WikiLeaks cable: NZ worries about Bainimarama
This is one of the cables about New Zealand held by Wikileaks.
April 13, 2007 SUBJECT: GNZ WORRIES BAINIMARAMA IS IN A HOLE AND STILL DIGGING
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission David J. Keegan, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) The GNZ worries that interim PM Bainimarama is increasingly fragile and his actions risk throwing the country
into armed conflict. Heather Riddell, Director of the Pacific Division, calls Bainimarama's measures restricting the
Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) "loopy."
Bainimarama has now cut himself off from Fiji's traditional power base. This will circumscribe his support base and will
add to perceptions that he is running a Fijian Indian agenda. Riddell observes it seems unlikely Bainimarama will be
able to dig himself out of this hole, and he may become more desperate as a result.
2. (C) While the GCC is ridden with factions and some Fijians dislike it, most will be shocked by Bainimarama's actions.
Riddell is particularly concerned that the measures may make an intra-military reaction more likely, and the result
could be violent mutiny and other bloodshed.
3. (C) Comment. While we are not in a position to assess MFAT,s concern over possible mutiny and bloodshed, New
Zealand,s analysis and predictions on Fiji have proven exceptionally reliable over the past few months.
McCormick
ENDS