VZCZCXRO5147
PP RUEHPB
DE RUEHSV #0137/01 0962329
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 062329Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY SUVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3007
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1181
RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY 0801
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0977
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0243
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHHJJAA/JICPAC HONOLULU HI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SUVA 000137 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2016 
TAGS: MARR PREL KPKO FJ TN
SUBJECT: FIJI AND TONGA DEPLOYMENT PLANS TO IRAQ: A STATUS 
REPORT 
 
REF: A. USDAO SUVA 050241Z APR O6 
 
     ¶B. SUVA 133 
 
Classified By: Amb. Dinger, Sec. 1.4, B and D. 
 
¶1. (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 Coalition: a state of flux 
-------------------------------------------- 
¶2. (C) Commodore Bainimarama has decided that he wants the 
RFMF to deploy a small contingent as part of the Coalition of 
the Willing, in addition to the ongoing RFMF deployments as 
protection details for the UN there (Ref A and previous). 
The Fiji Government has not decided whether to join the 
Coalition.  As PM Qarase predicted when General Abizaid 
visited Suva in February, early elections are to take place 
(May 6-13).  In the meantime Fiji's caretaker government 
cannot undertake new policy decisions, such as whether to 
join the Coalition.  RFMF Commander Bainimarama is sending 
two officers to CENTCOM for planning purposes, but nothing is 
final. 
 
¶3. (C) If PM Qarase returns to power, he has told us he 
intends to "sort out" the situation with Commodore 
Bainimarama, which is untenable.  Bainimarama has indicated 
he would likely act to remove a new Qarase government, if 
that government were to continue past policies (Ref B and 
previous).  We often find ourselves agreeing with Bainimarama 
about particular substantive issues and strongly disagreeing 
with his advocacy methods, which include saber-rattling and 
threatening a coup.  All of this leaves Fiji's potential Iraq 
Coalition deployment in considerable flux.  We have made 
clear to all parties the U.S. interest in a stable Fiji that 
can contribute productively to peacekeeping operations around 
the world, including in Iraq, and we have similarly made 
clear to all the U.S. view that the military in a democracy 
must be subordinate to the elected civilian leadership. 
 
Tonga and the Coalition: likely but not yet final 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
¶4. (C) Regarding Tonga, the recent visit by Foreign/Defense 
Minister Tu'a and TDS Commander Uta'atu to Washington and 
Tampa was fruitful.  The TDS plans to submit a formal 
proposal to the Tonga Defense Board for the deployment to 
Iraq of another Tonga platoon, probably to take place in the 
fall and to continue indefinitely via multiple rotations.  A 
previous Tonga platoon deployed to Iraq for 6 months in 2004. 
 The TDS expects approval. 
 
¶5. (C) When new Prime Minister Sevele stopped by the Embassy 
on April 6, we noted the importance of such a deployment to 
U.S. and global interests.  Sevele did not appear 
well-briefed on the matter, said he has no strong views 
either way, but said it is an issue which should go to 
Cabinet and Privy Council for final judgment.  In that 
context, he said it would be important to know U.S., U.K., 
and Australian long-term plans for their own deployments to 
Iraq.  We said our understanding is that all three intend to 
remain in Iraq as long as is necessary to achieve our 
important goals, and we offered to provide further details if 
needed.  Sevele asked what sort of U.S. support would be 
available for a Tonga deployment.  We assured him that such 
support is planned, and Tu'a and Uta'atu have been 
well-briefed on the details. 
 
Comment 
------- 
¶6. (C) Our impression from Foreign/Defense Minister Tu'a and 
TDS Commander Uta'atu is that Tonga's new deployment is very 
likely.  Still, it could be useful for our Australian and 
British colleagues to reinforce with PM Sevele their own 
intentions to stay the course in Iraq.  The situation in Fiji 
is more murky, given the extremely strained relations between 
Commodore Bainimarama and the current, caretaker government. 
The coming election results, the nature of the next 
government, and the RFMF's role in support of or opposition 
to that government will affect the Iraq-deployment decision. 
As previously discussed (Ref B), Bainimarama's Washington 
meetings will be an opportunity to reinforce USG messages 
regarding the importance of the RFMF playing its proper, 
 
SUVA 00000137  002 OF 002 
 
 
subordinate role domestically in Fiji as it contributes 
productively to peacekeeping abroad. 
DINGER