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 FREETOWN 00000121 002 OF 002 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