Sleiman Franjieh announces “Marada,” a new party with an old face

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 001892 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR ABRAMS/WERNER/DORAN/SINGH 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/13/2016 
TAGS: KDEM, SOCI, PINS, KISL, LE, SY 
SUBJECT: MGLE01:  SLEIMAN FRANJIEH ANNOUNCES "MARADA," A 
NEW PARTY WITH AN OLD FACE 
 
Classified By: JEFFREY FELTMAN, AMBASSADOR.  REASON:  SECTION 1.4 (B). 
 
1.  (C)  Summary:  On June 11, Sleiman Franjieh announced his 
new political party named "Marada."  The announcement was 
made as Franjieh commemorated the anniversary of the murder, 
presumably by Lebanese Forces militia, of his family in June 
1978.  The party seems to be a personality cult that 
encompasses Franjieh supporters who oppose the government. 
Franjieh promised support to Michel Aoun and to Hizballah in 
their struggle to undermine the GOL.  The party has chosen 
the Greek letter and mathematical symbol pi as its emblem. 
The logic of the choice is that Franjieh, like the constant 
pi, is unchanging no matter what the circumstance in which he 
finds himself.  However, like the symbol pi, it may be 
impossible to discern the absolute value of this new 
political formation.  End summary. 
 
FRANJIEH--AN OLD FACE AND MESSAGE 
WITH NEW COLORS 
--------------------------------- 
 
2.  (SBU)  On Sunday June 11, the roads from Beirut to the 
northern city of Zgharta were clogged with traffic.  Buses of 
young people waved green banners from car windows and trucks 
plastered with photos of Sleiman Franjieh, Michel Aoun, and 
Hassan Nasrallah sped along the highway.  By the start of the 
rally, there were almost 50,000 people in Zgharta to welcome 
the birth of Sleiman Franjieh's new opposition party. 
Franjieh struck a reasoned and conciliatory pose while 
addressing the crowd.  He spoke about the need for reform and 
sacrifice for the future of Lebanon.   Franjieh also pledged 
his own support for the armed resistance of Hizballah.  The 
crowd was delighted with this commitment to Hizballah. 
 
3.  (SBU)  The rally was also attended by a collection of 
anti-government and pro-Syria political figures.  Northern 
Sunni leader Omar Karame and Druse minority leader Talal 
Arslan were among those who showed up to express their 
solidarity with Franjieh's new movement.  Both Karame and 
Arslan used the podium to blast the government for its 
failures, and to praise Hizballah for its continued armed 
resistance.  During the speeches, the crowd waved the 
pistachio green banner of Franjieh, along with Aoun's orange 
and Arslan's green and white.   Others held up pictures of 
Hassan Nasrallah and Michel Aoun. 
 
THE SPEECH:  NO RESORT TO THE 
BLOOD OF THE MARTYRS 
----------------------------- 
 
4.   (C)  Michel Aoun aide Gebran Basile attended the rally. 
He told us he was impressed by the turnout and by the 
positive remarks with which Franjieh opened the event. 
Although Franjieh was also marking the anniversary of the 
June 13, 1978 slaughter of his family, he avoided using the 
murders as a political device.  Basile said that the Free 
Patriotic Movement (FPM) of Michel Aoun will work with 
Franjieh, but the FPM does not consider this new party to be 
its formal ally.  He admitted that Franjieh, with his 
political background and heritage, is a strong friend of 
Michel Aoun.  Moreover, Basile added, "he has learned a lot 
from us." 
 
5.  (C)  March 14 movement MP Boutros Harb saw the rally as 
further evidence of Syrian manipulation of the Lebanese 
political scene.  Speaking in favor of the new party, Marwan 
Abu Fadil, an aide to Talal Arslan, told us that he was 
impressed with Franjieh's popularity in his home area.  Abu 
Fadil credited Franjieh with turning away from his own bloody 
past to look for a future for Lebanon. 
 
COMMENT:  FRANJIEH IS STILL WITH US 
----------------------------------- 
 
6.  (C)  Franjieh's party is a northern affair, almost tribal 
in that it speaks for a specific minority within the 
Christian community.  Franjieh is the entire party leadership 
and steering committee.  His vision for Lebanon, and close 
association with Damascus, represent nothing new in the way 
of ideas or political direction.  However, Franjieh is not a 
leader who can be dismissed as merely an unimaginative, 
stooge of Syria.  Northerners, Christian and Sunni, are 
dissatisfied with what they see as the indifference shown 
them by the parliamentary majority.  Suh people may rally to 
Franjieh. 
 
7.  (C)  Aounists tell us that they do not consider Franjieh 
 
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an ally, just a friend with common goals.  When Franjieh 
first broached the idea of starting his own partQPolChief 
asked him why he did not simply join Michel Aoun's party. 
Franjieh balked at the idea of associating himself with 
another leader, even one with whom he agrees.  End comment. 
FELTMAN