced new Commissioners of Police and Prisons. The RFMF moved VP Madraiwiwi out of his office today and convinced PM Qarase to relocate, for now, to his [...] |
2006-12-05 23:43:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PHUM ASEC CASC FJ |
| 06SUVA546 |
BAINIMARAMA'S COUP ATTEMPT IN FIJI: STILL NOT [...] (C) We have seen press guidance and a discussion paper for a sub-PCC that suggest Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander Bainimarama "has conclusively deposed the lawfully elected government and conducted a coup." We do not believe that statement is correct, as yet, and we have aske [...] |
2006-12-06 17:09:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR ASEC CASC KPAO FJ |
| 06SUVA548 |
UNSC: FIJI GOVERNMENT PLEA TO DEFER ACTION [...] (C) The Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs is lobbying P5 reps and Japan to have the UNSC not agree to an Australian proposal to remove Fiji from the UN Peace-building Commission. MFA CEO Isikele Mataitoga visited the Embassy late on Dec. 7 with that plea. Mataitoga suggested it is "too early [...] |
2006-12-06 23:12:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM MARR FJ |
| 06SUVA549 |
FIJI UPDATE 12/7: "CLEAN UP" ATTEMPT CONTINUES, AS [...] (C) Commodore Bainimarama and the RFMF's PM discussed elections via the media, leaving an impression they intend Fiji's democracy to adjust some, with an election date a way off. Both stressed their desire for an improved political environment. Bainimarama asked again for the international c [...] |
2006-12-07 00:16:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PHUM ASEC CASC FJ |
| 06SUVA55 |
PLANS FOR PRC-SPONSORED CONFERENCE, ECONOMIC [...] (C) Summary. The PRC has launched an ambitious, high profile outreach to the Pacific Island nations through a large-scale regional development conference and trade fair it is sponsoring in Fiji April 5-6. Premier Wen Jiabao will come to Fiji to open the conference, to which Ministers (and [...] |
2006-02-14 22:59:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EAID ETRD EFIS ECIN CH FJ PP TW |
| 06SUVA550 |
UNSC: FIJI GOVERNMENT PLEA TO DEFER ACTION [...] (C) The Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs is lobbying P5 reps and Japan to have the UNSC not agree to an Australian proposal to remove Fiji from the UN Peace-building Commission. MFA CEO Isikele Mataitoga visited the Embassy late on Dec. 7 with that plea. Mataitoga suggested it is "too early [...] |
2006-12-07 00:16:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM MARR FJ |
| 06SUVA552 |
FIJI UPDATE 12/8: FOR SHORT TERM, DE FACTO COUP; [...] (C) Fiji Vice President Madraiwiwi and Prime Minister Qarase both have acknowledged that Bainimarama's coup has succeeded for the immediate future, though neither has resigned. With significant players, including many in the ethnic-Fijian community, very unhappy about that result, a "crunch t [...] |
2006-12-07 20:42:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR ASEC CASC FJ |
| 06SUVA553 |
FIJI UPDATE 12/11: SCRAMBLE RE INTERIM GOVERNMENT; [...] (C) Suva remained quiet over the weekend. The RFMF is working on plans for its interim government, without revealing details. A senior military officer threatened PM Qarase he will be arrested if he returns to Suva. Meanwhile, the Fiji Government and the economy are suffering. RFMF intimid [...] |
2006-12-10 23:31:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM MARR ASEC CASC FJ |
| 06SUVA554 |
FIJI UPDATE 12/12: QUIET DAY IN SUVA AS RFMF [...] (C) PM Qarase said today he is seeking air options for a return to Suva; RFMF Commander Bainimarama warned against any plan to set up a "de facto government." The RFMF reportedly is sifting through applications for interim-government positions. Bainimarama asked Government CEOs to keep their [...] |
2006-12-11 23:27:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR ASEC CASC FJ |
| 06SUVA555 |
THE FIJI COUP: WHAT EFFECTS? WHAT IMPLICATIONS? [...] (C) A number of motivations lie behind Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander Bainimarama's coup, some seemingly noble, some not. An unbiased observer would have to conclude, though, that Fiji's situation was not so wrenching as to require illegally removing the Qarase Government. [...] |
2006-12-11 23:51:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PHUM ASEC CASC FJ |
| 06SUVA556 |
FIJI UPDATE 12/13: RFMF MONITORING TRANSPORT TO [...] (C) PM Qarase says Fiji is sliding into dictatorship, and he continues to state he leads the only legitimate government. He reiterated today that he intends to return to Suva as soon as he can find transport. The RFMF said it is monitoring all transport so as to keep Qarase in the outer isla [...] |
2006-12-12 23:04:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PHUM ASEC CASC FJ |
| 06SUVA557 |
FIJI UPDATE 12/14: SMALL PROTEST, BIGGER PLANS? [...] (C) Reportedly, Qarase's SDL Party had plans for peaceful protests following a coup. While SDL activism in the streets hasn't been obvious yet, 20 NGO members quietly marched through Suva streets at noon today. RFMF efforts to discourage dissent continued. The Chair of the Great Council of [...] |
2006-12-13 23:09:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PHUM ASEC CASC FJ |
| 06SUVA558 |
FIJI UPDATE 12/15: GCC AND THE FUTURE; HUMAN [...] (C) PM Qarase, RFMF Commander Bainimarama, and Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) Chair Bokini remain headline players for how Fiji's political future will unfold. There is no obvious clarity. Reports of troubling RFMF intimidation tactics continue to flow in. We offered support to human rights [...] |
2006-12-14 20:01:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PHUM ASEC CASC FJ |
| 06SUVA559 |
ALLEGATIONS OF SECURITY FORCE ABUSE OF RIOT [...] (C) Summary: An employee from a Tonga NGO has released a report alleging inhumane prison conditions and physical abuse of prisoners arrested after Tonga's November 16 riot (see reftels). The Tonga government and military have denied the charges, and there is some debate about the report's acc [...] |
2006-12-17 22:45:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR PGOV PHUM PREL TN |
| 06SUVA56 |
NEW ZEALAND FOREIGN MINISTER PETERS' VISIT TO FIJI [...] (C) Summary. According to New Zealand's High Commissioner to Fiji, the visit of Foreign Minister Winston Peters met all of New Zealand's objectives. Peters delivered messages about the importance of democracy and the rule of law and the need for positive civil-military relations. Both PM [...] |
2006-02-15 02:15:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR FJ NZ CH |
| 06SUVA560 |
FIJI UPDATE 12/18: GCC AGENDA; RFMF IMMUNITY [...] (C) Fiji's Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) has issued invitations for a meeting Dec. 20-21. Commodore Bainimarama wanted to be invited as Acting President, but reportedly his invitation is as "Commander, RFMF." Bainimarama made clear over the weekend that he is demanding immunity from prosecut [...] |
2006-12-17 23:21:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PHUM ASEC CASC FJ |
| 06SUVA57 |
FIJI UPDATE: ELECTIONS, CIV-MIL RELATIONS, ETC. [...] (C) Fiji's general election may take place as early as late April. Political parties are gearing up. Opposition leader Chaudhry seems satisfied that complaints about electoral-registration are being resolved. Elections Commissioner Leung is confident a free and fair election can take plac [...] |
2006-02-15 21:16:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR FJ |
| 06SUVA573 |
FIJI UPDATE 12/19: BAINIMARAMA WON'T ATTEND GCC; [...] (C) Commodore Bainimarama said he will not be attending the Great Council of Chiefs meetings this week because the Chiefs did not invite him as "Acting President." PM Qarase said the GCC meeting will determine the direction of the country; if Bainimarama does not accept GCC decisions, Fiji's [...] |
2006-12-18 23:49:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PHUM ASEC CASC FJ |
| 06SUVA578 |
FIJI UPDATE 12/20: NO OUTCOME YET AT THE GCC [...] (C) As expected, there was no substantive outcome announced at the end of the 12/20 meeting of the Great Council of Chiefs. The GCC meeting will conclude 12/21. The Chairman of the GCC began the 12/20 session by noting how the GCC had been ridiculed by the military, and urged Chiefs not to [...] |
2006-12-20 00:36:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR PHUM ASEC CASC FJ |
| 06SUVA581 |
FIJI UPDATE 12/21: NO CONSENSUS REACHED BY GREAT [...] (C) The Great Council of Chiefs failed to reach consensus during their meeting 12/21. The meetings have therefore been extended an extra day. A GCC press release stated that the Council "has agreed in principle on resolutions that are within the legal and constitutional framework," and that [...] |
2006-12-21 00:09:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR PHUM ASEC CASC FJ |
| 06SUVA582 |
FIJI UPDATE 12/21: NO CONSENSUS REACHED BY GREAT [...] (C) The Great Council of Chiefs failed to reach consensus during their meeting 12/21. The meetings have therefore been extended an extra day. A GCC press release stated that the Council "has agreed in principle on resolutions that are within the legal and constitutional framework," and that [...] |
2006-12-21 00:23:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR PHUM ASEC CASC FJ |
| 06SUVA586 |
FIJI POLICE IN THE LINE OF FIRE [...] (C) The Fiji Police Force stood in the forefront of opposition to the plans of RFMF Commander Frank Bainimarama to overthrow the lawfully elected government of Fiji. Now that the coup has taken place, remaining senior officers are forced to work with the new military government and the commis [...] |
2006-12-21 23:43:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | ASEC PREL CASC MARR FJ |
| 06SUVA587 |
FIJI UPDATE 12/22 [...] (C) In a statement issued after the conclusion of its meeting 12/22, the Great Council of Chiefs reaffirmed the status of the appointed President and Vice President. The Council condemned the coup, but recognizing the reality of the military takeover, called for the PM to resign. The Counc [...] |
2006-12-22 01:18:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR PHUM ASEC CASC FJ |
| 06SUVA59 |
FIJI REQUESTS U.S. SUPPORT FOR ITS CANDIDACY FOR [...] (U) This is an action request (paragraph 2). 2. (C) Fiji's CEO of Foreign Affairs, Isikeli Mataitoga, told the Ambassador February 14 that Fiji has decided to become a candidate for the UN Peacebuilding Commission. Using reftel guidance, Ambassador encouraged Fiji to put its name forwar [...] |
