E6 UNCLASSIFIED ACTION AF-00 INFO LOG-00 DS-00 I0-00 IRM-00 DRL-01 MFA-00 EAP-00 LAB-01 SSO-00 NFAT-00 NP-00 EB-00 VCE-00 SS-00 SAS-00 ACQ-00 FAAE-00 NSAE-00 ASDS-00 SWCI-00 ------------------77EF6E INL-00 VC-00 OIC-02 ECA-00 004W USNW-00 TEDE-00 DHS-00 DSCC-00 DOTE-00 INR-00 PA-00 PRM-00 181705Z 38 O 181658Z JUN 03 FM AMEMBASSY MONROVIA TO AMEMBASSY ACCRA IMMEDIATE SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0507 INFO ECOWAS COLLECTIVE 1141USAFSAS VAIHINGEN GE 7TH SOSC VAIHINGEN GE 830AD ALBROOK AFS PM CIA WASHDC DEPT OF JUSTICE WASH DC DIA WASHINGTON DC DOJ WASHDC FBI WASHDC JOINT STAFF WASHDC NSC WASH DC SECDEF WASHDC USMISSION USUN NEW YORK ---- - - -- MONROVIA 000705 ACCRA PLEASE PASS TO ARIETTI DEPT FOR AF SNYDER AND BRIDGEWATER ALSO DS ICI PII DS IP ITA DS IP AF E O 12958 DELL 06 17 2008 TAGS PGOV ASEC PREL KWCI PHUM PINR LI UN SUBJECT LIBERIA'S OPPOSITION REQUESTS IMMEDIATE PEACEKEEPING FORCE STATES THREATS INCREASED SINCE INDICTMENT REF A MONROVIA 646 B MONROVIA 674 Classified By Douglas Kent A DCM for reason 1 5 D The fighting has ended in the Monrovia area 1 SUMMARY and life has returned to normal in a business workaday Politics may never again be business as usual sense however unless and until a credible international stabilization force is established here to protect all political activists who now are in virtual hiding x lea the of Taylor's bully boys since the recent fighting l# ressive a nci U S E Rba ssy prbser%ce has_ prevented a more ATE aW CLASSIFIED BY DEPT OF STATE L HEDGBETH DAS A ISS REVIEW AUTHORITY APPEALS REVIEW PANEL CLASSIFICATION CONFIDENTIAL REASON 1A D DECLASSIFY AFTER 18 JUN 2023 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE INFORMATION RELEASED APPEAL ACTION ADDITIONAL REVIEW AUTHORITY JOHN S BLODGETT DAREA DATE CASE ID 31 JUL 2007 200604067 TE RPITT 0 Q0604067 BI T A C C7 TTT open tracking down of those who previously openly voiced ter the publication of opposition to the Taylor regime teetered on the brink of a Monrovia t e sea a indictment averted only by his militia serious bloodletting by Taylor's All but the most quick return to Monrovia the same day rabid Taylorites are urging an active U S participation in any and all phases of the ceasefire's agreed-upon monitoring mechanisms and stabilization force as the essential ingredient to ensure credibility and efficacy among all parties and to protect innocent Liberians from reprisals END SUMMARY -----------------------------------Plea for International Peacekeepers ------------------------------------ PW called on A DCM June 12 to Visibly nervous discuss what he termed pressing concerns he explained he was speaking on behalf of the coalition of five opposition parties and that they were nervous about He urged the U S Embassy to press coming to the Embassy for immediate deployment of an international peacekeeping force to protect Liberians from Government of Liberia GOL security forces especially the irregular militia troops which have been more noticeable in Monrovia since the attack on the capital by rebel forces of Liberian United for Reconciliation and Democracy LURD Fear and Loathing tated that he and other opposition politicians 3 X • eeping a very low profile recently because they have been He have been repeatedly harrassed by GOL security forces politicians you opposition have told said these armed men are causing all this trouble referring to the LURD advances into the Monrovia suburbs the flight by IDPs from the suburban IDP camps into the center of the capital and the evacuations of foreign nationals by helicopter with stated that some opposition politicians were threa ene death by these armed men usually militias if they spoke out in protest or engaged in any political agitation -----------------------------------Visits to Embassy's Pol Section Down ------------------------------------ UNCLASSIFIED rB 1 °B I'n fact the usual regular and frequent calls NOTE 4 by personal visitation to the Embassy and phone by cell -compound to the political section have dissipated Pr7evious 'to the increased fighting near Monrovia and ensuing tension these individuals regularly called on the political section to expound their views requesting Embassy USG support often requesting support for specific visa applications as well iEver since the fighting left the 'greater Monrovia area this Those who past week these visitations have all 'but ceased NOTE END campus do contact us urge us to meet them off BI -----------------------------Putting Out Fire with Gasoline -----------------------------opined that the opening and publicity of the 5 K indictmLeni-f against Charles Taylor while he agreed with it personally was ill-timed and put many people in Monrovia in danger including Ghanaian nationals resident here stated that