Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BEIRUT1892
2006-06-12 15:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:  

MGLE01: SLEIMAN FRANJIEH ANNOUNCES "MARADA," A

Tags:  KDEM SOCI PINS KISL LE SY 
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PP RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK
DE RUEHLB #1892/01 1631502
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 121502Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3996
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
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).

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