2006-02-16 02:06:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KPKO FJ |
| 06SUVA591 |
FIJI UPDATE 12/29: ELECTION INQUIRIES; GOVERNMENT [...] (C) The Fiji military (RFMF) plans to unveil on Jan. 1 "proof" of irregularities in last May's general elections, based in part on evidence from an Australian conman. RFMF Commander Bainimarama says an interim government may be in place by the end of January. The RFMF has continued to abuse [...] |
2006-12-28 18:43:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PHUM ASEC CASC FJ |
| 06SUVA64 |
NEW DOCUMENTS RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT POSSIBLE [...] (C) Summary. The Australian High Commissioner to Fiji, Jennifer Rawson, passed us copies February 17 of two documents that raise concerns about Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander Frank Bainimarama's intentions in the run-up to this year's planned elections in Fiji. Both docu [...] |
2006-02-17 06:55:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR ASEC FJ |
| 06SUVA65 |
SCENE SETTER FOR GENERAL ABIZAID'S FEBRUARY 25 [...] (C) We look forward to your short visit to Fiji. It comes in the run-up to national elections, which could take place as early as late April. It is also a time of very difficult civil-military relations. Tensions between the government and military have been at a near-boiling point for m [...] |
2006-02-21 21:47:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR PREL PGOV FJ US |
| 06SUVA92 |
VISIT OF GENERAL ABIZAID TO FIJI [...] (C) The Commander of U.S. Central Command, General John Abizaid, met with Fiji's Prime Minister, Vice President, and Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) during a four hour visit to Suva on February 25. In all his meetings, General Abizaid discussed the possibility of hav [...] |
2006-03-06 02:40:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR PREL PGOV FJ |
| 06SUVA97 |
TONGA'S CROWN PRINCE FAVORS CHANGE ASAP [...] (C) Tonga's Crown Prince Tupouto'a has seen the light: reform to a more democratic system needs to happen ASAP. He envisions a constitutional monarchy with the King delegating all day-to-day government business to an elected government. The current King, ill in New Zealand, has not signed off [...] |
2006-03-07 02:17:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR SCUL ECON TN |
| 06SUVA98 |
FIJI'S PRESIDENT SELECTED TO SERVE A SECOND TERM [...] (SBU) Summary: On March 8, Fiji's Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) announced the selection of Fiji's President Ratu Josefa Iloilo and Vice President Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi to serve five more years. The action follows a statement by Iloilo in early February that he was available to serve another ter [...] |
2006-03-08 03:14:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV FJ |
| 07SUVA108 |
FIJI UPDATE, FEBRUARY 14, 2007: EPG REPORT WILL [...] (C) PIF Secretary General Greg Urwin told us the EPG report on Fiji will ask Bainimarama to step down as interim PM. It will call for elections within 18-24 months, if not sooner. Urwin said the hope is that members of the interim government will convince Bainimarama to moderate his heretof [...] |
2007-02-13 22:37:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EFIN MARR PHUM ASEC FJ |
| 07SUVA109 |
PACIFIC REGIONAL INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK (RIF) - [...] (U) The Pacific Plan Action Committee (PPAC) met at Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) headquarters in Suva on Feb. 14. The agenda included an update on a proposed restructuring of regional technical organizations, the Regional Institutional Framework (RIF) (ref A). Embassy Suva was invited to the RI [...] |
2007-02-14 18:16:00 | Embassy Suva | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL AORC SENV EAID EFIS XV FJ |
| 07SUVA110 |
FIJI UPDATE, FEBRUARY 15, 2007: RFMF SAYS U.S. HAS [...] (C) The RFMF told the media today that the U.S. has suspended plans to support a new "peacekeeping academy" near Suva. The Methodist church has reconfirmed its request for President Iloilo to resign. The Interim Attorney General admitted that the RFMF had committed human rights violations bu [...] |
2007-02-14 20:38:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM EFIN MARR ASEC FJ |
| 07SUVA120 |
FIJI UPDATE, FEBRUARY 21, 2007: INTERIM GOVERNMENT [...] (SBU) Commodore Bainimarama announced February 20 that the interim cabinet has agreed to a plan to restore democracy to Fiji "as early as 2010." Bainimarama says at least three and a half years will be required to have a census, redraw election boundaries, and prepare for a general election [...] |
2007-02-20 21:54:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM MARR ASEC FJ |
| 07SUVA123 |
FIJI UPDATE 2/22/07: QARASE WARNS AGAINST HAVING [...] (C) Exiled PM Qarase has warned that returning Bainimarama to the barracks could well leave the Commodore continuing his interference in politics. Acting Chief Justice Gates, a shadow backer of Bainimarama, may hear Qarase's law suit. The RFMF continues intimidation, including against lawyers [...] |
2007-02-21 21:21:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PHUM ASEC ELAB FJ |
| 07SUVA127 |
FIJI'S ECONOMY - AT A CRISIS POINT? [...] (C) Fiji will experience a severe economic downturn in 2007 as an after-effect of the December 2006 coup. Foreign reserves are very low (perhaps much lower than they appear in the Reserve Bank's end-of-year accounts), exports are flat, and levels of new investment are expected to be minimal. [...] |
2007-02-22 19:14:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN ECON ETRD PGOV MARR ASEC FJ |
| 07SUVA130 |
FIJI UPDATE 2/26/07: FIJI SUGGESTS PRE-PIF [...] (C) Commodore Bainimarama is seeking interim-government discussions with the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) before a Forum ministerial meeting to discuss the PIF Eminent Persons Group (EPG) report on Fiji. The interim government is highlighting the (continuing) deployment of RFMF troops to PKO e [...] |
2007-02-25 20:20:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PHUM ASEC FJ |
| 07SUVA139 |
"EMERGENCY" IMF MISSION TO FIJI IN APRIL WILL [...] (C) Sirpa Jarvenpaa, Director of the Asian Development Bank's Regional Office in Suva, told us March 1 that an "emergency" IMF mission is coming to Fiji in order to look at Fiji's deteriorating level of reserves. Jarvenpaa expects Fiji to ask the IMF to provide financing to build up Fiji's [...] |
2007-02-28 21:00:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN PGOV MARR FJ |
| 07SUVA146 |
CUBA'S JAKARTA EMBASSY REACHING OUT TO NAURU [...] (S) Jakarta-based Cuban Ambassador Jorge P. Leon Cruz advised the Nauru Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in a February 9 letter that he is prepared to travel to Nauru in March to present his credentials. No date for the proposed visit by Leon was given. The letter, left openly visible on [...] |
2007-03-04 21:12:00 | Embassy Suva | SECRET//NOFORN | PGOV TBIO CU NR |
| 07SUVA149 |
FIJI'S REVISED BUDGET MIXES SPENDING CUTS WITH [...] (C) Fiji's revised budget is a mix of modest spending cuts, optimistic revenue projections and wishful thinking about the future. Civil service wages are being cut 5% effective March 8. A few ministry budgets have been significantly reduced, most notably the Ministry of Fijian Affairs. De [...] |
2007-03-06 20:19:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN PGOV ECON MARR ASEC FJ |
| 07SUVA15 |
FIJI UPDATE 1/5: PRESIDENT NAMES BAINIMARAMA [...] (C) Fiji President Iloilo swore in Commodore Bainimarama and interim Prime Minister on Dec. 5. Bainimarama, still clearly in charge, then urged Fiji citizens and the international community to help bring good government and true democratic values. Iloilo's doctor reports the President is sen [...] |
2007-01-04 20:42:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PHUM ASEC CASC CH TW FJ |
| 07SUVA150 |
FIJI UPDATE 3/7/2007: HUMAN RIGHTS PROSPECTS; [...] (C) Interim PM Bainimarama announced the military will stop human rights abuses immediately. Unfortunately, reports of abuses continue, including possibly a third death. Bainimarama will headline Fiji's commemoration of Women's Day, with an altered theme to downplay concerns about "impunity" [...] |
2007-03-06 20:30:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PHUM ASEC IN FJ |
| 07SUVA155 |
PACIFIC FORUM AND FIJI, UNCERTAINTY ABOUNDS [...] (C) Fiji interim Foreign Minister Nailatikau has been seeking support from Pacific-island colleagues in the lead-up to the Pacific Island Forum (PIF) ministerial meeting in Vanuatu that will consider an Eminent Persons Group (EPG) report on Fiji. With some island leaders becoming "reticent" b [...] |
2007-03-08 18:10:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PHUM ASEC FJ XV |
| 07SUVA161 |
FIJI UPDATE 3/13/07: MEDIA FREEDOM; UNION [...] (C) The RFMF and the interim AG have emphasized yet again that media freedom has distinct limits in post-coup Fiji. The interim government is expected to announce shortly its choices for permanent secretaries in the civil service. Police investigators are in Lau to interview PM Qarase about al [...] |
2007-03-12 20:18:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PHUM ASEC FJ |
| 07SUVA165 |
FIJI UPDATE 3/15/07: MORE ON VP, MSG, "CLEAN UP" [...] (C) A new Fiji Vice President may now be selected in April. The interim government has admitted publicly a Melanesian Spearhead Group snub: not allowing Commodore Bainimarama to sign the MSG constitution. The RFMF is investigating 22 soldiers for pay-office malfeasance, but is not looking in [...] |
2007-03-14 19:40:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PHUM ASEC FJ |
| 07SUVA169 |
KIRIBATI NEW FLAG OF CONVENIENCE SHIP REGISTRY; [...] (C) Ship owners looking for a flag of convenience can now hoist the colors of the tiny Pacific island nation of Kiribati, which amended its maritime shipping act in June 2006 to allow creation of a foreign ship registry. Singapore-based Sovereign Ventures Limited is the agent, as it is for Tuv [...] |
2007-03-18 21:30:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | EWWT PHSA KR SN |
| 07SUVA170 |
FIJI UPDATE 3/19/07: FIJI SPIN ON MINISTERIAL; [...] (C) Fiji's interim government is spinning the Forum Ministerial last week as a success and is leaving a distinct impression it does not intend early elections. Commodore Bainimarama's "clean up" rhetoric continues, though we predict at some point real evidence will be necessary. Bainimarama t [...] |
2007-03-19 19:48:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM MARR ASEC FJ |
