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

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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