ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS FROM THE FIJI SUN
From the U.S. Ambassador, H.E. Larry Dinger.

MR: Friday, May 02, 2008

1. What is the US government’s position on the current interim administration?

Answer: The United States has had a long and friendly relationship with Fiji.  However, the U.S. has opposed Fiji’s four coups, including the one in December 2006.  The U.S. believes Fiji needs to return to a democratically elected government as rapidly as possible.  In that regard, we have harmonized our approach with Fiji’s neighbors in the Pacific Islands Forum.  In general in the world, the U.S. believes an unelected government installed by coup lacks a mandate from the people, and does not have the sorts of checks and balances in place that a democratic government provides. 

2. What are the repercussions for Fiji if the general election is not conducted by March next year?

Answer: The United States was encouraged when interim PM Bainimarama pledged to Pacific Island Forum leaders last October in Tonga that the interim government will organize free and fair elections under the 1997 Constitution by March 2009, with all parties able to participate, and with the military abiding by the results.  A delay in the election would raise concerns about the interim government’s intentions.  It would also further discourage an economic turn-around in Fiji.

3. Would the US accept a deferment of election taking into account that voter registration has not even taken place?

Answer: The Interim Government has assured the diplomatic community, as recently as last Thursday, that everything necessary to hold a valid election by March 2009 can still be done in time and the elections will take place by then.  It is important, though, for the interim government and election institutions to move ahead promptly.

4. How has the 2006 takeover affected USA trade with Fiji?

Answer: Trade has continued, particularly Fiji’s exports of bottled water and tuna.  The big problem is investment.  Foreign investors have choices around the world, and, as has been the case since the coup, many investors are looking to other nations where rule of law is more secure.  Even within Fiji, quite a few businessmen have told me they have postponed new investments.   Investment means jobs; lack of investment means jobs lost.

5. How much has Fiji lost because of strained economic relations with the USA as a result of the coup?

Answer: I don’t have a dollar figure, but I recall a high degree of American interest in investing in Fiji’s tourism, agricultural, and other sectors before the coup.  Since the coup, very few potential investors have been stopping by my office.  Once a stable democracy is in place, Fiji has the potential to have a thriving tourism industry, with American investor support.

6. What sort of American aid is still in place for Fiji?

Answer:  U.S. humanitarian, environmental, and human-rights-oriented assistance to Fiji continues.  For instance, we helped fund the recent archeological excavations at Burewa.  However, as we clearly signaled to the RFMF beforehand, the U.S. halted military assistance to Fiji after the coup.  Under U.S. law, military education, peacekeeping assistance, and equipment sales will not resume until democratic elections have returned a lawful government to power.  Some other U.S. military cooperation could re-commence if the interim government takes sufficient concrete steps on the road back to democracy.   Visa sanctions remain in place on senior interim-government and military leaders.  While RFMF deployments to UN peacekeeping operations and to the Multinational Force of Observers in the Sinai continue, the U.S. announced it would not support new RFMF peacekeeping commitments.  In that light, after the coup, the U.S. declined a request by the RFMF to participate in the Coalition of the Willing in Iraq. 

7. Taking into account the Reserve Bank of Fiji's downgraded economic forecast, how can Fiji come out of this economic slump it is currently in?

Answer: The U.S. view is that much of Fiji’s current economic slump is directly related to the coup and the interim government’s approach to economic issues since then.  The solution is for Fiji to return to democratic governance at the earliest possible date.  That would dramatically increase business confidence in Fiji.

8. What is the USA’s concern about human rights breaches in this country?

Answer:  As noted in the State Department’s annual Human Rights Report on Fiji, the human-rights situation deteriorated greatly with the coup.  Beatings and deaths in custody are indefensible.  Lack of democratic governance, and inhibitions on freedoms of speech, the media, and assembly remain serious problems.   Secretary of State Rice’s presentation of the International Women of Courage Award to Virisila Buadromo in March accented deep U.S. respect for brave champions of human rights in Fiji.  The U.S. continues to urge adherence to the rule of law, full protection of human rights, and a rapid return to democratic governance through peaceful means.

9. How has Fiji’s relation with China affected diplomatic relations with the USA? Is the USA concerned?

Answer: Fiji and China have every right to have cordial diplomatic relations.  China is a Pacific power with Pacific interests, just like the United States.  And China can be a very positive force in international affairs by taking a responsible leadership role.  It is in the interest of both the U.S. and China to work together to ensure the Pacific achieves a peaceful and prosperous future.  Thus, the U.S. has encouraged China to be a responsible international stakeholder, to use its influence and foreign assistance in a manner that promotes transparency and good governance in its relationships in the Pacific and throughout the world.