| 07SUVA177 |
FIJI UPDATE 3/22/07: CORRUPTION COMPARISONS; A [...] (C) A Transparency International poll taken in Fiji before the coup indicates people were not shocked by corruption in the Qarase era. Overall, Fiji stacked up quite favorably compared to global and regional results, which suggests, no surprise, that the need for a "clean up" was not really wh [...] |
2007-03-21 20:37:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM MARR ASEC FJ |
| 07SUVA18 |
FIJI UPDATE 1/8/07: INTERIM GOVERNMENT MINISTERS; [...] (C) Eight ministers in Commodore Bainimarama's interim government were sworn in on Jan. 8. Several have connections to Ratu Epeli Ganilau's National Alliance Party (NAP) that failed miserably in last May's elections; but on the whole the group seems reasonably well qualified. Fiji Labor Party [...] |
2007-01-07 22:50:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PHUM PINR ASEC CASC FJ |
| 07SUVA187 |
FIJI UPDATE 3/27/07: [...] (C) The Forum-Fiji working group proposed at the Forum Ministerial in Vanuatu may begin efforts shortly. The Forum's intention is for high commissioners at Forum-member embassies in Suva to make up the Forum side, including the high commissioners from New Zealand and Australia. It will be in [...] |
2007-03-26 20:27:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM MARR ASEC CVIS FJ |
| 07SUVA191 |
FIJI UPDATE 3/30/07: VP SELECTION; QARASE TRAVEL; [...] (C) Fiji's Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) is to consider President Iloilo's choice for Vice President on April 11-12. Rumored candidates include a woman and an ethnic-Indian, but the favorite remains interim Foreign Minister Nailatikau. The Acting Chief Justice is considering whether PM Qarase h [...] |
2007-03-29 17:41:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PHUM ASEC FJ |
| 07SUVA194 |
FIJI UPDATE 4/3/07: BAINIMARAMA ON VISA SANCTION; [...] (C) Commodore Bainimarama told a dinner gathering of the U.S. cancellation of his visa. He reportedly challenged Ambassador Dinger to retrieve the passport and to "bring his running shoes." Media report that UN SYG Ban responded to a request by Commonwealth SecGen McKinnon for the UN to remov [...] |
2007-04-02 20:54:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM MARR ASEC FJ |
| 07SUVA195 |
MEETING WITH FIJI INTERIM FM NAILATIKAU: U.S.-FIJI [...] (C) The Ambassador called on Fiji interim Foreign Minister Nailatikau on April 4, as instructed. Nailatikau made clear that the interim government comprehends the U.S. position and motivations regarding the Fiji coup. Fiji "has been down this road before" and is the one that "erred." Represe [...] |
2007-04-03 17:08:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV AMGT ASEC FJ |
| 07SUVA197 |
DELIVERY OF DEMARCHE ON DESIGNATION OF IRAN'S DEFENSE [...] Embassy delivered reftel demarche to appropriate high- level officials in the MFA's of Fiji, Tonga, Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu on April 4. Authorized talking points were provided in hard copy. No substantive response has been forthcoming from any of the five. Dinger [...] |
2007-04-04 16:37:00 | Embassy Suva | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL KNNP PARM IR FJ KR TN TV NR |
| 07SUVA199 |
FIJI UPDATE 4/5/07: BAINIMARAMA ON PKO; STATE OF [...] (U) Commodore Bainimarama reacted to media reports that Commonwealth SecGen McKinnon asked the UN to remove Fiji from PKO activities by saying any attempt to stop soldiers from participating in peacekeeping missions would be "an attempt to hurt the people" of Fiji. He noted that PKO duties ge [...] |
2007-04-04 21:13:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM MARR ASEC FJ |
| 07SUVA2 |
FIJI UPDATE 1/3/07: CJ ON LEAVE; INTERIM PLANS? [...] (C) Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander Bainimarama today announced Fiji's Chief Justice is going on indefinite leave, pending a full inquiry into the judicial system. Bainimarama says he will return executive authority to President Iloilo within the next few weeks, with an inte [...] |
2007-01-02 23:01:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PHUM ASEC CASC FJ |
| 07SUVA20 |
FIJI UPDATE 1/9/07: MORE INTERIM MINISTERS; [...] (C) The total of ministers tapped for Fiji's interim administration reached 16 with the swearing in of 6 on Jan. 9, including former PM Chaudhry as Finance Minister. They join Interim PM Bainimarama, 8 interim ministers sworn in yesterday (ref), and Ratu Epeli Ganilau to be sworn in next week [...] |
2007-01-08 21:28:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PHUM PINR ASEC CASC FJ |
| 07SUVA200 |
FIJI INTERIM PM REQUESTS EMBASSY TO REMOVE STREET [...] (C) Fiji interim PM Bainimarama has, via dipnote, requested Embassy Suva to remove vehicle barriers from the street in front of the chancery by this Friday, April 13. The barriers have been in place since the East Africa bombings in 1998. Without the barriers, the chancery has no setback from [...] |
2007-04-09 20:14:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | ASEC AMGT PREL MARR FJ |
| 07SUVA207 |
FIJI INTERIM GOVERNMENT REQUEST THAT EMBASSY REMOVE STREET [...] (SBU) This message contains an urgent action request in paragraph 4. 2. (SBU) Visiting DAS Davies told interim Foreign Minister Nailatikau April 11 that the United States cannot comply with the interim government's request that the Embassy remove vehicle barriers in front of the chancery [...] |
2007-04-10 19:44:00 | Embassy Suva | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ASEC AMGT PREL FJ |
| 07SUVA211 |
FIJI'S GREAT COUNCIL OF CHIEFS REJECT VICE [...] (SBU) In a stunning rebuke to the interim government, Fiji's Great Council of Chiefs rejected President Iloilo's nominee for Vice President April 11. Commodore Bainimarama responded angrily, saying he was "totally bewildered" by the unprecedented decision. He claimed that members of the ou [...] |
2007-04-11 21:36:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ASEC MARR FJ |
| 07SUVA212 |
MILITARY OFFICIAL ACCUSES U.S. AMBASSADOR OF [...] (SBU) Summary: The Commander of Fiji's land forces has accused the Ambassador of having sought in November 2006 to incite a mutiny against military forces commander Commodore Vereqe Bainimarama. In a speech to troops, Colonel Pita Driti said April 12 that during a November 28 meeting with the [...] |
2007-04-12 20:35:00 | Embassy Suva | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL FJ |
| 07SUVA213 |
FIJI'S INTERIM PM LASHES OUT AT U.S.; SAYS [...] (C) Interim Prime Minister Bainimarama issued an angry press statement April 13 stating that his refusal to meet visiting DAS Davies on April 11 or 12 was meant to "send a clear message" that Fiji will only engage with countries "genuinely committed to assisting us in moving forward." Bainim [...] |
2007-04-12 23:03:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | ASEC PREL MARR CASC FJ |
| 07SUVA22 |
FIJI UPDATE 1/10/07: GCC, MAJOR CHURCHES ACCEPT [...] (C) The Chairman of Fiji's Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) and leaders of the Methodist and Catholic churches have accepted Bainimarama's interim government while urging a return to democracy soon. Military pastors have asked their flock to do a Lenten-type fast for the next month as all pray f [...] |
2007-01-09 21:33:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PHUM PINR ASEC CASC FJ |
| 07SUVA220 |
FIJI MFA REITERATES: REMOVE STREET BARRIERS BY [...] (C) Fiji's interim government has given the Embassy until COB April 20 to remove the vehicle barriers that block the street in front of the chancery. The Suva City Council has asked the Embassy to do the deed. Other correspondence confirms the embassy has had permission to keep the street cl [...] |
2007-04-15 21:58:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | AMGT ASEC CASC PREL FJ |
| 07SUVA221 |
FIJI UPDATE, APRIL 16, 2007: WAR OF WORDS [...] (SBU) Interim government rhetoric against the U.S. and other countries that have imposed sanctions against Fiji continued over the weekend. Most notable is the press statement issued by the interim Attorney General which accuses the Ambassador and the high commissioners of Australia and the [...] |
2007-04-15 22:12:00 | Embassy Suva | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL ASEC MARR CASC FJ |
| 07SUVA222 |
EAP DAS DAVIES VISIT TO FIJI DRAWS SHARP REACTION [...] (C) During an April 11-12 visit to Suva, EAP DAS Glyn Davies met with a cross-section of Fiji opinion leaders, including interim Foreign Minister Nailatikau and interim Finance Minister Chaudhry. Interim PM Bainimarama refused a meeting. Nailatikau and Chaudhry, both heading shortly to Bruss [...] |
2007-04-16 13:28:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM PGOV ASEC AMGT MARR SCUL FJ |
| 07SUVA223 |
FIJI PM OFFICE PERMANENT SECRETARY MEETS WITH [...] (C) PM Office Permanent Secretary Parmesh Chand told the Ambassador April 17 that interim PM Bainimarama issued the directive to remove barriers in front of the Embassy because he was very upset about U.S. comments against the interim government. These included the video conference DAS Davies [...] |
2007-04-16 22:25:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | ASEC AMGT CASC PREL FJ |
| 07SUVA224 |
EAP DAS DAVIES IN TONGA URGES RAPID DEMOCRATIC [...] (C) During EAP DAS Davies' April 13-14 visit to Tonga, Prime Minister Sevele reiterated that he and the King are committed to reform. In conversations across the political spectrum, Davies heard various views about the appropriate pace, though most all agreed last November's riot in Nuku'alof [...] |
2007-04-17 13:54:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PHUM CH TN |
| 07SUVA227 |
FIJI INTERIM GOVERNMENT WANTS "COMPROMISE" ON [...] (C) PM Office PermSec Parmesh Chand told the Ambassador April 18 that interim PM Bainimarama still insists on removal of the street barriers in front of the Embassy, but the April 20 deadline is postponed so diplomacy can have a chance to work. Chand said Bainimarama wants to know if the U.S. [...] |
2007-04-17 21:26:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | ASEC AMGT CASC PREL FJ |
| 07SUVA229 |
FIJI INTERIM GOVERNMENT RESCINDS DIRECTIVE TO REMOVE [...] (SBU) The interim government delivered to us a diplomatic note April 19 stating that it was rescinding the earlier order to remove the barriers that block the street in front of the Embassy. In a press statement, Interim PM Bainimarama said this action was taken, in part, in response to th [...] |
2007-04-18 19:35:00 | Embassy Suva | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ASEC AMGT PREL CASC FJ |
