VZCZCXRO7619
PP RUEHPB
DE RUEHSV #0002/01 0022301
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 022301Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY SUVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3633
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 0226
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 1484
RUEHKL/AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR PRIORITY 0031
RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY PRIORITY 1073
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 0114
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 1266
RUEHNZ/AMCONSUL AUCKLAND PRIORITY 0286
RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY PRIORITY 0691
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHHJJAA/JICPAC HONOLULU HI PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 SUVA 000002 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/03/2017 
TAGS: PREL MARR PHUM ASEC CASC FJ
SUBJECT: FIJI UPDATE 1/3/07: CJ ON LEAVE; INTERIM PLANS? 
RFMF EVIDENCE OF CORRUPTION NOT YET CONCLUSIVE; BAINIMARAMA 
THANKS CHINA, JAPAN, AND MALAYSIA FRIENDS 
 
REF: 06 SUVA 591 
 
Classified By: Amb. Dinger.  Sec. 1.4 (B,D). 
 
Summary 
------- 
¶1. (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 
interim government to follow quickly.  The RFMF spokesman 
says immunity from prosecution is a key concern.  Bainimarama 
continues to defend the RFMF's intimidation tactics toward 
dissenters.  Some political activists are now under a travel 
ban.  The RFMF's promised New Year's evidence of Qarase 
Government corruption relies on suspect sources.  It is 
possible the accusations are true, but not enough has been 
revealed as yet to make the case.  Bainimarama publicly 
expressed appreciation that China, Japan, and Malaysia have 
not imposed sanctions.  We hear Malaysia is still 
contemplating how to react to the coup.  At the reception 
following the marriage of a Bainimarama daughter last 
weekend, the groom's uncle was bashed to death, reportedly by 
a "senior naval officer."  A police investigation has yet to 
announce findings.  End summary. 
 
Bainimarama sends Chief Justice on leave 
---------------------------------------- 
¶2. (U) In a media statement on Jan. 3, Bainimarama announced 
that Fiji's Chief Justice and Chief Magistrate "have agreed 
to go on leave on full pay" until further notice.  This is to 
"facilitate a full inquiry" into possible abuses in the 
judicial system.  Two associate justices, John Connor and 
Anthony Gates, will handle file management in the meantime. 
Bainimarama said an Acting CJ and Acting CM may be necessary, 
in accordance with the Constitution. 
 
Interim government by mid-January? 
---------------------------------- 
¶3. (U) In an interview on Fijian talk-back radio on Dec. 31, 
Commodore Bainimarama said he will return executive authority 
to President Iloilo before the end of January.  Presumably 
the intent is for Iloilo to then appoint the Army's 
hand-picked interim government.  RFMF spokesman Leweni said 
today a guarantee of immunity to everyone in the RFMF is a 
primary concern.  Iloilo has been in his home village near 
Nadi for the past several days, celebrating his 86th 
birthday.  The military reportedly is carefully controlling 
who can gain access to the President.   A delegation from the 
Great Council of Chiefs unsuccessfully sought access after 
the GCC's late December meeting. 
 
Bainimarama reiterates support for intimidation 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
¶4. (U) In the talk-back discussion, Bainimarama reportedly 
again defended the Fiji military's treatment of dissidents, 
saying that he had given everyone fair warning that he would 
initiate a "clean up," and that he intended to insist that 
the process go forward without dissent.  He said he has left 
the decision-making about who should be called in and how 
they should be treated to the Land Forces Command. 
 
Travel ban on pro-democracy activists 
------------------------------------- 
¶5. (U) The RFMF issued an order to Fiji immigration 
authorities not to permit the six pro-democracy activists 
abused early on Christmas morning to depart the country. 
When one of the six attempted to travel to Australia, 
authorities did not allow her to depart. 
 
Allegations of electoral corruption; dubious sourcing 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
¶6. (U) As forecast (ref), the Fiji military on New Year's day 
publicized video footage and a transcript alleging that PM 
Qarase's SDL Party stuffed ballot boxes in key constituencies 
in order to win last May's elections and that government 
ministers have taken bribes.  Peter Foster, an Australian 
conman, reportedly had conversations with two SDL senior 
officials while wearing a wire, with the RFMF covertly 
filming.  Qarase and the SDL's chief campaign manager have 
 
SUVA 00000002  002 OF 003 
 
 
denied any wrongdoing and have suggested the RFMF should 
provide any evidence to the Police for investigation.  The 
two senior SDL officials deny making the incriminating 
statements attributed to them.  The RFMF promises more 
revelations at "an appropriate time." 
 
