MGLE01: SLEIMAN FRANJIEH ANNOUNCES "MARADA," A

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 001892 SIPDIS SIPDIS NSC FOR ABRAMS/WERNER/DORAN/SINGH E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/13/2016 TAGS: KDEM SOCI PINS KISL LE SY SUBJECT: MGLE01: SLEIMAN FRANJIEH ANNOUNCES "MARADA," A NEW PARTY WITH AN OLD FACE Classified By: JEFFREY FELTMAN, AMBASSADOR. REASON: SECTION 1.4 (B). ¶1. (C) Summary: On June 11, Sleiman Franjieh announced his new political party named "Marada." The announcement was made as Franjieh commemorated the anniversary of the murder, presumably by Lebanese Forces militia, of his family in June ¶1978. The party seems to be a personality cult that encompasses Franjieh supporters who oppose the government. Franjieh promised support to Michel Aoun and to Hizballah in their struggle to undermine the GOL. The party has chosen the Greek letter and mathematical symbol pi as its emblem. The logic of the choice is that Franjieh, like the constant pi, is unchanging no matter what the circumstance in which he finds himself. However, like the symbol pi, it may be impossible to discern the absolute value of this new political formation. End summary. FRANJIEH--AN OLD FACE AND MESSAGE WITH NEW COLORS -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On Sunday June 11, the roads from Beirut to the northern city of Zgharta were clogged with traffic. Buses of young people waved green banners from car windows and trucks plastered with photos of Sleiman Franjieh, Michel Aoun, and Hassan Nasrallah sped along the highway. By the start of the rally, there were almost 50,000 people in Zgharta to welcome the birth of Sleiman Franjieh's new opposition party. Franjieh struck a reasoned and conciliatory pose while addressing the crowd. He spoke about the need for reform and sacrifice for the future of Lebanon. Franjieh also pledged his own support for the armed resistance of Hizballah. The crowd was delighted with this commitment to Hizballah. ¶3. (SBU) The rally was also attended by a collection of anti-government and pro-Syria political figures. Northern Sunni leader Omar Karame and Druse minority leader Talal Arslan were among those who showed up to express their solidarity with Franjieh's new movement. Both Karame and Arslan used the podium to blast the government for its failures, and to praise Hizballah for its continued armed resistance. During the speeches, the crowd waved the pistachio green banner of Franjieh, along with Aoun's orange and Arslan's green and white. Others held up pictures of Hassan Nasrallah and Michel Aoun. THE SPEECH: NO RESORT TO THE BLOOD OF THE MARTYRS -------------- ¶4. (C) Michel Aoun aide Gebran Basile attended the rally. He told us he was impressed by the turnout and by the positive remarks with which Franjieh opened the event. Although Franjieh was also marking the anniversary of the June 13, 1978 slaughter of his family, he avoided using the murders as a political device. Basile said that the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) of Michel Aoun will work with Franjieh, but the FPM does not consider this new party to be its formal ally. He admitted that Franjieh, with his political background and heritage, is a strong friend of Michel Aoun. Moreover, Basile added, "he has learned a lot from us." ¶5. (C) March 14 movement MP Boutros Harb saw the rally as further evidence of Syrian manipulation of the Lebanese political scene. Speaking in favor of the new party, Marwan Abu Fadil, an aide to Talal Arslan, told us that he was impressed with Franjieh's popularity in his home area. Abu Fadil credited Franjieh with turning away from his own bloody past to look for a future for Lebanon. COMMENT: FRANJIEH IS STILL WITH US -------------- ¶6. (C) Franjieh's party is a northern affair, almost tribal in that it speaks for a specific minority within the Christian community. Franjieh is the entire party leadership and steering committee. His vision for Lebanon, and close association with Damascus, represent nothing new in the way of ideas or political direction. However, Franjieh is not a leader who can be dismissed as merely an unimaginative, stooge of Syria. Northerners, Christian and Sunni, are dissatisfied with what they see as the indifference shown them by the parliamentary majority. Suh people may rally to Franjieh. ¶7. (C) Aounists tell us that they do not consider Franjieh BEIRUT 00001892 002 OF 002 an ally, just a friend with common goals. When Franjieh first broached the idea of starting his own partQPolChief asked him why he did not simply join Michel Aoun's party. Franjieh balked at the idea of associating himself with another leader, even one with whom he agrees. End comment. FELTMAN