| 07SUVA23 |
FIJI UPDATE 1/11/2007: CABINET TO MEET; EMERGENCY [...] (C) Fiji's interim cabinet is to meet formally next week for the first time. Detailed emergency regulations that curtail constitutional rights have appeared, purportedly signed Dec. 5, but very possibly back-dated. A New Zealand citizen of Fiji origin reportedly was tortured by authorities t [...] |
2007-01-10 20:56:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PHUM PINR CASC ASEC FJ |
| 07SUVA236 |
NEW WAY FORWARD ON IRAQ: DEALING WITH TONGA [...] (S) Ref A seeks additional efforts to secure continued participation by troop-contributing countries to the new way forward in Iraq. The cable asks Embassy Suva to engage with the Government of Tonga. Per previous reporting, the Tonga Defense Service (TDS) is now gearing up for its second de [...] |
2007-04-25 11:54:00 | Embassy Suva | SECRET | MARR MASS MOPS PREL PTER IZ TN |
| 07SUVA241 |
FIJI AND THE EU: A "POSITIVE OUTCOME"; QUESTIONS [...] (C) The EU-Fiji negotiations in Brussels April 18-19 were seen as reasonably successful by both sides. The EU figures it has achieved a pragmatic set of requirements that Fiji must meet to re-instate rule of law and human rights and to build to new elections within two years. Fiji's interim [...] |
2007-04-25 21:30:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM EAID ASEC FJ |
| 07SUVA245 |
SUSTAINABLE INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCES AND WASTEWATER [...] Summary: The Regional Environmental Specialist (RES) from Embassy Suva's Pacific Environmental Hub attended a week-long meeting on the GEF-supported Sustainable Integrated Water Resources and Wastewater Management (IWRM) Project in Nadi, Fiji, from April 23 to 27. IWRM is a new idea in the Paci [...] |
2007-04-30 20:34:00 | Embassy Suva | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV TPHY EAID XV GEF UNDP |
| 07SUVA260 |
FIJI UPDATE, MAY 10, 2007: REACTION TO SECRETARY [...] (C) Summary: Secretary Rice's comments condemning the coup in Fiji received considerable press play in Fiji and elicited a relatively mild response from the interim government. The EU warned the interim government that failure to honor commitments it made last month in Brussels could lead [...] |
2007-05-09 21:46:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR ASEC FJ |
| 07SUVA273 |
EU PRESSES FIJI INTERIM GOVERNMENT TO HONOR [...] (C) The EU Representative to Fiji, along with the French and UK heads of mission, met with interim Foreign Minister Nailatikau May 11 to express concern about the apparent lack of movement by Fiji's interim government in meeting its commitments to the EU. The EU representatives told Nailati [...] |
2007-05-15 21:44:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM MARR ASEC FJ |
| 07SUVA274 |
MILITARY SHUTS DOWN ANTI-COUP BLOG [...] (SBU) Summary: Late Wednesday afternoon one of the most strident blogs criticizing Fiji's post-coup interim government was shut down. This follows days of threats by the military to shut down the blogs. A pro-coup blog site has been involved with attempting to locate the authors of the blog. [...] |
2007-05-15 21:56:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL ASEC FJ |
| 07SUVA287 |
FIJI UPDATE, MAY 25, 2007: INTERIM GOVERNMENT [...] (C) During a visit to India, interim Finance Minister Chaudhry repeatedly stressed that elections in Fiji would not take place until 2010. Bainimarama echoed that view May 22, stating it would be idiotic for the interim regime to take Fiji to elections before it had achieved its goals. Th [...] |
2007-05-23 22:27:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV MARR PHUM ASEC FJ |
| 07SUVA29 |
HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST VIEWS ON FIJI SITUATION; [...] (C) A Fiji NGO leader, Angie Heffernan, says colleagues are documenting many reports of military intimidation, including sexual abuse. The NGOs are striving to ensure nobody believes the people of Fiji have acquiesced in the coup. The NGOs believe undercurrents of discontent are bubbling wit [...] |
2007-01-11 20:50:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PHUM PINR ASEC CASC FJ |
| 07SUVA290 |
ASSESSMENT TEAM OPTIMISTIC ON EARLY FIJI ELECTION [...] (C) Summary: An independent assessment team commissioned to consider how soon post-coup Fiji could hold elections will issue its report to the Pacific Islands Forum-Fiji interim government joint working group June 7. The team is optimistic that three of the crucial steps necessary for new ele [...] |
2007-05-24 21:57:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV SOCI FJ |
| 07SUVA291 |
ASSESSMENT TEAM OPTIMISTIC ON EARLY FIJI ELECTION [...] (C) Summary: An independent assessment team commissioned to consider how soon post-coup Fiji could hold elections will issue its report to the Pacific Islands Forum-Fiji interim government joint working group June 7. The team is optimistic that three of the crucial steps necessary for new ele [...] |
2007-05-28 10:53:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV SOCI MARR FJ |
| 07SUVA292 |
ASSESSMENT TEAM OPTIMISTIC ON EARLY FIJI ELECTION [...] (C) Summary: An independent assessment team commissioned to consider how soon post-coup Fiji could hold elections will issue its report to the Pacific Islands Forum-Fiji interim government joint working group June 7. The team is optimistic that three of the crucial steps necessary for new ele [...] |
2007-05-28 10:53:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV SOCI MARR FJ |
| 07SUVA293 |
ASSESSMENT TEAM OPTIMISTIC ON EARLY FIJI ELECTION [...] (C) Summary: An independent assessment team commissioned to consider how soon post-coup Fiji could hold elections will issue its report to the Pacific Islands Forum-Fiji interim government joint working group June 7. The team is optimistic that three of the crucial steps necessary for new ele [...] |
2007-05-28 10:53:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV SOCI MARR FJ |
| 07SUVA294 |
ASSESSMENT TEAM OPTIMISTIC ON EARLY FIJI ELECTION [...] (C) Summary: An independent assessment team commissioned to consider how soon post-coup Fiji could hold elections will issue its report to the Pacific Islands Forum-Fiji interim government joint working group June 7. The team is optimistic that three of the crucial steps necessary for new ele [...] |
2007-05-28 10:53:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV SOCI MARR FJ |
| 07SUVA30 |
CHINESE AID TO FIJI - NOTHING NEW IN THE PIPELINE; [...] (C) PRC Embassy officials in Fiji downplay Commander Bainimarama's comments that Fiji can count on China for military and other assistance. China has not received any new requests for assistance since the coup and has made almost no progress in implementing the projects promised during Prem [...] |
2007-01-11 21:23:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EAID MARR FJ TW CH |
| 07SUVA300 |
FIJI INTERIM GOVERNMENT LIFTS STATE OF EMERGENCY; [...] (C) Interim PM Bainimarama announced May 31 that Fiji's State of Emergency would end, effective June 1. In a meeting with diplomats, Deputy Commander Teleni confirmed that the RFMF would no longer detain or bring individuals to the military barracks for questioning. NGOs and foreign missio [...] |
2007-05-31 19:31:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV MARR ASEC CASC FJ |
| 07SUVA313 |
FIJI PNG-ING NZ HIGH COMMISSIONER; MORE HUMAN [...] (C) Fiji's interim Cabinet has declared the New Zealand High Commissioner persona non grata. New Zealand is attempting to reverse that. The GNZ has continually been outspoken against Commodore Bainimarama's interim government (IG), but the High Commissioner has been relatively low-key public [...] |
2007-06-10 20:24:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR PHUM ASEC FJ |
| 07SUVA320 |
NEW ZEALAND HIGH COMMISSIONER PNG-ED - FIJI [...] (SBU) In a statement issued late June 14, Fiji's Office of the Prime Minister defended the interim government's (IG) decison to declare Michael Green, New Zealand's High Commissioner to Fiji, "persona non grata." The statement claimed Green had interfered in Fiji's domestic affairs, but gave [...] |
2007-06-13 21:05:00 | Embassy Suva | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV MARR ASEC FJ NZ |
| 07SUVA325 |
FIJI COMMITS "IN PRINCIPLE" TO ELECTIONS BY MARCH [...] (C) Fiji interim prime minister Bainimarama announced on June 19 that the interim government is prepared to accept "in principle" that democratic elections "could be held" by March 2009. Bainimarama suggested that the onus is now on the donor community, especially Australia, New Zealand, the [...] |
2007-06-19 20:18:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PHUM ASEC CASC FJ |
| 07SUVA327 |
PACIFIC REGIONAL INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK (RIF) [...] (U) In a June 14 meeting in Suva, managers of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Regional Institutional Framework (RIF) task force attempted to buttress the case for an amalgamation of five regional technical agencies under a Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) umbrella. Advocates spoke of [...] |
2007-06-20 17:33:00 | Embassy Suva | UNCLASSIFIED | AORC EAID PREL XV FJ |
| 07SUVA331 |
SCENESETTER FOR CODEL PAYNE JULY 8-9 VISIT TO FIJI [...] (SBU) Your visit comes at a time of great uncertainty in Fiji. In December of 2006, the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) overthrew the elected government of Laisenia Qarase and dissolved parliament. The military commander, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, installed an interim government (I [...] |
2007-06-26 17:30:00 | Embassy Suva | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | OREP PREL PGOV MARR FJ |
| 07SUVA333 |
FIJI UPDATE: TROUBLE WITH THE LEGAL SYSTEM [...] (C) It appears that Fiji's interim President, Commodore Bainimarama, Justices Gates and Shameem, and others are making moves to reconstitute the Fiji judiciary. The suspension of Chief Justice Fatiaki in early January, the end of some expat Appeals Court Justices' terms, and several suspiciou [...] |
2007-06-26 18:50:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM MARR ASEC CASC KJUS FJ |
| 07SUVA338 |
TONGA POLITICAL UNCERTAINTY, RECONSTRUCTION DELAYS [...] (C) As Tonga's Parliament was adjourning its session just after last November's tragic riot in Nuku'alofa, new King George V tasked government and pro-democracy critics to conclude the national debate on democratic reforms for Tonga's monarchy and provide a solution for the next session of Par [...] |
