Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 06FREETOWN511, UNPP ELECTS US COLLEGE PROFESSOR AS PRESIDENTIAL

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06FREETOWN511.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06FREETOWN511 2006-06-22 16:44 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Freetown
VZCZCXRO7671
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHFN #0511/01 1731644
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 221644Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY FREETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9952
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCNFB/FBI WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0159
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 FREETOWN 000511 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/W 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV KDEM SL
SUBJECT: UNPP ELECTS US COLLEGE PROFESSOR AS PRESIDENTIAL 
CANDIDATE - LEGITIMACY CHALLENGED 
 
1.  Summary:  On June 16 and 17, the United National People's 
Party (UNPP) held a national convention in Freetown to elect 
a new party leader and presidential candidate.  Delegates 
elected Abdul Karim Koroma, a U.S. professor, as presidential 
candidate.  One party official denied the legitimacy of the 
convention in a press release, but the convention attracted 
approximately 500 attendees and delegates.  In a letter to 
the National Electoral Commission, former UNPP party leader 
John Karefa-Smart stated that he has resigned his position; 
however, the legitimacy of this weekend's convention remains 
in dispute.  While the UNPP is no longer a force to be 
reckoned with in Sierra Leone politics, the party dynamics 
closely reflect the recent infighting of the two major 
parties.  If the UNPP is able to gain a following, they may 
form a coalition with a more popular party.  If Charles 
Margai's People's Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC) 
effectively pulls votes away from the ruling Sierra Leone 
People's Party (SLPP), this will be a dynamic worth watching. 
 End Summary. 
 
2.  On June 16-17, POL intern attended the 4th Delegates 
Convention for the UNPP.  The convention was held in Freetown 
to elect a new party leader and presidential candidate. 
Amidst controversy over the legitimacy of the convention, 
delegates elected Abdul Karim Koroma as the presidential 
candidate for the 2007 elections. 
 
3.  On June 15, "Standard Times" published a press release 
claiming that the proposed convention was illegitimate.  The 
press release stated that a very old Dr. John Karefa-Smart, 
who lives in the USA,  was the true party leader and had not 
abdicated his position to Acting Chairman Ahmed 
Taylor-Kamara.  The press release discouraged party 
supporters from attending the convention and stated that the 
official convention will be held in September 2006.  The 
author, David Ansu-Koroma, claims to be the Acting National 
Executive Secretary of the party. 
 
4.  Approximately 300 people attended the first day of the 
convention.  Acting party chairman Ahmed Taylor-Kamara 
appealed to the international community to closely monitor 
the 2007 elections, citing campaigning violations already 
committed by the ruling SLPP.  (Note:  The SLPP holds a 74% 
majority in Parliament as well as the presidency.  End Note.) 
 Working committee chairman O.B. Conteh stated that the 
party's poor showing in recent local elections was a result 
of poor organization and discouragement from past failures. 
Conteh urged delegates to remain committed to the growth of 
the party and improvement of the country.  Both Taylor-Kamara 
and Conteh emphasized the unity of the party and tried to 
dispel any claims that the party was divided or that the 
convention was illegitimate. 
 
5.  International delegations from the U.S., UK, Canada and 
Germany were scheduled to speak; however, only the UK 
delegate (also a contender for party leader) was present. 
Delegations from the Eastern, Western, Northern and Southern 
regions of Sierra Leone were also present.  Delegates from 
the Eastern and Northern regions called for immediate action 
to build party support, but Taylor-Kamara intervened and 
emphasized that campaigning would not begin until the 
National Electoral Commission (NEC) announces election 
season. 
 
6.  On June 17, the convention reconvened to elect the new 
party leader and 2007 presidential candidate.  There were 
approximately 500 people in attendance with 411 voting 
delegates.  Delegates nominated Mohamed Ben Kamara, a 
businessman living in the UK, and Abdul Karim Koroma, a U.S. 
college professor.  It was clear that Koroma had the 
overwhelming majority of party support.  Though he was not 
present on the first day of the convention, he was received 
with cheers and applause on the second day.  (Comment:  It 
appears that Koroma gained support by making numerous 
financial contributions to the party.  His election speech 
was essentially a retelling of these contributions.  End 
Comment.) 
 
7.  The election was made by open ballot with members of the 
press counting the votes.  The acting chairman made several 
references to the party constitution to resolve disputes over 
procedure. 
 
8.  On June 19, "For Di People" published a letter from 
former party leader and presidential candidate John 
Karefa-Smart.  The letter confirmed his resignation as party 
 
FREETOWN 00000511  002 OF 002 
 
 
leader, but was unclear about the legitimacy of the 
convention.  Karefa-Smart appealed to the NEC to disregard 
any claims from persons not properly empowered by the party 
constitution to convene a national convention.  Karefa-Smart 
also wrote that Haja Memunatu Conteh, his presidential 
running mate from the 2002 elections, should serve as interim 
National Party Leader until a new party leader is elected. 
Neither Karefa-Smart nor Conteh was present at the 
convention. 
 
9.  On June 20, "Awareness Times" published an interview with 
Karefa-Smart and Haja Memunatu Conteh.  Both Karefa-Smart and 
Conteh declared last weekend's convention to be fraudulent 
and illegitimate.  Conteh stated that the convention was held 
without regard for proper procedure, as outlined in the party 
constitution, and that convention organizers excluded many 
prominent party members, including Conteh herself.  (Note: 
Haja Memunatu Conteh is Chairwoman of the Western Region.) 
Conteh also stated that while nominee Mohammed Ben Kamara 
holds an official position as chairman for the UK branch, 
Abdul Karim Koroma is an ordinary party supporter living in 
the United States with no official position.  UNPP officials 
are preparing to take legal action against the organizers of 
the convention. 
 
10.  Comment:  John Karefa-Smart, now a professor at Loma 
Linda University School of Public Health in California, was 
Sierra Leone's first Foreign Minister in 1961 and nearly beat 
out President Kabbah in the 1996 presidential elections. 
Since his departure, the UNPP has not been a serious 
political force and currently holds no seats in Parliament. 
Karefa-Smart was the saving grace of the UNPP.  He received 
widespread support during the 1996 elections and Sierra 
Leoneans still hold him in high regard.  Though he was 
referenced frequently during the convention (his name even 
mentioned in the party song), his absence makes a stronger 
statement.  Without another charismatic figure to replace 
Karefa-Smart it is unlikely that the UNPP will garner 
substantial political support.  Karefa-Smart's official 
resignation from his position, and the impending legal 
battle, will likely seal the UNPP's fate as a minor sideshow 
party.  The controversy over the delegates' convention seems 
to be par for the course for Sierra Le one politics; with 
internal party disputes leading to party splits and legal 
battles ruling the day.  If the UNPP is able to gain a 
following, they may form a coalition with one of the major 
parties.  If Charles Margai's SLPP breakaway party, the PMDC, 
is able to pull enough votes away from the ruling SLPP, this 
will be a dynamic worth watching.  End Comment. 
HULL