it was the publication in the press and news media of the indictment during the President's trip to Ghana for the peace talks when things got extremely tense said that many people were afraid to go home These esp ecially those living near opposition politicians They just militia boys just don't care he explained start shooting everywhere into the homes of people they think oppose their leader and innocent people get shot too He said that the militia were all out in the street heavily armed with rifles and RPGs during the day and evening of June 4 when Taylor was in Ghana and the indictment was announced threatening that if Taylor were arrested they would start killing lots of people protect claims that if Taylor had not returned from Ghana thousands of Ghanaians would have been murdered in Liberia The Monrovia Cheer -----------------6 ONO' When news came of Taylor's return to Roberts airport the militia stood down and there was a great sense of relief explained that this relief was what was behind all t e c eeri ng at the President's return I claimed that at least 80% of Monrovians oppose the President and want to They were not cheering him when he returned see him leave They were cheering laughed because they like him UNCLASSIFIED l3 UNCLASSIFIED and rejoicing at his return because they knew the bloodbath threatened by his militia had been averted ------------------------Some Post-Taylor Thoughts ------------------------K n a meeting with A DCM on June 17 told A DCM that Vice President Blah had been re-instated by President Taylor after the latter realized he had endangered his base of support from among ethnic Mano and Gio people of Nimba County which is where Blah is from Some of Taylor's fighters had in fact deserted after Blah was arrested Now that Taylor has and other sources according to an interim government he ea agreed not to the thinks the country can pull together peacefully ana U-11 legislature will work with the international community to construct an interim government acceptable to the vast majority of Liberians including those represented by MODEL Movement for Democracy in Liberia rebels if not LURD Blah in about which he was not so sanguine of cooperation leader view was a good candidate for interim sin e-rre iI d the respect of most Liberians yet no serious added that Taylor long term political ambitions at when he returned had become increasingly unpopular an from Ghana people in the thousands indeed cheered his motorcade from the airport but only because they knew his security thugs would not go on a killing spree-in Monrovia The representative then described the mood on the streets of Monrovia during the day and evening of June 4 in similar terms as 7 had previously '--------------------------------Only Taylor Can Call Off His Dogs --------------------------------8 N warned that Liberia needed Taylor around during the disarmament however to keep his boys in check and ensure that they don't commit acts of violence against civilians especially those in the op osition or who might be continued that considered a threat in a new regime the no one else could convince the militi Once a strong Taylor-created anti-Terrorist Unit to disarm peacekeeping force was in place he could go but not before concluded --------------------------------------------------------- UNCLASSIFIED B B T W CT A 0 SIrjjFF - A Time To Keep Your Head Down ---- ------------------------- 10 1j In a meeting June 18 his house government troops who he cl _imcd _ told A DCM that had been looted by were looking for me If the government's position were upheld most opposition candidates including Charles Brumskine B could not run j _ J He opined that despite the recently-signed ceasefire Monrovia will be in a very tense period now during which any opposition person could be picked up on any pretext even shot with no repercussions until a peacekeeping force is deployed here He stated that Taylor's security forces were always aggressive but are now more nervous and defensive toward those they view as opposition types who might try to take reprisals against them in a future government --------------------------------- 7-The U S Embassy -- The Last Bastion 11 N He expressed appreciation for the U S Embassy's presence and advocacy for human rights activists noting that the security services would feel no restraint if it were not for the presence of the U S Embassy Many opposition activists he added have moved to the Mamba Point area of Monrovia to overnight because of its proximity to the Embassy UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED compound and relatively greater perceived security from the militia and security services especially since the helicopters have been seen flying to and from the compound BLANEY NNNN UNCLASSIFIED