2007-07-01 16:00:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM TN |
| 07SUVA349 |
TENSION IN TONGA; LIGHT IN THE TUNNEL? [...] (C) Tonga may re-energize stalled political-reform discussions. Parliament has created a tripartite commission to consider specifics, including parliamentary numbers and the date for the next election. Reportedly, the King has agreed to act "only on advice" of an elected government, but some [...] |
2007-07-09 20:43:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PHUM ASEC CVIS PINR TN |
| 07SUVA35 |
FIJI UPDATE 1/16/2007 - INTERIM CHIEF JUSTICE [...] (C) Justice Anthony Gates, an apparent supporter of the coup and advisor to the military, was sworn in as Interim Chief Justice. Ratu Epeli Ganilau was sworn in as Minister for Fijian Affairs, completing the ministerial lineup of the interim government. The Melanesian Spearhead Group has r [...] |
2007-01-15 23:35:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PHUM CASC PINR ASEC FJ |
| 07SUVA353 |
CODEL PAYNE'S MEETINGS IN FIJI WITH INTERIM FM, [...] (C) Congressmen Donald Payne (D, NJ), David Dreier (R, CA) and James Moran (D, VA) completed a short but very productive visit to Fiji July 8-9. Interim Foreign Minister Nailatikau told the congressmen in a rambling and somewhat incoherent presentation that the December 2006 coup in Fiji took [...] |
2007-07-10 17:42:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL MARR OVIP FJ |
| 07SUVA354 |
FIJI UPDATE: JULY 11, 2007: BAINIMARAMA AND [...] (C) New interim Police Commissioner and RFMF Deputy Teleni told a group of professionals that the military would never allow the SDL to regain power, even if it won the next election. Teleni said the RFMF would ignore any negative court rulings and only hold elections when it is ready. Cont [...] |
2007-07-10 19:47:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PHUM ASEC FJ |
| 07SUVA359 |
FIJI UPDATE, JULY 19, 2007: INTERIM GOVERNMENT [...] (SBU) After two days of bad press, the interim government removed travel bans it had placed on prominent IG critics Graham Leung and Shamima Ali. President Iloilo "rejected" names put forward to sit on a tribunal to look at IG allegations against suspended Chief Justice Fatiaki and gave the [...] |
2007-07-18 18:01:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL MARR ASEC FJ |
| 07SUVA36 |
FIJI UPDATE 1/17/07 - CONTROVERSY OVER ACTING [...] (C) The decision to appoint Anthony Gates to the position of Acting Chief Justice has created an uproar in Fiji's legal community. Chief Justice Fatiaki, recently placed on forced leave by the military government, called the action "a disgrace." He and lawyers we talked to were especially [...] |
2007-01-16 23:31:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PHUM PINR ASEC CASC FJ |
| 07SUVA37 |
FIJI UPDATE 1/18/07 - MORE JUDICIAL AND LEGAL [...] (C) Chief Justice Fatiaki returned to his office today, only to be removed by police. The military defied a ruling by the High Court reinstating Sugarcane Growers Council CEO Jagannath Sami and removed him from his office. Sami collapsed during military questioning and was admitted to a ho [...] |
2007-01-17 22:20:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PHUM PINR ASEC CASC FJ |
| 07SUVA372 |
FIJI "LOOKING NORTH" TO CHINA - DOES THE REALITY [...] (C) The appointment of Sir James Ah Koy to be Fiji's next Ambassador to China has fueled renewed discussion about attempts by the Fiji interim government (IG) to gain assistance from China in place of aid from Australia, New Zealand and other donors. Ah Koy says Fiji hopes to borrow up to U [...] |
2007-07-26 16:17:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON ETRD MARR FJ CH |
| 07SUVA378 |
AS FIJI'S ECONOMY CONTINUES TO NOSE-DIVE, IS [...] (SBU) Lack of export competitiveness and a drop in tourism earnings since the December 2006 military coup have led to a difficult balance of payments situation for Fiji and a serious foreign reserve shortage. While a number of economists have suggested that a devaluation of the Fiji dollar [...] |
2007-07-30 20:18:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EINV ETRD PGOV FJ |
| 07SUVA387 |
FIJI UPDATE AUG. 6, 07: STRIKES; AUSTRALIA-FIJI; [...] (C) Some Fiji public-sector unions remain on strike. Others have gone back to work, at least for now. The interim government (IG) is adamant thus far that no lucrative settlement will take place. A war of words between Australia and the IG continues. Interim PM Bainimarama is spinning the I [...] |
2007-08-05 20:30:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PHUM FJ |
| 07SUVA391 |
FIJI UPDATE 8/7/07: UK ARMY RECRUITS FROM FIJI; [...] (U) New Zealand media report that Australian Foreign Minister Downer and Commonwealth Secretary General McKinnon tried hard to get Britain to end its recruitment of Fiji citizens for the British army after last December's coup but met no success. McKinnon argued that Britain "is not setting a [...] |
2007-08-06 19:22:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM ASEC FJ |
| 07SUVA397 |
KIRIBATI'S SHIP REGISTRY SYSTEM -- MORE DETAIL [...] (SBU) The Republic of Kiribati has hired a Singapore company as agent to license commercial ships under the Kiribati flag. When we raised the matter with Kiribati President Tong on July 20, he acknowledged that traditionally Kiribati had handled its own ship-registry service which only dealt [...] |
2007-08-07 16:47:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | EWWT PTER KCRM ASEC KR |
| 07SUVA402 |
TAIWAN AND CHINA RELATIONS IN THE PACIFIC -- [...] (C) Competition between China and Taiwan for allegiance from small Pacific states remains intense. In Tuvalu, Taiwan is a very visible donor, which Tuvaluans appreciate. However, the Taiwan ambassador to Tuvalu was PNGed after meddling in 2006 post-election politics. The current ambassador c [...] |
2007-08-09 15:33:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR MARR PGOV EFIS XV CH TW |
| 07SUVA405 |
TONGA BREAKTHROUGH: TRIPARTITE COMMITTEE AGREES ON [...] (C) A tripartite parliamentary committee tasked to forge a compromise deal between government and pro-democracy supporters on the political future of Tonga delivered a surprisingly strong democratic proposal on Aug. 3. The plan proposes 17 popularly elected People's Representatives, 9 elected [...] |
2007-08-12 09:29:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PINR TN |
| 07SUVA406 |
KIRIBATI: ELECTIONS COMING, CHINA/TAIWAN [...] (C) During a visit by the Ambassador to Kiribati, President Tong reiterated his strong interest in access to the Millennium Challenge Account. Tong complimented last May's Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders (PICL) in Washington, which gave excellent insights into USG checks and balances. [...] |
2007-08-12 12:12:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINR EAIR ECON KR |
| 07SUVA408 |
NAURU: PHOSPHATE ROLLER COASTER; ELECTIONS WITH [...] (C) Tiny Nauru in the central Pacific suffered perhaps the world's most dramatic lifestyle decline in recent years after exhausting visible phosphate deposits. Currently, Nauruans barely scrape by. Thus, a PACOM humanitarian-assistance mission July 21-27 was very well received. There is a de [...] |
2007-08-13 17:24:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR PGOV PREF EAIR ECON NR VE CU |
| 07SUVA409 |
TUVALU: NEEDY AND SEEKING USG ASSISTANCE [...] (SBU) Tuvalu's Prime Minister Ielemia remains strongly interested in regaining the Peace Corps, accessing the Millennium Challenge Account, and providing skilled workers for Guam construction projects. He believes Fiji's Commodore Bainimarama should not attend the Pacific Islands Forum in Ton [...] |
2007-08-15 13:50:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR PHUM PINR EAID ECON KCRM TV |
| 07SUVA416 |
FIJI UPDATE 8/20/07: BAINIMARAMA "JOKING" RE [...] (C) Fiji interim PM Bainimarama was only joking in announcing an election date, according to the interim Attorney General. Critics don't find that funny. Pacific Island Forum (PIF) and EU dialogues with the interim government (IG) are adding to doubts about IG motives. Some court cases sugg [...] |
2007-08-19 19:50:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM PINR MARR FJ |
| 07SUVA420 |
FIJI UPDATE 8/24/07: NERVOUSNESS IN THE STREETS; [...] (C) Contacts are increasingly nervous that ethnic-Fijian unhappiness with Commodore Bainimarama's interim government (IG) could erupt. The surface remains calm. Media report a draft EU decision document re sugar-reform aid would keep pressure on the IG to hold credible elections by early 2009 [...] |
2007-08-23 16:29:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR ASEC ECON CASC FJ |
| 07SUVA424 |
SCOTTY TEAM WINS NAURU ELECTION; REFORMS EXPECTED [...] (U) Nauru's general election on August 25 returned the "reform" government of President Ludwig Scotty to power. All of Scotty's cabinet team won re-election. All opposition members were defeated, except for former President Rene Harris. Former President Kinza Clodumar, a Scotty opponent see [...] |
2007-08-28 17:25:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM PGOV NR |
| 07SUVA425 |
FIJI CABINET FRICTIONS; QARASE TRAVEL STYMIED; [...] (C) Commodore Bainimarama's interim Cabinet is developing fractures. Deposed PM Qarase's plan to travel to Suva this week was derailed. Qarase alleges a military threat to kill him on arrival and a military order to Air Fiji not to board him. Interim government (IG) efforts to tame the Great [...] |
2007-08-28 19:01:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM PINR PGOV FJ |
| 07SUVA427 |
KIRIBATI UPDATE: [...] (C) Kiribati President Tong, Vice President Onorio, and five other Ministers were re-elected to Parliament in a first round of elections on Aug. 22. A second round of run-off races takes place today. Once Parliament is in place, it will select three or four MPs to run for President in Octobe [...] |
2007-08-29 19:27:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EFIS SENV PHSA KCRM KWMN ELAB EAID |
| 07SUVA428 |
PEACE CORPS AND KIRIBATI: GOOD NEWS ON AIR SERVICE [...] (U) Following up on reftel, the Australian High Commissioner reports that both Air Kiribati aircraft have been flying domestic routes routinely in recent weeks. When the CASA plane arrived back from Australia in late July, there was an initial problem when a Kiribati agency withheld fuel, pur [...] |
2007-08-29 19:29:00 | Embassy Suva | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL EAID PGOV KR |
| 07SUVA43 |