10.  How has FIRCA’s treatment of US company Natural Waters of Viti Limited affected Fiji’s trade relations with the USA?

Answer: The United States strongly believes that foreign nations must provide a level playing field under the rule of law for American companies.  That applies to Fiji Water in Fiji.  The interim government’s approach has created a significant concern, including for other potential international investors.  Fiji Water’s offer to submit the “transfer pricing” dispute to binding arbitration appears to be a sensible solution.  We still hope FIRCA and the interim government will seize that opportunity.  It will come as no surprise that the current U.S. Investment Climate Statement for Fiji is not encouraging.

11.  What is your view on the role of the military in the running of this country?

Answer: The United States is convinced that the only proper role of the military in a democracy is to be subservient to the lawfully elected government.   The people need to choose who leads them via free elections.   And the people in a democracy have the opportunity to change leadership if necessary via such elections.  The U.S. believes force of arms is not a legitimate way to replace a democratic government.

12.  You toured most of the polling stations during the 2006 election, was it a free and fair election? What is the basis of claims by the interim regime that the 2006 was not free and fair?

Answer:  Embassy Suva toured quite a number of polling stations in 2006.  I personally visited numerous polling sites in Nadroga, Ba, Tailevu, Macuata, and Suva.  Others from the embassy went elsewhere.  We observed some problems, and those were publicly discussed at the time.  Every election everywhere has some problems.  But on the whole, we concluded that the election was reasonably free and fair. 

13.  Should Fiji remove the communal roll at next year’s election? Why?

Answer:  A nation’s choice of an electoral system is inevitably a very political process.  That was true in the early years of the United States.  It is true of Fiji.  I observed the development of the 1997 Fiji Constitution and the political compromises that quite openly occurred in order to give the various parties sufficient confidence in the system to garner acceptance by Parliament.  In the end, Parliament unanimously accepted the Constitution and its electoral system.  The United States believes democratic electoral systems can differ in their particulars, and certainly nations can change their systems if the people feel the need.  The key, though, is for any changes to reflect the collective will of the people, to be done legally and inclusively.  In Fiji’s case, the 1997 Constitution mandates the process via sufficient majorities in Parliament.

14.  Will Fiji ever lose the coup culture?

Answer: I certainly hope so.  I recall military leaders in 1996-1999 telling me with assurance that they had learned the lesson from 1987: no more coups.  When I returned to Fiji in 2005, a number of military leaders said no doubt, after the experiences of 1987 and 2000: no more coups.  Yet in 2006 another coup took place, despite intense efforts locally and by the international community to remind how negative a coup would be for Fiji, politically, economically, and culturally.  The U.S. hope is that the RFMF’s and the interim government’s difficulties in sustaining an economy, the reality that the racial divide in Fiji has deepened rather than healed, and the general inability to gain legitimacy after the 2006 coup will sink home for RFMF leaders of the future: coups are bad for Fiji and are bad for the RFMF as an institution, too.

15.  How can Fiji get rid of its coup culture?

Answer:  No particular piece of paper will guarantee the end of coups.  In the U.S. view, the military leadership in any country with a coup culture needs to come to accept that elected civilian leaders are the ones to lead.  If a military officer disagrees with elected civilian leadership and can’t by force of argument convince the civilian leadership to change its view, the only appropriate options are for the military officer to salute or resign.  The U.S. believes any military officer who wants to govern should accept that the only course is to leave the military, put on a suit, and run for office.  Then people can either give support or not in the voting booths.  In the U.S., several ex-generals have become President, most recently Dwight Eisenhower in the 1950s.  All of them retired from the military before entering politics and winning a popular mandate via elections. 

16.  Your second term as Ambassador to Fiji is nearing its end, what is your parting message to the current government?

Answer: The United States will always be a friend of Fiji, and, as a friend, we urge the interim government to make sure nobody hinders the free and fair elections promised for March 2009.  With the return of democracy, the United States and others will gladly work closely with the civilian government to build a better Fiji for all.  Certainly that is our common interest.

17. What will you miss most about Fiji?

Answer:  My family and I have lived in Suva for a total of nearly six years.  My youngest child has lived here longer than he has lived anywhere else, including in the U.S.  Fiji is a beautiful country; but what we will miss most is the people, the friends we have made, and more broadly the really nice people from all sectors of society who, despite political and economic turmoil, have made living here a pleasure.

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