Cablegate: Tfle01: Lebanese in Sierra Leone Appeal to U.S.
VZCZCXRO1371
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHFN #0603/01 2070852
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 260852Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY FREETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0082
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 0041
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY 0015
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM PRIORITY 0003
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 FREETOWN 000603
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL CASC ASEC MOPS SL LE IS
SUBJECT: TFLE01: LEBANESE IN SIERRA LEONE APPEAL TO U.S.
FOR STOP TO ISRAELI ATTACKS
1. SUMMARY: On July 25, five representatives from the
Lebanese community in Sierra Leone met with the Ambassador
and PolOff to present a letter asking for strong U.S. action
to broker a ceasefire with Israel. The President of the
Lebanese Community in Sierra Leone said that the bombings are
out of proportion to Hizballah's crime of kidnapping two
Israeli soldiers and that women and children are needlessly
suffering. He added that many of the Lebanese community's
family members have been trapped in Lebanon and that the
Sierra Leone Government has been of little help. Earlier, he
gave a press conference at which his distanced the Lebanese
community in Sierra Leone from Hizballah. Despite the issue
being prominent in the news, neither the Government of Sierra
Leone nor the non-Lebanese public has reacted. The Lebanese
community, however, is distraught. END SUMMARY.
2. On July 25, five representatives from the Lebanese
community in Sierra Leone met with the Ambassador and PolOff
to speak out against Israel's "indiscriminate" bombings of
Lebanon. They presented a letter (text in paragraph 7) and
appealed for the U.S. to stop "dragging its feet" in calling
for a cease fire.
3. Samir Hassanyah, the President of the Lebanese community
in Sierra Leone, said that the group was calling on the
Ambassador to formally read the letter of protest against
Israel's actions and to ask for immediate intervention of the
U.S. to reach a cease fire with Israel. The bombings,
Hassanyeh said, are out of proportion to Hizballah's crime of
kidnapping two Israeli soldiers. Hassanyeh said that the
Lebanese community is looking to the international community,
particularly the Americans, to mediate a fair peace in the
Middle East to ensure that everyone -- including Israel --
enjoys an equitable solution.
4. Hassanyeh added that many of the Lebanese community's
family members have been trapped in Lebanon and that the
Sierra Leone Government has been of little help. Hisham
Mackie (Sierra Leone's largest exporter of rough diamonds)
added that his wife and children, who had been stuck in
Lebanon, just escaped overland to Jordan. Mustafa
Abu-Tarraf said that he is particularly concerned about the
reports of Israel's possible use of chemical weapons against
civilians.
5. The Ambassador offered his sympathy for members of the
Lebanese community, especially those with family members who
are trapped in Lebanon and reiterated U.S. support for the
Government of Lebanon. He described U.S. efforts to address
the emerging humanitarian situation and Secretary Rice's
efforts to help establish conditions for a cease fire.
Problems such as the Lebanese army's inability to deploy
throughout the country and the use of Hizballah as a proxy by
Syria and Iran both undermine Lebanon's fragile government,
he said. The Ambassador added that he would bring the
concerns of the Lebanese delegation to Washington's attention.
6. COMMENT: The Lebanese community in Sierra Leone is small
but influential. The Lebanese dominate the country's primary
export industry (diamonds) and own most of the restaurants,
grocery stores, and businesses that well-to-do Sierra
Leoneans and the expatriate community patronize. Although
most Lebanese families have lived in Sierra Leone for
generations, it is extremely difficult for them to obtain
Sierra Leonean citizenship, so retaining close ties to
Lebanon is the norm. The Lebanese have always enjoyed
friendly relations with the U.S. Embassy and some Sierra
Leone Lebanese hold U.S. passports. The appeal to the
Ambassador was cordial, but it was clear that the
representatives hold strong feelings about the events in
Lebanon. There are reportedly 600 Sierra Leoneans (of
African and Lebanese extraction) trapped in Lebanon, with an
ineffectual consulate unable to protect its citizens from the
violence. Although Lebanon has been prominent in the news,
neither the Government of Sierra Leone nor the general public
have reacted. The Lebanese community, however, is
distraught. At various events this week neither the acting
Head of State (Vice President) nor the acting Foreign
Minister raised Lebanon with the Ambassador. Hassanyeh
earlier sent a letter to the UN ERSG (Executive
Representative of the Secretary General) asking for Secretary
General Annan to seek a ceasefire, but got no response since
the ERSG is out of the country. He also gave a press
conference at which he distanced the Lebanese community in
Sierra Leone from Hizballah. In our private conversations
with Lebanese, their comments have ranged from criticism of
Hizballah and Israel (mainly from Druze Christians) to belief
(mainly from Muslims) that the U.S. could force Israel to
cease fire. We have had several calls from Lebanese
FREETOWN 00000603 002 OF 002
concerned about evacuating family members vacationing in
Lebanon, especially from cases where some (but not all)
family members are dual AmCits. We have referred those to
the Embassy in Beirut. END COMMENT.
7. BEGIN TEXT OF LETTER
From The Office of the President of the Lebanese Community in
Sierra Leone
25 July 2006
Your Excellency,
The destruction of the infrastructure of Lebanon, the
indiscriminate killings of innocent people, and the constant
bombings of civilian areas has been condemned worldwide, and
we are sure that Your Excellency has witnessed through the
media the vast tragedy that is taking place in our country.
The retaliation of Israel over the kidnapping by Hisbollah
(sic) of two of their soldiers is way out of proportion, and
this has been emphasized by United Nations agencies and other
Humanitarian Groups worldwide.
Your Excellency, hundreds of innocent children and women have
been massacred by the Israeli bombings, and yet the super
powers, and particularly the United States of America are
seen to be dragging their feet to implement a cease fire
between Lebanon and Israel.
As representatives of the Lebanese Community in Sierra Leone,
we are asking through your Excellency that the United States
in collaboration with other major powers play a more vital
role to ensure not only that a cease fire is implemented, but
a justified solution to the conflict be put in place.
Finally Your Excellency we wish to assure you that the
friendly and cordial relationship between our Community and
your Embassy is appreciated.
Yours sincerely
For the Lebanese Community in Sierra Leone
Samir Hassanyeh
President
END TEXT OF LETTER
HULL