FIJI UPDATE 1/19/07 - FATIAKI SUSPENDED; PRESIDENT [...] (C) President Iloilo suspended Chief Justice Fatiaki and directed that investigations should be conducted into Fatiaki's actions in the aftermath of the 2000 coup. Iloilo decreed today that all decrees and decisions made by the military government when Bainimarama was "Acting President" are [...] |
2007-01-18 19:13:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PHUM PINR ASEC FJ |
| 07SUVA433 |
FIJI: QARASE RETURNS; BAINIMARAMA SHUNS HIM, [...] (C) Deposed Prime Minister Qarase returned to Suva last Saturday. He announced willingness to assist the interim government (IG) to bring Fiji back to democracy rapidly. Interim PM Bainimarama dismissed the thought that Qarase and his SDL Ministers could play any role, now or after a future e [...] |
2007-09-03 19:24:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR PHUM FJ |
| 07SUVA435 |
TONGA PLAYS "IRAQ" CARD RE VISA ISSUE: ACTION [...] (C) The Tonga Government has reiterated, by dipnote, its intense desire for the USG to find a way to provide visa services in Tonga, rather than in Suva. The dipnote says, absent progress on the visa issue, "the Tonga Government will not be disposed to assisting the United States in the milit [...] |
2007-09-05 18:49:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL CVIS PGOV MARR TN |
| 07SUVA436 |
FIJI: BAINIMARAMA RESUMES STATE OF EMERGENCY; [...] (C) Commodore Bainimarama brought back Fiji's state of emergency on Sept. 6, after a three month hiatus, in order to respond to political posturing by deposed PM Qarase, who returned to Suva last weekend and immediately began to make public statements critical of the interim government (IG) and [...] |
2007-09-05 19:24:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR PHUM ASEC CASC FJ |
| 07SUVA442 |
SCENE-SETTER FOR COMMANDER PACOM VISIT TO TONGA [...] (C) A first visit to the Kingdom of Tonga is always fascinating, as is a meeting with eccentric King George V. The U.S. and Tonga have friendly relations, especially mil/mil, as evidenced by the new Tonga Defense Service (TDS) deployment to Iraq. Within Tonga, pro-democracy sentiments have be [...] |
2007-09-09 13:16:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR PHUM TN |
| 07SUVA45 |
FIJI VISA SANCTIONS: ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS; EFFECTS [...] (C) We propose including President Iloilo in USG visa sanctions against the interim government, since he has become a front man "approving" any and all decrees placed before him, even though the Fiji Constitution does not grant him such powers. We provide a few additional snippets of evidence [...] |
2007-01-21 21:38:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL MARR PHUM ASEC CASC FJ |
| 07SUVA452 |
TONGA FOREIGN SECRETARY TONE REITERATES TIE OF [...] (C) Tonga's Foreign Secretary on Sept. 13 reiterated his government's threat (reftel) that an absence of USG progress to bring visa services on the ground in Tonga may affect bilateral relations in general, including the willingness of Tonga to commit troops to a follow-on deployment to MNFI in [...] |
2007-09-13 16:43:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL CVIS MARR PGOV TN |
| 07SUVA46 |
FIJI UPDATE 1/22/07: PRESIDENT ISSUES IMMUNITY [...] (C) President Iloilo has issued a broad immunity decree for the military and others involved in the coup. The Fiji Law Society and others say the decree is unconstitutional. Bainimarama has reacted angrily to Aussie and Kiwi visa restrictions on members of his government and is threatening " [...] |
2007-01-21 22:18:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PHUM PINR ASEC FJ NZ |
| 07SUVA463 |
GEF CEO EXPOUNDS 100 MILLION USD PACIFIC ALLIANCE FOR [...] SUMMARY: GEF CEO Monique Barbut laid out her vision for the GEF Pacific Alliance for Sustainability (GEF-PAS) on September 10 at a one-day event for GEF focal points in advance of the annual SPREP meeting in Apia. Barbut explained that GEF-PAS, a country-driven sub-regional program, could prov [...] |
2007-09-23 20:14:00 | Embassy Suva | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV EFIN EAID WS XV GEF |
| 07SUVA465 |
FIJI UPDATE 9/24/2007 [...] (U) Fiji interim Prime Minister Bainimarama intends bilats with Venezuela, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Italy during his UNGA stay. The Fiji military has warned against any efforts to depose Bainimarama during his trip. Bainimarama has signaled he will re-shuffle the interim cabinet soon [...] |
2007-09-23 20:19:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR PHUM FJ |
| 07SUVA466 |
CDR PACOM 9/17-18 VISIT TO TONGA: MILITARY BONDS; [...] (C) PACOM Commander Admiral Keating's visit to Tonga reinforced strong mil/mil bonds and accented long-standing close bilateral relations. The Admiral thanked Tonga leaders for a second deployment of Tonga Defense Service (TDS) troops to Iraq. TDS Commander BG Uta'atu said Foreign/Defense Mi [...] |
2007-09-24 12:28:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR PREL PGOV TN |
| 07SUVA473 |
FIJI COUNTER-COUP? BOMB THREATS? RUMORS CONTINUE [...] (C) With Commodore Bainimarama in the U.S. -- he delivered Fiji's speech to the UNGA on Sept. 28 and is not due back in Suva until Oct. 5 -- rumors are circulating that military-related elements will undertake a counter-coup to remove Bainimarama and his core-group of backers from the RFMF and [...] |
2007-09-30 13:11:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR CASC ASEC FJ |
| 07SUVA479 |
FIJI: PROOF OF IG MEDDLING IN THE JUDICIARY [...] (C) Clear proof has surfaced of the interim government (IG) attempting to meddle in the Fiji judiciary. The murder case against the Commander of the Fiji Navy, CDR Francis Keane, is nearing trial before Justice Gerrard Winter. Keane is Commodore Bainimarama's brother-in-law and he is accused [...] |
2007-10-02 18:25:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR PHUM FJ |
| 07SUVA480 |
FIJI: REPORTED PLAN TO REMOVE BAINIMARAMA; CHANCES UNCERTAIN [...] (C) On Oct. 2, Ballu Khan, a controversial Indo-Fijian businessman, met with the Australian High Commissioner to Fiji. Khan owns IT businesses and has close ties to the Qaranivalu, the high chief of Naitasiri Province who was convicted of fomenting a mutiny against Commodore Bainimarama in No [...] |
2007-10-02 18:35:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR ASEC CASC FJ |
| 07SUVA482 |
GEF-PAS: SLOW PROGRESS IN PREPARING NATIONAL PRIORITIES [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: We contacted the countries covered by Embassy Suva to encourage them to engage to the fullest extent possible with the World Bank and other organizations to develop their Global Environment Facility Pacific Alliance for Sustainability (GEF-PAS) priority lists before the October 1 [...] |
2007-10-02 20:08:00 | Embassy Suva | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SENV EFIN EAID FJ TN NR TV KR GEF |
| 07SUVA488 |
PACIFIC ISLAND FORUM SCENESETTER - FOCUS ON FIJI [...] (SBU) The situation in Fiji will be one of the main topics of discussion during the upcoming Pacific Island Forum meetings. Fiji interim PM Bainimarama's planned attendance at the Forum Leaders' meeting has already created considerable controversy in the region and is likely to dominate med [...] |
2007-10-08 18:59:00 | Embassy Suva | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV MARR ECON FJ |
| 07SUVA496 |
EMBASSY SUVA NOMINATION FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN OF COURAGE [...] Embassy Suva is pleased and proud to nominate Ms. Virisila Buadromo, Executive Director of the Fiji Women's Rights Movement for the Secretary of State's International Women of Courage Award. Ms. Buadromo has been notified of her nomination. 2. Ms. Buadromo's particulars are as follows: V [...] |
2007-10-18 16:19:00 | Embassy Suva | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KWMN PLUM PREL KPAO FJ |
| 07SUVA497 |
EMBASSY SUVA NOMINATION FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN OF COURAGE [...] Embassy Suva is pleased and proud to nominate Mrs. Betty Blake, Coordinator of the Legal Literacy Project of the Tonga Catholic Women's League for the Secretary of State's International Women of Courage Award. Mrs. Blake has been notified of her nomination. 2. Mrs. Blake's particulars are a [...] |
2007-10-18 16:19:00 | Embassy Suva | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KWMN PLUM PREL KPAO TN |
| 07SUVA498 |
BAINIMARAMA COMMITS TO ELECTIONS IN 2009; SAYS [...] (SBU) Summary. Fiji's Interim Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, told Pacific Leaders 10/17 that his interim government (IG) was committed to elections by the first quarter of 2009, and that the military would accept the results. The Forum Leaders welcomed Bainimarama's commitment [...] |
2007-10-18 17:58:00 | Embassy Suva | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL MARR FJ |
| 07SUVA5 |
FIJI UPDATE 1/4/07: BAINIMARAMA RETURNS EXECUTIVE [...] (C) Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander Bainimarama told the nation on Jan. 4 that he has returned executive authority to President Iloilo. Iloilo then publicly endorsed all RFMF actions and said he will appoint an interim government shortly, with a broad mandate to improve Fiji [...] |
2007-01-03 22:13:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PHUM CASC ASEC FJ |
| 07SUVA501 |
FIJI UPDATE: 10/24/07 [...] (C) Fiji interim Prime Minister Bainimarama's seemingly firm commitment in Tonga last week to hold free elections in March 2009 has brought gasps from his friends in the Fiji Labor Party. FLP leader Chaudhry is considering his options. Bainimarama and deposed PM Qarase are beginning to discus [...] |
2007-10-24 19:46:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR PHUM FJ |
| 07SUVA502 |
FIJI MILITARY SENDING MURDER SUSPECTS TO UNAMI [...] (C) We have received information that o/a Oct. 27 the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) will deploy to UNAMI in Iraq ten soldiers who allegedly participated in the beating deaths of two civilians early this year, the only confirmed killings related to the military "clean up" campaign aft [...] |
2007-10-25 18:25:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR PREL PHUM KPKO FJ UN IZ |
| 07SUVA503 |
REMITTANCES IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS [...] Summary: Remittances play an often unacknowledged yet crucially important economic and social role in the South Pacific. In the face of domestic turmoil, rising unemployment, and limited labor mobility, remittances have become a near irreplaceable source of funds for large portions of the popul [...] |
2007-10-25 18:50:00 | Embassy Suva | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ELAB EFIN XV FJ TN |