¶7. (C) Despite the RFMF spokesman's bombastic lead-up 
suggesting that the tapes and transcripts would provide 
conclusive justification for the Dec. 4 coup, the actual 
evidence so far appears inconclusive, at best.  The alleged 
conversations are reported to have taken place after the 
coup, in the week before Christmas.  SDL sources note that 
Foster and one of the SDL figures shown on tape are both 
under indictments on criminal charges dating from the days of 
the Qarase Government.  The SDL alleges that Foster has 
negotiated a deal with the RFMF: he will manufacture evidence 
in exchange for being freed.  Foster enjoyed the holidays 
with his mother at a rented home in Nadi's exclusive Denarau 
resort complex, even though a Fiji court had insisted he be 
in police custody in Suva.  Foster today said he met with 
Bainimarama two weeks ago, and Bainimarama allegedly agreed 
that, if Foster can provide clear evidence he is innocent, 
the RFMF will provide that evidence to the prosecutor office 
with a request for charges to be dropped. 
 
RFMF says it still has friends 
------------------------------ 
¶8. (U) Bainimarama told the media during the weekend that 
China, Japan, Malaysia, and others are continuing 
relationships with the RFMF, so military-targeted sanctions 
imposed by Australia, New Zealand, the U.S., and the UK are 
not a major concern. 
 
Wedding, murder: Bainimarama saga continues 
------------------------------------------- 
¶9. (C) The wedding of one of Commodore Bainimarama's 
daughters took place on Dec. 30 at Suva's Catholic Cathedral. 
 At the reception that evening, someone beat up an uncle of 
the groom, killing him.  Media sources report the assailant 
was a "senior naval officer."  Police are investigating. 
Observers are watching to see whether "rule of law" applies 
in this criminal case. 
 
Comment 
------- 
¶10. (C) Chief Justice Fatiaki told us just before the coup of 
rumors he was on an RFMF list for removal.  Since the coup, 
rumors have flourished in Suva that two associate justices, 
Nazhat Shameem and Anthony Gates, have been avid Bainimarama 
supporters and advisors.  For several years, Shameem and 
Gates have been vocal with the diplomatic community about 
their dissatisfaction with Fatiaki's leadership.  In 
particular, they have been scathing in their criticism of 
Fatiaki, previous CJ Tuivaga, and another justice for 
allegedly giving legal advice to President Mara on how to 
formally remove PM Chaudhry during the events of 2000.  If 
Shameem and Gates have now provided equivalent advice to 
Bainimarama on how to remove PM Qarase in 2006, it is 
difficult to understand the logic of their turn-around 
concerning the judiciary's proper role. 
 
¶11. (C) It is certainly possible that the SDL attempted to 
augment its votes during last May's elections, although the 
actual count of ballots, as observed by all political parties 
and by international observers, did not reveal any 
eye-popping irregularities in the constituency totals.  If, 
as alleged, the SDL stuffed additional SDL ballots in boxes 
in key urban constituencies without removing ballots cast for 
other parties, one would presume the vote totals in those key 
constituencies would have been unusually high, maybe even 
more than the number registered.  That did not appear to be 
the case, and in several of those constituencies the margins 
were very close.  In some cases the SDL won; in some it lost. 
 The RFMF will need to provide more detailed and credible 
evidence to prove its allegations. 
 
¶12. (C) Bainimarama's mention of China, Japan, and Malaysia 
as continuing benefactors to the RFMF is interesting.  China 
has not spoken out against the coup, and Bainimarama made a 
point of reconfirming Fiji's "one China" pro-PRC policy 
publicly.  The governments of both Japan and Malaysia did 
 
SUVA 00000002  003 OF 003 
 
 
make public statements just after the coup, calling for a 
rapid return to democracy.  Japan's embassy in Suva is closed 
this week.  Malaysia's High Commissioner told us 
Bainimarama's comments were unfortunate.  She said Malaysia 
has decided not to suspend defense cooperation just yet, "but 
that does not mean we approve of what the military has done." 
 She reported that Malaysia will review the situation after 
the first quarter of 2007.  If the RFMF has not taken 
concrete steps to return Fiji to democracy by then, Malaysia 
will consider defense-focused sanctions. 
DINGER