OPPOSITION LEADER VISA ISSUE PLAYS OUT IN PRESS:

C O N F I D E N T I A L FREETOWN 000203

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W (JHUNTER),CA/VOI, CA/VOL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2019
TAGS: PREL CVIS PGOV PHUM SL
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION LEADER VISA ISSUE PLAYS OUT IN PRESS:
CDA VILIFIED

Classified By: CDA Glenn Fedzer for reasons 1.4 (b/d)


1. (C) Summary: SLPP party leader John Benjamin's potential
inadmissibility to enter the United States has resulted in a
series of attacks on the Embassy and the CDA by outlets
aligned with Benjamin's party. Benjamin is the third member
of the National Provisional Ruling Council (NPRC) junta to
have his admissibility thrown into question by an ongoing ICE
investigation of human rights abuses during the NPRC's reign
in the 1990's. Two prior applicants were turned around upon
arrival, the first in September 2008. The travelers held
valid visas and the inadmissibility was not noted in CLASS.
The decision to advise Benjamin of his potential
inadmissibility was done to avoid an embarrassing fallout,
but backfired when he traveled despite the warning, and was
admitted by ICE under a "differed inspection." Media
articles noted that Benjamin was held and questioned by ICE
upon his arrival to the U.S., while a June 3 article in the
Awareness Times vilifies CDA, wondering if he is a "liability
to Sierra Leone's peace-building process" and an "APC
operative" used to discredit and undermine SLPP leadership,
because of the CDA's attempt to "intimidate" Benjamin from
traveling. Benjamin's still pending case, and the
inconsistent handling of similar cases by ICE, created
considerable credibility issues for Embassy Freetown. The
reasoning behind the media attacks directed at CDA and
Benjamin's motives to discredit CDA and the Embassy remain
opaque - up to this point, Benjamin has been an excellent
contact within the opposition party, and sought--and
received--post assistance during recent political melees.
Benjamin does not have such good relations with other members
of the international community, including the UK. His
handling of the situation was inflammatory and short-sighted,
and it is impossible to predict his future behavior or the
behavior of the often irrational Sierra Leonean press. This
issue will likely continue to be a going concern for the
conceivable future, particularly if ICE ultimately decides to
legally refuse his entry or the Visa Office cancels his visa.
End Summary.

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CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS
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2. (C) Following the detention and return of General Komba
Mondeh (currently the Assistant Chief of Defense
Staff-Operations) in September 2008, post communicated
concerns with ICE officials regarding Sierra Leoneans entered
in the TECS database by ICE but without a corresponding CLASS
entry. Mondeh's entry refusal resulted in a scathing
diplomatic note and request for an official apology, and post
identified a need to determine how best to address similar
refusals at the border in future, particularly ones, like
Mondeh, that have a deleterious impact on USG political
capital. When presented with the list of Sierra Leoneans
under investigation for their roles in the NPRC coup,
prominent Sierra Leoneans in positions of power were
identified, including Benjamin and Kellie Conteh, current
National Security Council czar. The potential for political
fallout if such individuals are denied entry into the United
States is significant, particularly as such incidents would
receive extremely vocal (and likely inaccurate) media
attention. Further, individuals like Mondeh, Conteh, and
Benjamin are contacts on critical issues with regards to
security and the political climate, and however deserved a
refusal into the U.S. may be, would be viewed by them as
insults. Post opted to be pro-active in handling these
situations to preserve needed communication links with these
interlocutors.


3. (C) Knowing that some alleged human rights violators are
in the TECS, but not CLASS, system, CDA made an inquiry with
CA/VO/I and ICE regarding the status of a number of
individuals, including members of a Vice Presidential
delegation, Benjamin, and Conteh. VO passed to the CDA that
Conteh and Benjamin are ineligible for entry. At the behest
of CDA, Consul asked CA if these individuals could be
informed of their inadmissibility: an affirmative response
was received. In an effort to ensure that the potential
denial of Benjamin, in particular, would not be identified as
politically motivated, CDA informed Benjamin of his status on
May 30. Despite stating that he would postpone a planned May
31 trip to the U.S., Benjamin chose to go ahead with his
original plans. Post learned that Benjamin had attempted
entry into the U.S. via AF/W on June 1, and subsequently
learned that his case is pending and he entered the U.S. and
is free to travel within the country until his hearing on
July 2.


4. (C) Subsequent press reporting has varied from probing to

scathing, June 2 articles commented on Benjamin's treatment
in the U.S., with several stating that APC members had
"hoodwinked" the USG into believing that Benjamin was
involved in the December, 1992 massacre. Others stated that
U.S. diplomats had attempted to persuade him not to travel,
likely working on behalf of the APC party. A particularly
damning article appearing on June 3 identified CDA as the
culprit, questioning his intentions and credentials, and
inferring the use of intimidation tactics. The article
promises a further indictment of CDA on June 4.

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COMMENT
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5. (C) Post will work with CA/VO and ICE to ensure that
information regarding alleged human rights abusers is moved
into the CLASS system, and that the final adjudication on
Benjamin's case moves forward. Post will also collaborate
with ICE on the issue of consistency, as the previous
refusals and returns of others relative to Benjamin's
treatment is notable and problematic. Benjamin's motivations
for using this incident to strengthen his own political image
is unsurprising, but his underhanded support of an attack
against the CDA remains opaque. The SLPP party has frequently
targeted the international community as their enemy,
including 2007 allegations that Koroma was elected due to
diplomatic pressure on the National Electoral Commission for
the "right" result. Benjamin has limited links to other
diplomatic members, and only phoned emboffs on the evening of
March 13 when his party office was attacked. Why he would
choose to attack the CDA's well-intentioned
information-sharing is a mystery, but the SLPP can now add
another diplomatic mission to the list of those who view the
SLPP with skeptical caution. End Comment.
FEDZER