| 07SUVA506 |
FIJI MILITARY STOPPED FROM SENDING SUSPECT [...] (U) Fiji media reported over the weekend that a number of Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) soldiers, suspects in the murder of Sakiusa Rabaka early this year, were stopped from departing on deployment to UNAMI in Iraq. (See reftel for context.) The Fiji Office of the Director for Publi [...] |
2007-10-28 19:35:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR PREL PHUM KPKO FJ UNAUS IZ |
| 07SUVA507 |
FIJI INTERIM FINANCE MINISTER USES WASHINGTON WB/IMF VISIT [...] (SBU) In Washington for meetings of the IMF and World Bank, Fiji Interim Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry made full use of the opportunity to reach out to potential new partners and to USG contacts as well. Chaudhry's calls on IMF, Brazilian, Indian, Malaysian, Chinese, and other contacts pl [...] |
2007-10-28 19:59:00 | Embassy Suva | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN ECON PREL PGOV FJ |
| 07SUVA509 |
UN KEY ROLE IN STOPPING FIJI SUSPECTS DEPLOYMENT [...] (C) According to a well-placed embassy source in Fiji Immigration, a UN intervention is what kept the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) headquarters from deploying 7 soldiers and one policeman, all charged with murder (see reftels), to UNAMI last Saturday. Reportedly a letter from the U [...] |
2007-10-29 18:31:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR PREL PHUM KPKO FJ UN IZ |
| 07SUVA512 |
IRAQ DEPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS - TONGA [...] (C) Responding to reftel queries, Embassy Suva's view is that, under current circumstances in Tonga, by far the easiest mechanism to retain the Tonga Defense Service (TDS) as part of MNFI is through reftel scenario four - Tonga commits forces under U.S. command. This is essentially the mea [...] |
2007-10-31 18:45:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR MOPS PREL CVIS IZ TN |
| 07SUVA518 |
FIJI: INTERIM GOV'T ALLEGES ASSASSINATION PLOT [...] (C) Fiji military and police arrested at least 16 suspects during the weekend, allegedly for plotting to assassinate interim PM Bainimarama and other senior figures in the interim government (IG). Those arrested included the High Chief of Naitasiri Province, New Zealand businessman Ballu Khan [...] |
2007-11-04 18:57:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR PHUM ASEC FJ |
| 07SUVA522 |
FIJI ASSASSINATION PLOT: COMPLICATIONS [...] (C) Fiji authorities charged 10 persons late on Nov. 6 for alleged participation in a plot to assassinate interim PM Bainimarama and others (reftels). The group includes the Naitasiri Province High Chief, retired RFMF Colonels Baledrokadroka and Mua, businessman Naulago Waqa, politician Pecel [...] |
2007-11-05 19:05:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR PHUM FJ |
| 07SUVA523 |
FIJI: DEPOSED PM QARASE'S POLITICAL VISION [...] (C) During a lunch on Nov. 6, deposed PM Qarase sketched two scenarios he is prepared to offer interim PM Bainimarama in order to end Fiji's political impasse. Both would involve reconvening Parliament, at least for a few days. Qarase admitted that neither is likely to appeal to Bainimarama, [...] |
2007-11-06 15:21:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR PHUM FJ |
| 07SUVA526 |
FIJI: COURT CASES; PEOPLE'S CHARTER; [...] (C) A Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) soldier has been charged in the Verebasaga beating death last January. He was immediately released on bail. Eleven suspects have now been charged in last weekend's "assassination plot" case. Those suspects' request to be released on bail was denie [...] |
2007-11-07 17:59:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR PHUM FJ |
| 07SUVA53 |
FIJI UPDATE 1/23/17: BAINIMARAMA LOOKING NORTH; [...] (C) In reaction to aid and visa restrictions imposed by Western governments, particularly Australia and New Zealand, Commodore Bainimarama announced plans to send a delegation of ministers, senior officials and businessmen to China, India, Malaysia, and Indonesia in order to diversify sources [...] |
2007-01-22 21:53:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PHUM PINR ASEC UN EU CH IN MY ID |
| 07SUVA532 |
PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM STAYS STRONG ON FIJI AND [...] (SBU) EAP A/S Hill led the U.S. delegation to the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Post-Forum Dialogue (PFD) in Tonga Oct. 17-19. The PFD experimented this year with a plenary format that consisted mostly of prepared remarks by island leaders and 14 dialogue partners on the issues of Fiji, Solomon [...] |
2007-11-14 12:07:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SENV AORC FJ SI TN XV |
| 07SUVA534 |
FIJI: ASSASSINATION PLOT UPDATE; PEOPLE'S CHARTER; [...] (C) Accused assassination plotter Ballu Khan is now formally in police custody. He was hospitalized for 11 days after suffering skull fractures during arrest. We hear at least one of those detained for the plot has indicated contingency plans are still in place for action against the interim [...] |
2007-11-14 18:33:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR PHUM FJ |
| 07SUVA536 |
FIJI UPDATE: BAINIMARAMA PLANS CABINET RESHUFFLE; [...] (C) Fiji interim Prime Minister Bainimarama plans to re-shuffle his cabinet with the aim to increase efficiency. He will name names on December 1. The Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) spokesman has publicly acknowledged military use of "strong-arm" tactics to maintain law and order in [...] |
2007-11-19 18:39:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR PHUM FJ |
| 07SUVA543 |
FIJI: BAINIMARAMA "DICTATES"; BUDGET TIGHT; CHINA [...] (C) Fiji interim PM Bainimarama has reiterated that he, and he alone, will "dictate" Fiji's future. The interim government (IG) budget for 2008 is tight, reflecting an economy that has shrunk by 3.9% in 2007. A budget announcement that the Ministry of Fijian Affairs will be downgraded to a D [...] |
2007-11-25 17:56:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR PHUM FJ |
| 07SUVA549 |
Update: GEF-PAS and Sustainable Integrated Water Resources [...] Summary: The Regional Environmental Specialist (RES) from Embassy Suva's Pacific Environmental Hub participated in the 3rd steering committee meeting for the GEF Sustainable Integrated Water Resources and Wastewater Management (IWRM) Pacific regional project in Suva, Fiji, from November 5 to 8. [...] |
2007-11-28 08:51:00 | Embassy Suva | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV EAID XV FJ GEF UNDP |
| 07SUVA550 |
DEMARCHE TO TONGA ON U.S.-IRAQ BILATERAL RELATIONS [...] (C) Embassy Suva took the opportunity of a DATT visit to deliver ref A demarche on the future of U.S.-Iraq bilateral relations to Tonga MFA Acting Secretary Malolo and CHOD BG Uta'atu on Nov. 27. Neither seemed disturbed or surprised by the plan. MFA promised to inform the Minister and Secret [...] |
2007-11-28 10:59:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR MOPS PREL PGOV TN IZ |
| 07SUVA552 |
FIJI: PUBLIC CRITICISM OF IG BY RETIRED COLONEL; [...] (C) Prominent, retired Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Colonel Draunidalo this week publicly criticized recent interim government (IG) decisions affecting major ethnic-Fijian institutions, suggesting the decisions could "sow the seeds of irreparable damage." Some suggest Draunidalo wa [...] |
2007-11-28 17:54:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR PHUM FJ |
| 07SUVA554 |
Tonga Update: elections in 2008; reforms postponed to 2010; [...] (SBU) The final session of Tonga's three-year Legislative Assembly concluded November 1, with elections now slated for April 2008. PM Sevele, as a royal appointee, will not have to face election. Pro-democracy People's Representatives, who had doggedly argued for the 2008 election to take pl [...] |
2007-11-29 15:27:00 | Embassy Suva | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PHUM EAID TN CH |
| 07SUVA57 |
MILITARY AND INTERIM GOVERNMENT ASK TAIWAN MISSION [...] (C) The Taiwan Trade Mission in Fiji has been approached separately by the Fiji military and the Prime Minister's Office with requests for aid. A high-ranking military officer asked the Trade Mission to pass to Taipei a request for arms and military equipment. The Prime Minister's Office as [...] |
2007-01-23 20:46:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR EAID FJ TW CH |
| 07SUVA575 |
Update: Testing Fiji's National Pandemic Influenza Plan [...] (SBU) Summary: The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) in close collaboration with the Fiji National Influenza Taskforce brought together different sectors to test Fiji's National Influenza Pandemic Plan on December 4 and 5, 2007. During the tabletop testing, gaps/issues were identified [...] |
2007-12-19 17:42:00 | Embassy Suva | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SOCI TBIO CASC KFLU FJ |
| 07SUVA577 |
IMF GIVES FIJI INTERIM GOVERNMENT MIXED MARKS FOR [...] (SBU) Summary. A visiting IMF Article IV mission said Fiji's Reserve Bank and interim government (IG) have done a fairly good job over the last 12 months managing a very troubled economy, although it noted that many of the troubles were brought on by 2006 coup that brought the IG to power. [...] |
2007-12-20 13:54:00 | Embassy Suva | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON MARR FJ CH |
| 07SUVA58 |
TONGA TIDBITS: TDS DEPLOYMENT TO IRAQ; PLANS FOR [...] (C) BGEN Uta'atu informed us Jan. 18 that the planned Tonga Defense Service (TDS) deployment to the Coalition of the Willing in Iraq (ref) is still in train. Per septels, the TDS has been heavily involved in security operations in the Tonga capital since a major riot last Nov. 16; however, Ut [...] |
2007-01-23 21:18:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR XV TN |
| 07SUVA581 |
FIJI UPDATE: NEW ZEALAND TRAVEL POLICIES UNDER [...] (C) New Zealand's decision to ban nine Fiji children from attending a regional Boy Scout Jamboree because their parents are in the Fiji military has drawn sustained criticism across the political spectrum in Fiji. A retired Colonel who last month strongly attacked the military and the interim [...] |
2007-12-27 15:32:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR CVIS FJ TW |
| 07SUVA59 |
FIJI UPDATE 1/24/07: RFMF DETAINS CRITICS; UNIONS [...] (C) Prominent lawyer Richard Naidu was brought to the army barracks and "given the usual third degree" last night. He will "lay low" for a while but plans to resume public comment. The interim Attorney General suggested that instead of bringing critics up to QEB, the military should let pol [...] |
