Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MONROVIA1059
2008-12-29 12:17:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Monrovia
Cable title:  

LIBERIA: SUPREME COURT REINSTATES SUSPENDED SENATE

Tags:  PGOV PREL EAID LI 
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VZCZCXRO5944
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHMV #1059 3641217
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 291217Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY MONROVIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0642
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS MONROVIA 001059 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID LI
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: SUPREME COURT REINSTATES SUSPENDED SENATE
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE

REF: A. MONROVIA 619

B. MONROVIA 1049

UNCLAS MONROVIA 001059

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID LI
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: SUPREME COURT REINSTATES SUSPENDED SENATE
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE

REF: A. MONROVIA 619

B. MONROVIA 1049


1. (U) The Supreme Court of Liberia issued an order December
18 calling for the immediate removal of Senator Lahai
Lasannah as Acting Senate President Pro Tempore and the
immediate reinstatement of Suspended Pro Tempore Isaac
Nyenabo. The Senate suspended Nyenabo by simple majority
vote on August 5 for "poor leadership" after a group of
opposition Senators accused him of allowing the Legislature
to be a puppet of the Executive Branch (ref A). The Supreme
Court found that under the Liberian Constitution a Senator
may be removed "for cause" by a two-thirds vote of the
Senate, but that the Constitution provided no mechanism for a
suspension.


2. (U) Associate Supreme Court Justice Jamesetta
Howard-Wolokolie issued a stay order in September 23 on the
suspension, meaning that Isaac Nyenabo should have been
reinstated immediately pending a final Supreme Court ruling
on the matter. Lasannah ignored her order, against the
advice of his attorneys, and refused to give up his Pro
Tempore seat, arguing that the judgment was received too late
to be placed on the agenda before recess and that a vote was
necessary to reinstate Nyenabo after the Senate reconvenes on
January 12. Lasannah's lawyers then abandoned him saying the
case was becoming more political than legal so he had no
representation at the Supreme Court hearing. Lasannah has
asked the Supreme Court to reconsider its ruling given that
he had no attorney during the deliberations, but the Supreme
Court has refused.


3. (SBU) COMMENT. Though Lasannah seems likely to pursue
this case further, his supporters in the Senate appear to
have rallied behind Nyenabo and are becoming more vocal about
his right to lead. Nyenabo represented the Senate as Pro
Tempore at the December 18 International Contact Group on
Liberia meeting. Several Senators present made a point to
refer to him as "President of the Senate" to publicly show
their support for him. Lasannah was invited to the meeting
as Acting Pro Tempore but failed to attend. If the dispute
continues through the opening of the new session, pressing
legislation like the electoral threshold review could be
delayed (ref B). END COMMENT.
THOMAS-GREENFIELD