LIBERIA: RULING PARTY EXECUTIVES HOLD EXTRAORDINARY

UNCLAS MONROVIA 000567

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM LI
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: RULING PARTY EXECUTIVES HOLD EXTRAORDINARY
SESSION

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION.

REF: A) MONROVIA 487 B) MONROVIA 549


1. (SBU) SUMMARY. Over 100 executive members of the ruling Unity
Party (U.P.),including President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, attended a
one-day extraordinary party conference on July 11. Party executives
agreed to hold a national convention in October 2009 where all
leadership positions will be contested. Party leaders also
officially endorsed the U.P.'s merger with the Liberia Action Party
(LAP) and the Liberia Unification Party (LUP) and commended the
Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) for its successful
conclusion. The occurrence of an October 2009 party conference
aimed at consolidating the merger under new leadership is further
evidence that President Sirleaf will likely run for re-election.
END SUMMARY.

EXTRAORIDNARY SESSION SOLIDIFIES PARTY EXPANSION
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2. (SBU) Executives of the Unity Party (U.P.) ratified by general
consensus, the article of merger signed with the Liberia Action
Party (LAP) and the Liberia Unification Party (LUP) in a one-day
extraordinary party conference on July 11. (NOTE. The expanded
party is expected to maintain the "Unity Party" label. END NOTE.)
U.P.'s merger with the LAP and the LUP has made the holding of a
national convention imperative. U.P. Secretary General Henry B.
Fahnbulleh told Political Assistant that the three constituent parts
of the enlarged U.P. agreed during merger talks to bring the party's
convention, originally scheduled for mid-2010, forward to October

2009. Members will elect new party leaders, but Fahnbulleh did not
say which positions will be awarded to the LUP and LAP. Fahbulleh
also said that U.P. Chairman Charles Clarke will step down as party
chairman during the convention.

NATIONAL CONVENTION TO BE HELD IN TAYLOR STRONGHOLD
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3. (SBU) The National Convention is expected to attract more than
500 delegates from the 16 counties to Gbarnga in Bong County. The
U.P. hopes to build support in a region that has been a stronghold
of former President Charles Taylor's supporters and his National
Patriotic Party (NPP). Taylor's ex- wife Jewel Howard-Taylor is
also the county's senior senator and the U.P. hopes to cut into the
Taylors' local base.


4. (SBU) The U.P.'s next Chairman and Secretary General are expected
be drawn from the LAP and LUP. The question remains whether Vice
President Joseph Boakai will be President Sirleaf's running mate
during her likely 2011 election campaign or be replaced by another
politician, such as LAP former presidential candidate Varney
Sherman, to consolidate the expanded party. Sirleaf is reported to
have called on "some officials of her party to swallow the bitter
pill" and make way for officials of the LUP and LAP. At the same
time, Sirleaf has maintained public support for her vice president.

U.P. COMMENDS TRC AND PRESIDENT SIRLEAF
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5. (U) During the extraordinary session, party executives commended
TRC commissioners on the completion of their mandate and release of
their final report (Ref A). The leadership also encouraged
partisans not to make disparaging statements against TRC
commissioners and employees. They acknowledged that doing so would
be counterproductive to U.P. ideals and aspirations.


6. (U) At the end of the one-day session, U.P. leaders presented a
seven-point resolution to President Sirleaf in which they renewed
their support for her administration, calling it "excellent." They
also reaffirmed the party's "abiding faith in her ability as she
continues to steer the affairs of the state." They also directed
the national secretariat of the party to expeditiously reactivate
all of the party's branches and offices throughout the country.


7. (SBU) COMMENT. Even though President Sirleaf has not publicly
declared her intention to contest the 2011 elections, the
unflinching support and loyalty pledged to her by executives of the
party is yet another veiled indication that she intends to run for
re-election. The U.P. seems to be embarking upon an early strategic
plan aimed at concentrating its efforts on Gbarnga and outlying
provinces to undermine support for former President Charles Taylor
and his wife. President Sirleaf has focused attention on this
region by selecting Gbarnga as the site of this year's July 26
Independence Day celebration (Ref B). We expect the October
convention to fully seal the merger with the LAP and LUP by placing
officials from these parties into the U.P.'s leadership and lay the
foundation for Sirleaf's re-election effort. END COMMENT.

THOMAS-GREENFLELD