2007-01-23 22:17:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PHUM PINR ASEC FJ CH |
| 07SUVA61 |
TONGA REMAINS FRACTURED FROM 11/16 RIOT [...] (C) This telegram sketches factors that appear to have contributed to the riot of Nov. 16 in Nuku'alofa, Tonga, an event that devastated the central business district (CBD) and has left deep scars on every Tongan's psyche. Certainly on Nov. 16, Tonga's political process was at center stage, wi [...] |
2007-01-24 21:26:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR EAID PHUM TN |
| 07SUVA66 |
TONGA AND THE FUTURE: RECONCILE; REFORM; AND [...] (C) Two months after last November's riot, the Ambassador's Jan. 16-18 visit to Tonga found most everyone still licking their wounds. But many people realize they must look forward. A state of emergency may continue for several more months. The Tonga Defense Service (TDS) hopes to reduce it [...] |
2007-01-25 18:28:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR EAID PHUM ASEC CH TN |
| 07SUVA67 |
FIJI FOREIGN SECRETARY DISCUSSES ROAD MAPS, CHINA, [...] (C) On Jan. 26, Fiji interim Secretary for Foreign Affairs Mataitoga described to us the interim government's plan for responding to concerns about post-coup human rights and about a road map back to democratic elections, issues bound to be raised by a Pacific Islands Forum Eminent Persons Grou [...] |
2007-01-25 20:13:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PHUM ASEC CASC CVIS IQ FJ |
| 07SUVA68 |
FIJI UPDATE 1/26/07: BAINIMARAMA BACKS OFF [...] (C) Fiji Interim PM Bainimarama backed off of his threats to retaliate against Australia and New Zealand for visa bans those countries have imposed on senior interim government officials. He said the interim government welcomes international trade and investment and will not interfere with l [...] |
2007-01-25 21:23:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR PHUM PINR ASEC FJ |
| 07SUVA71 |
PRC AND TAIWAN ENGAGEMENT IN FIJI, TONGA, NAURU, [...] (C) China and Taiwan are both actively engaged in Fiji, and are both likely to be asked by the interim government for increased assistance. Tonga is seeking an influx of funds from China to help rebuild Nuku'alofa. Taiwan has a strong presence in Nauru, Kiribati and Tuvalu. Taiwan represe [...] |
2007-01-28 18:38:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | EAID PREL PGOV FJ NR KR TN TV |
| 07SUVA72 |
FIJI UPDATE, JANUARY 29, 2007: EPG MEETINGS START; [...] (C) The Pacific Island Forum's Eminent Persons Group began its meetings in Fiji today. Interim PM Bainimarama called his meeting with the EPG useful, saying the group understands "there is no turning back." Bainimarama took another strong swipe at NGO activists, accusing them of poisoning [...] |
2007-01-28 22:11:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR PHUM ASEC FJ |
| 07SUVA75 |
FIJI POLICE FIGHT TO RETAIN INDEPENDENCE FROM [...] (C) Summary: RSO met with the Fiji Police Assistant Commissioner for Police Operations Samuela Matakibau January 23 to discuss the current state of the Fiji police and its relationship with the military-appointed interim government. Despite the military's assertions that the police and army ar [...] |
2007-01-29 20:28:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | ASEC PREL CASC MARR FJ |
| 07SUVA80 |
EMINENT PERSONS GROUP MEETING WITH FOREIGN MISSIONS IN [...] (SBU) Representatives from many foreign missions resident in Fiji condemned the military takeover in a meeting with the Pacific Island Forum's Eminent Persons Group 1/31 and called for a rapid return of democracy. A notable exception was China, which hopes for a return of stability and contin [...] |
2007-01-30 22:05:00 | Embassy Suva | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PREL MARR FJ CH EUN UK FR KS JA MY ID IN |
| 07SUVA84 |
FIJI UPDATE, FEBRUARY 1, 2007: EPG COMPLETES ITS [...] (C) The EPG wrapped up its visit, but said little of substance in its closing press conference. The EPG will present a report to Forum Foreign Ministers in about two weeks. It called on the Forum to continue to engage with Fiji. In a welcome letter to the EPG Chairman, Bainimarama said th [...] |
2007-01-31 22:44:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM MARR ASEC FJ |
| 07SUVA89 |
FIJI UPDATE, FEBRUARY 5, 2007: RFMF LASHES BACK [...] (C) Fiji's Methodist Church issued a strongly worded statement February 2 condemning the coup. It asked Bainimarama, the interim government, and President Iloilo to resign. The RFMF responded by barging into the church's headquarters (inside one of Suva's most well-known churches) and "int [...] |
2007-02-04 22:17:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM MARR ASEC FJ |
| 07SUVA92 |
FIJI QUERIES ABOUT IRAQ DEPLOYMENT [...] (C) Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Deputy Commander Teleni on Feb. 6 asked the Ambassador via an intermediary whether the USG would approve deployment of a small number of RFMF officers to the headquarters detachment of MNFI in Iraq. Commodore and interim-Prime Minister Bainimarama h [...] |
2007-02-05 18:15:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR PREL IQ FJ |
| 07SUVA94 |
FIJI UPDATE 2/7/07: SHUFFLING AMBS? CUTTING CIVIL [...] (C) Replacement of some or all of Fiji's current ambassadors is in the works. A prospect for PermRep in New York is reluctant to accept the job because of Australia, New Zealand, U.S. visa-ban worries. Interim government efforts to cut civil-service costs continue, indicating severe fiscal-c [...] |
2007-02-06 20:36:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR ASEC FJ |
| 07SUVA99 |
FIJI UPDATE FRI. FEB. 9, 2007: STATE OF EMERGENCY [...] (C) It has been two months since Fiji's coup, and the state of emergency has been extended another 30 days. The QE2 and several other cruise ships are making day stops in Suva. The military band plans a welcoming parade on Saturday. The Interim Attorney General has suggested the labor-union [...] |
2007-02-08 18:55:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR ASEC FJ |
| 08SUVA100 |
FIJI: QARASE COURT CASE; CHAUDHRY TAX ISSUE; FIJI [...] (C) Deposed Fiji Prime Minister Qarase's court case against Commodore Bainimarama's December 2006 coup seems to be rapidly drawing to a close. The Interim Government's (IG's) hand-picked judges will apparently start writing their decision shortly. An appeal is expected to follow, whatever th [...] |
2008-03-12 16:44:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV CJAN PHUM PINR MARR FJ |
| 08SUVA109 |
A TONGA ELECTION PREVIEW [...] (SBU) Summary: Seventy-one candidates are running for the nine seats in Tonga's parliament reserved for People's Representatives(PRs) in the April 23-24 elections. While Tonga law has no provision for candidates to register their political affiliation, at least 30 are associated with the pro- [...] |
2008-03-19 15:04:00 | Embassy Suva | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM TN |
| 08SUVA121 |
FIJI UPDATE - "PEOPLE'S CHARTER" REMAINS INTERIM [...] (SBU) The day after the Pacific Island Forum Foreign Ministers expressed their concern that Fiji's "People's Charter" should not be used to delay the planned March 2009 elections in Fiji (reftel), Interim PM Bainimarama implied that is exactly what may happen. In a speech 3/27, Bainimarama [...] |
2008-03-27 14:34:00 | Embassy Suva | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL FJ |
| 08SUVA13 |
FIJI: "LAND" ISSUE; ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES; PEOPLE'S [...] (C) Interim Finance Minister Chaudhry has proposed that he and interim PM Bainimarama can resolve Fiji's racially charged "land" issues. That vision has raised intense concern among ethnic-Fijians, most of whom trust neither Bainimarama nor Chaudhry to handle the issue. The interim governmen [...] |
2008-01-15 17:11:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR PHUM FJ |
| 08SUVA135 |
NAURU GOVERNANCE PROBLEMS RECUR [...] (C) Tiny Nauru has slid into another period of political instability. The landslide re-election of the reformist Scott government in August 2007 brought a sense of hope (Ref A); but leadership battles since have pushed Nauru back into seesaw political squabbles that we had hoped were history. [...] |
2008-04-07 13:24:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM NR |
| 08SUVA143 |
FIJI POLICE ARREST TIBET PROTESTERS [...] (U) Fiji police arrested 17 NGO human rights activists who took part in a silent protest across the street from the Chinese embassy in Suva April 10. No charges have been laid. Several NGOs have questioned police grounds for breaking up a peaceful demonstration. The Chinese Embassy condemned [...] |
2008-04-15 02:55:00 | Embassy Suva | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PREL FJ CH |
| 08SUVA144 |
NO BEND (YET) IN FIJI'S BAINIMARAMA [...] (C) A visit to Fiji by PNG Prime Minister Somare and Tonga PM Sevele to meet with interim PM Bainimarama late last week reportedly left Somare and Sevele still feeling uncomfortable about Fiji political developments. Bainimarama gave assurance that he intends elections in March 2009, but only [...] |
2008-04-15 05:07:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM PINR MARR FJ |
| 08SUVA145 |
BAINIMARAMA'S NATIONAL COUNCIL PROPOSES DRAMATIC [...] (SBU) The National Council for Building a Better Fiji (NCBBF), co-chaired by Interim PM Bainimarama, put forward to President Iloilo late April 15 a resolution calling for dramatic changes in Fiji's electoral system. Iloilo will undoubtedly endorse the resolution. According to the resoluti [...] |
2008-04-16 03:34:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM FJ |
| 08SUVA147 |
FIJI'S PREPARATIONS FOR THE PLANNED 2009 ELECTIONS [...] (C) While the Fiji Interim Government (IG) continues to give mixed signals about a March 2009 election, preparations are starting at a pace slower than donor countries would like. After months of delays, a New Zealand lawyer was named Supervisor of Elections April 17, to take up the job in e [...] |
2008-04-18 03:12:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM FJ |
| 08SUVA153 |
FIJI CHIEFS PLEAD FOR FOREIGN HELP [...] (C) Embassy Suva has received a hand-delivered "private and confidential" letter from the highest chiefs of Fiji laying out a series of complaints against interim PM Bainimarama and the "immigrant race" (the ethnic Indians). The letter is also addressed to the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and E [...] |
2008-04-20 17:36:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM PINR |