LIBERIA - FORMER WARLORD TO RUN FOR PRESIDENCY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MONROVIA 000097

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W AND INR/B
AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE PASS TO AMEMBASSY MALABO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/01/28
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM LI
SUBJECT: LIBERIA - FORMER WARLORD TO RUN FOR PRESIDENCY

REF: (A.) 09 MONROVIA 487; (B.) 09 MONROVIA 532; (C.) 10 MONROVIA 95

CLASSIFIED BY: Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Ambassador, State, AF;
REASON: 1.4(B),(D)


1. (C) SUMMARY. Ex-warlord and Nimba County Senator Prince Johnson
discussed his decision to run for the presidency in a January 27
meeting with the Ambassador. His chance of success is slim, but
his early entry and the support of his ethnic constituencies could
influence the campaigns of stronger candidates. Johnson also
criticized the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC),claiming
to be unfairly 'scapegoated' in the TRC's final report. He
welcomed President Sirleaf's call for an analysis of the
constitutionality of the recommendations in the final TRC report
and stressed his commitment to a peaceful and stable Liberia. END
SUMMARY.


2. (C) Senator Prince Johnson of Nimba County called on Ambassador
on January 27, at his request, to present his views on the
accusations levied against him in the Liberian Truth and
Reconciliation Commission's (TRC) final report. Johnson also
discussed his reasons for deciding to run for Liberia's presidency
in 2011 even after President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf announced her
candidacy for re-election on the same day (Ref C).

PRINCE JOHNSON, SENATOR AND NOTORIOUS EX-WARLORD...


3. (U) Johnson is a former warlord who led the Independent National
Patriotic Front (a breakaway faction of Charles Taylor's National
Patriotic Front) during the first Liberian civil war. He is
notorious for supervising the torture and murder of former Liberian
President Samuel Doe in September 1990. A widely publicized video
shows Johnson swigging a beer while Doe is tormented in the
background. Johnson later fled to Nigeria after President Charles
Taylor assumed power and did not return to Liberia until after
Taylor's 2003 resignation. In 2005, he was elected to the Liberian
Senate as an independent candidate, despite an earlier affiliation
with President Sirleaf's Unity Party (UP). [NOTE. Johnson fell
out with the UP after it pressured him to run for a seat in the
House of Representatives. Johnson wanted to run for the Senate and
won his seat as an independent. END NOTE.]

...WHO IS LISTED AS A MAJOR HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATOR BY THE TRC


4. (C) Johnson (along with former President Taylor) is one of eight
former faction leaders recommended for prosecution for gross human
rights violations in the TRC final report. He told Ambassador that
accusations levied against him in the report are exaggerations
fabricated by unforgiving TRC commissioners who were personally
affected by violence during Liberia's civil conflict. Johnson
asserted that the TRC's account of the battle leading to Doe's
capture is exaggerated. The gunfight was a battle between two
combatant forces and Johnson was not the only fighter involved.
When Ambassador pointed out that the TRC commissioners were
confirmed by Johnson and his Senate colleagues, Johnson sidestepped
this fact and claimed that the commissioners were approved when he
was away from Monrovia and unable to lodge a protest.

JOHNSON SUPPORTS EXAMINING THE TRC RECOMMENDATIONS'
CONSTITUTIONALITY


6. (C) Ambassador asked Johnson for his views on the way forward.
Johnson welcomed President Sirleaf's call to amend the law on the
Independent National Human Rights Commission (the TRC's successor
body) and allow an examination of the constitutionality of the TRC
report's recommendations. The TRC, according to Johnson, violated
his constitutional right to confront witnesses against him and
acted as judge and jury. Thus, he cannot be recommended him for
prosecution.

PEACE-LOVING CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT...


7. (C) Regardless of the TRC situation, Johnson clarified that he
is for peace and stability in Liberia, a sea change from soon after
the TRC draft report's release when he publicly denounced the
document and hinted at the ability to take defensive measures to
protect himself (Ref A, B). His commitment to the future of his
country, Johnson said, is why he is running for the presidency. He
believes that he and his running mate (National Patriotic Party
Senator Abel Massalay of Grand Cape Mount County) can garner
nationwide support and win because Liberians will question
President Sirleaf's integrity after she reneged on a promise to
serve only one term during her 2005 election campaign (Ref C). He
cited the cheers of welcome that he personally received from
supporters, louder than those of Sirleaf, when the two visited his
home county as proof of his popularity. Johnson claims to have

MONROVIA 00000097 002 OF 002


told Sirleaf to move into the role of "senior referee" for a
transitional government instead of seeking re-election.

...OF A VETERANS' PARTY?


8. (C) Besides his supporters in Nimba County, Johnson likely also
hopes to draw support from Liberia's population of ex-combatants,
many of whom have expressed disenchantment with the current
government. Representative Albert S. Toe of River Gee County told
Poloff on January 28 that he and other ex-soldiers have founded the
Majority Party of Liberia to appeal to veterans of the Armed Forces
of Liberia (AFL). Toe said that Johnson wants to be the party's
presidential candidate. However, Toe, a former member of the
People's Redemption Council that overthrew President William
Tolbert in 1980 does not view Johnson, an ex-civil war combatant,
as an actual AFL veteran. He opposes Johnson joining the party.

COMMENT


9. (C) Johnson and Massalay enjoy little popular support outside
their home constituencies and have no chance of electoral success
given their past histories. (Massalay served in Charles Taylor's
National Patriotic Front and President Taylor's feared Special
Anti-terrorism Unit.) Early entry may allow them to gain future
political influence by building alliances with Sirleaf or an
opposition candidate if they can guarantee the support of their
home ethnic constituencies. However, as the security situation
improves, Johnson and Massalay's influence may wane. Many
Liberians voted ex-warlords into the Legislature believing that
these candidates could protect their interests in the tenuous
post-war security environment, just as they had done during the
conflict. Many legislators have subsequently failed to deliver on
promised national support for rural development. Liberians may be
inclined to support new representatives in future elections if they
believe that the current peace will endure.
THOMAS-GREENFIELD