WikiLeaks cable: NZ: PIF to suspend Fiji on May 2
May 1, 2009 New Zealand: PIF to suspend Fiji on May 2
date:2009-05-01T04:32:00 source:Embassy Wellington origin:09WELLINGTON107 destination:VZCZCXRO4018 PP RUEHCHI RUEHFK
RUEHHM RUEHKSO RUEHPB DE RUEHWL #0107/01 1210432 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 010432Z MAY 09 FM AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON TO
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5849 INFO RUEHZU/ASIAN PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION PRIORITY RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
PRIORITY 5504 RUEHSV/AMEMBASSY SUVA PRIORITY 0864 RUEHBN/AMCONSUL MELBOURNE PRIORITY 0136 RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY
PRIORITY 0836 RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY classification:CONFIDENTIAL reference: ?C O N F I D E N T I A L
SECTION 01 OF 02 WELLINGTON 000107
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STATE FOR EAP/ANP E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/01/2024 TAGS: PREL, KDEM, P... ?C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02
WELLINGTON 000107
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STATE FOR EAP/ANP E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/01/2024 TAGS: PREL, KDEM, PGOV, NZ SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND: PIF TO SUSPEND FIJI ON
MAY 2
Classified By: Acting DCM Margaret B. McKean; Reason 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (U) On May 1, Australian media reported that Fijian military leader Bainimarama offered to hold a summit with
Australia and New Zealand to persuade both countries that Bainimarama's proposed timetable for a return to democracy in
Fiji is necessary. Bainimarama further predicted that other PIF members would not support Fiji's suspension from the
Pacific Island Forum (PIF). (Note: If the PIF does agree to suspend Fiji, it will be the first time that a PIF member
state is suspended. End Note.) In remarks to the press on April 30, New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully assured
reporters that Fiji's suspension will be automatic as of May 2 because Fiji has not met the May 1 deadline for setting
an election date by year's end -- as demanded by the Pacific Island Forum leaders earlier this year. McCully further
added that the PIF Secretariat would remain in Suva for the time being, noting that any retaliatory action by the Fijian
authorities that affects PIF operations likely would prompt further review among member states. McCully's statements
follow on Fijian Attorney General Sayed-Khaiyum's April 29 statements concluding that the Forum would not suspend Fiji.
McCully's response to the Attorney General's remarks was "I admire his optimism."
2. (U) Bainimarama's media remarks affirmed that he has no plans for an early election, and reiterated the call for a
2014 election date. The Fijian military leader said that an election in 2009 would only return former Fijian Prime
Minister Qarase to power, and that the latter cannot be allowed to resume the leadership of Fiji. Bainimarama asked
Australia and New Zealand to drop their demands for 2009 elections, and called on the other PIF states to not listen to
Australia and New Zealand. He also credited U.S. Representative Eni Faleomavaega with having a better understanding of
the situation in Samoa and that Faleomavaega's views, rather than those of Australia and New Zealand, should form the
basis of USG policy towards Fiji.
3. (C) A/DCM contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) Pacific Division on May 1, and spoke with Fiji
desk officer Brian Hewson about next steps. The MFAT official said that the Ministry had received a draft letter from
the Forum Chair (Niuean Prime Minister Tolagi) confirming Fiji's suspension on May 2 after the deadline of May 1 had
passed. The letter would note the Forum's deep regret that the regime in Suva did not take the actions recommended by
Forum leaders, and as a consequence, the PIF leaders have no choice but to confirm Fiji's suspension from PIF
activities.
4. (C) Hewson noted that New Zealand will not issue a statement in response to Bainimarama's summit proposal or anything
further on the Forum's action until after the Forum Chair makes the news public -- which will likely be May 2. MFAT has
concluded that Bainimarama's recent statements and summit proposal were a last-ditch effort to delay suspension and try
to drive a wedge between Australia and New Zealand on the one hand, and the rest of the PIF members. He also stated that
the summit proposal was an attempt to convince a naive audience that Fiji is willing to engage and only Australia and
New Zealand are the problem. Hewson said that Bainimarama had floated a similar proposal before, and referred to the
period just prior to the expulsion of the New Zealand acting High Commissioner in late 2008 when the Fiji authorities'
offered to send a three-person delegation to New Zealand to sort out differences. Hewson confirmed that a summit meeting
with Fiji on Bainimarama's terms was a non-starter.
5. (C) New Zealand and Australia are consulting closely on Fiji, said Hewson, particularly with respect to what the
post-May 1 environment will be like after the suspension is announced. Neither country has a clear idea as to how the
Fijian authorities will react and whether some of the small island states who are dependent on Fiji for transport and
other linkages will be negatively affected.
6. (C) The British High Commissioner recently had lunch with FM McCully, who reportedly said that it may be time to push
Fiji down the list of priority issues until conditions allow for improved engagement. He allegedly indicated that
perhaps things need to get much worse in Fiji before Fijians themselves decide to create the circumstances under which
the international community can help things improve. WELLINGTON 00000107 002 OF 002
KEEGAN
ENDS