AN IRON FIST IN A VELVET GLOVE: FIRST LADY VISITS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 FREETOWN 000121

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W (JHUNTER/ESPRUILL)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/31/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR ASEC SL
SUBJECT: AN IRON FIST IN A VELVET GLOVE: FIRST LADY VISITS
AMBASSADOR, DISCUSSES POLITICAL VIOLENCE

REF: A. FREETOWN 99

B. FREETOWN 110

C. FREETOWN 115

Classified By: Ambassador June Carter Perry for reasons 1.4 (b/d)


1. (C) Summary: First Lady Sia Koroma called on Ambassador
Perry on March 28 at the CMR to apologize for the threats
made against the Ambassador in an online APC blog, as well as
offer her views on the opposition party and their culpability
in the March 13 and 16 incidents (reftel A). Koroma also used
the meeting as an opportunity to discuss the health causes
near to her heart. Though she has not played an extremely
active role in politicking for her husband or the APC party,
her profile has been raised in recent months through
attendance and hosting of events related to various social
causes. Koroma clearly called on the Ambassador as a
political emissary to reinforce messages already provided by
the President and Foreign Minister (reftel C). Showing her
loyalty to the APC cause, Koroma showed no restraint in
deriding the SLPP party and dismissing the alleged sexual
assaults of female SLPP supporters on the 16th. The First
Lady's image as a nurse and mother is usually used to portray
the "softer side" of the government; her remarks during the
meeting instead displayed her vehement partisanship. Accused
of intimidation and harassment against female SLPP and
independent candidates during the 2008 local council
elections, her behavior during the March 28 meeting
demonstrated a great deal of steel behind a sweet and
maternal public image. End Summary.


2. (C) The First Lady began by stating that she was visiting
the Ambassador on behalf of herself and her husband, the
President. They both wanted to extend another apology for the
embarrassing article written by Mohamed Aziz Nabe (reftel B)
which they claimed was not an authorized APC site. The
Koromas were troubled by the article and wanted the
Ambassador to know that the ideas expressed are not a
reflection of the opinions of the President or his
administration. Koroma wanted to assure the Ambassador that
the President is dedicated to his development agenda and that
he will not allow people like Nabe to destabilize the
country. The Ambassador thanked Mrs. Koroma for the comments
and her taking the time to come to the CMR. She also
reiterated the message that Sierra Leone must be united
across party, ethnic, and regional lines to ensure the
continued upward trajectory of development progress. The
First Lady invited the Ambassador to come to the Presidential
Lodge at any time and plans to host a dinner for COM and the
First Couple's daughters (Note: The First Lady also plans to
attend the African First Ladies Health Summit in Los Angeles
in April. End note).


3. (C) Beyond the apology, Koroma provided similar comments
made by the Foreign Minister and others regarding what they
view to be the SLPP deliberately destabilizing the country.
The First Lady claimed that the government believes the SLPP
is trying to distract and discredit the APC in order to avoid
being "brought to justice" for their own past crimes. She
vaguely noted an incident in the past when several SLPP
operatives murdered a number of APC supporters (Note: Post
could not ascertain what event she was referring to. End
Note). Koroma believes that the SLPP is worried they will
eventually be put on trial for these types of incidents, and
are trying to discredit the APC with the public and the
international community before that can happen. She also
claimed that the alleged rapes at the SLPP headquarters on
March 16 did not take place, and that the rumors were the
work of a few "wicked women" within the SLPP who know what
buttons to push to upset the international community. Koroma
said that the government was conducting a thorough
investigation into the allegations and will prosecute
whomever they find to be responsible for starting the rumors.
She did not say, however, that the rapes themselves are being
investigated as potential crimes. In response to a question
about Deputy Minister of Social Welfare Jenneh Kandeh's
assertion to the dip corps that her press release on violence
against women had been banned in the media, Koroma said that
Kandeh was lying and one of the problematic elements in the
APC party.


4. (C) Koroma also provided new information regarding her own
background. She discussed the 16 years she spent living in
Kono with her family. Her father had been placed in Kono as
Deputy Director of Mining Operations when the APC was
previously in power and was eventually promoted to Director
in Freetown. He later became a minister within the Kabbah
administration. Koroma has roots in the Eastern District and
is well respected in the South due to her family connections.
She claimed to have many friends and relatives within the

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SLPP party, and assured the Ambassador that she does not have
a regional bias. The First Lady also mentioned her own
science background. Before becoming a nurse, Koroma was a
chemist with a petroleum company for 8 years, according to
her account. She seems interested in getting more involved in
the energy sector and apparently was due to be involved in a
meeting to be held later on March 28 between the President
and Anadarko representatives (Note: Anadarko is a U.S.-based
oil company planning to begin exploratory offshore drilling
in August, 2009. End note).


5. (C) Comment: The First Lady was direct and focused
throughout the meeting, clearly acting as a representative of
the President. Her message though, wavered between declaring
herself an advocate of bipartisan politics and acting as a
hard-line APC supporter. While she claimed pride in her SLPP
roots, she slammed the party on a number of occasions, using
words to describe them like "wicked," "liars," and
"agitators." The First Lady was implicated in alleged
harassment and threats against SLPP and independent female
candidates in Kono during the 2008 local council elections,
and her behavior during the meeting did nothing to alter the
viewpoint that she is more than capable of being a fierce and
partisan political actor. Certainly, Koroma is doing little
to reinforce the need for unity and tolerance across party
lines. Though her influence with the President appears to ebb
and flow depending on whether or not he is engaged in an
outside dalliance, her connections in Kono and other
districts should not be discounted in terms of her
significance to the Koroma presidency. Whispers in 2007 and
2008 suggested that Sia Koroma represents, along with Vice
President Sam Sumana, the strong-arm side of the Executive.
Her reaction to the APC-SLPP party clashes are at least a
small indication that there is validity to these claims. We
consider it important to continue our relationship with the
First Lday and to reinforce our message of national unity and
progress. End Comment.
PERRY