AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH PMDC PARTY LEADER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 FREETOWN 000323 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W (JHUNTER) E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/17/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR SL SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH PMDC PARTY LEADER REF: A. 08 FREETOWN 524 ¶B. FREETOWN 255 Classified By: Ambassador June Carter Perry for reasons 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Charles Margai, leader of the PMDC party, at his request, called on Ambassador Perry August 13 (Poloff participated in the meeting). He discussed his views on a variety of topics, including political tolerance, corruption, and the role of the international community in Sierra Leone. This meeting came on the heels of the PMDC party convention, amid media reports that the party is disintegrating. Mr. Margai's comments were provocative and often contradictory, and though he plans to "be in State House in 2012," the ongoing question remains as to whether his party will survive another year, let alone propel him into the President's Office. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Charles Margai met with Ambassador Perry on August 13 to share his thoughts on a number of issues and present her with copies of PMDC position papers. Margai, the grandson and son of two Sierra Leonean presidents, has led the PMDC party since it splintered from the SLPP in 2005. He gave his support to Koroma in the APC-SLPP run-off election in 2007, and opened his remarks with the Ambassador by criticizing the "systemic pattern of behavior" between the APC and the SLPP. He alluded to the March 2009 riots, saying that one must always "tread cautiously with political activities" in Africa, and that political intolerance must end before the 2012 elections. He then stated that political problems stem from party leaders, not its youth, and that the international community should focus on continued dialogue between the leaders, rather than at a grass-roots level. He agreed with Ambassador that the communications gap between the parties must be closed. ¶3. (C) Margai focused most of his attention on the international community (IC),saying that it "treats us like babies...as soon as we cry, they put a bottle in our mouths." He also said that he doesn't believe in "partnership" in development, since the nomenclature implies a reciprocal relationship that doesn't exist. He wondered why the IC doesn't' send a stronger message to Guinea, Niger, and Burma, asking why the IC does not "force peace down their throats." He said that "(rogue) countries know that they will be taken back into the fold." At the same time, he said the IC has a 
"case to answer," stating that endemic issues like corruption, and emerging issues such as piracy, are the IC's fault. Ambassador responded that President Obama's recent speech in Ghana made it clear that African countries have to take responsibility for their actions. Development, she added, will depend on countries' own commitment to issues. He also stated that the IC should give subvention to the three political parties to promote tolerance (Note: Earlier in the conversation he voiced his opinions that the parties should not be funded by tolerance-supporting activities. End Note). ¶4. (C) He then turned his attention to the issue of corruption, saying that the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is doing a poor job. He argued that they are too focused on the "small-fry" and that they are not worth the cost of conviction. Despite this criticism, he mentioned "off the record" that the ACC had intended to file charges against four Cabinet members, but was stopped by the President. Margai said that the judiciary is an embarrassment, and that judges should be making at least USD 5000/month, tax-free, to prevent bribing. He also advocated bringing back a West African Court of Appeal, to further stem judicial corruption. As an attorney, he believes that the survival of the state is dependent on the rule of law. He said that Sierra Leone is "150 years behind modern times." Ambassador Perry pointed out that countries from Malaysia to Rwanda had faced serious development and human rights challenges, yet had overcome them to thrive despite their history. Margai acknowledged the success of the countries cited, but did not offer positive steps that Sierra Leone might take to advance. ¶5. (C) Margai is currently fighting to hold his party together. The recent convention included his re-election as party leader, though he has faced mounting criticism and diminishing popularity from party members. Many continue to blame him for the PMDC's poor showing in the 2007 and 2008 elections, and reportedly many have lost faith in Margai's ability to take them from being the country's "third political voice" to a government majority position (reftel A). There have been a number of resignations from the party in the past year, and these have continued despite the convention, which was meant to re-unify the party. He has also been criticized for his response to the Parliamentary Report that was issued following Minister of Land Dennis Sandy's accusations against the Majority Leader for illegal FREETOWN 00000323 002 OF 002 land-grabbing (reftel B). The Report stated that Minister Sandy, a PMDC member, presented insufficient proof to support his accusations and should apologize to Majority Leader Turay and Parliament. Margai publicly discounted the Report, questioned the legality of Parliament's drafting it in the first place, and said that a PMDC Cabinet Member would never apologize to Members of Parliament. His response has been largely denounced and ridiculed, though President Koroma is allegedly planning a Cabinet-level investigation into the whole affair to put an end to the controversy. ¶6. (C) Comment: Margai is a smooth orator, but his legal training makes him prone to arguing both sides of an issue: it was difficult to determine his actual opinions. He made no reference to the difficulties his party is facing, and his assertion that he will become President in 2012 seems overly optimistic given that his popularity within even the PMDC is waning. The regular criticism levied against Margai is that he represents his family's political dynasty, and not the PMDC party. His charm and education notwithstanding, he continues to show little aptitude for leadership that represents interests outside of his own. End Comment. PERRY