VZCZCXRO3877
OO RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHMV #0048 0161457
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 161457Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY MONROVIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9654
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

UNCLAS MONROVIA 000048 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID LI
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: THIRD SESSION OF 52ND LEGISLATURE OPENS 
IN USAID RENOVATED CAPITOL BUILDING 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY.  The Senate and House of Representatives of 
Liberia opened the third session of the 52nd Legislature 
January 14 with two separate ceremonies.  Though the 
ceremonies were largely procedural and did not outline much 
regarding the 2008 legislative agenda, every speaker 
expressed thanks to the United States for the beautifully 
renovated Capitol building.  Lawmakers in the House briefly 
sparred over whether an outside body should be allowed to 
investigate bribery allegations of $5,000 payments to impeach 
former speaker Edward Snowe.  END SUMMARY. 
 
FIRST OPENING CEREMONIES IN RENOVATED CAPITOL 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) The Senate and the House of Representatives held 
separate ceremonies January 14 to mark the opening of the 
third session of the 52nd Legislature in each of their 
respective chambers.  The ceremonies consisted of opening 
prayers, a roll call of present members, a motion and vote to 
open the session, speeches by the Chambers' leaders, a moment 
of silence for all members who died the previous year, and a 
closing prayer.  The House of Representatives also hosted 
legislative delegations from two other ECOWAS countries as 
special guests.  Speaker of the Parliament Roch Marc 
Christian Kabore represented Burkina Faso and Deputy Speaker 
of the Assembly Abdoulie Bojang represented Ghana.  After 
both ceremonies, President Sirleaf presided over a lunch in 
the Capitol's newly renovated banquet hall. 
 
DESPITE MINIMAL FURNITURE AND ELECTRICITY, CAPITOL BUILDING 
IN USE 
--------------------------------------------- ----------------- 
 
¶3. (U) Every member of the legislature expressed thanks for 
the U.S.-funded renovation of the Capitol.  Though the 
building still lacks electricity and furniture, both chambers 
decided that they would cease holding meetings in the Unity 
Conference Center in Virginia.  A small generator provides 
enough power for overhead lights in the conference rooms, but 
there is no air conditioning or power for the hallways. 
Picnic chairs and tables have been set up on the lawn of the 
Capitol so that members can congregate outside in order to 
escape the indoor heat and have more light.  Some members 
have brought their own furniture from home for their offices 
until GOL furniture can be provided.  Others continue to use 
the U.S.-funded library and computer lab, set up the capital 
by the National Democratic Institute, for an office.  The 
Legislative branch is working with the Executive branch to 
secure funding for furniture and electricity soon. 
 
BRIBERY INVESTIGATION ISSUE FOR HOUSE MEMBERS 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (U) The only item of contention was the issue of outside 
investigation of bribery allegations in the House. 
Representative Dr. Kettehkumuehn C. Murray, Chairman of the 
Executive Committee of the House, said emphatically in his 
speech that the legislature is a sacred, august, and 
independent body and "no outsiders should be allowed to come 
in and investigate."  Representatives Edward Forh and Elijah 
Seah disagreed and called for an extended probe if necessary. 
 The allegations refer to claims that some members received 
$5,000 for signing a resolution to impeach former Speaker of 
the House Edward Snowe. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶5. (U) While the opening ceremonies of the House and Senate 
brought no significant surprises, the use of the Capitol was 
informative.  We were told as recently as last week that 
legislative sessions would continue to be held at the Unity 
Conference Center in Virginia until the electricity and 
furniture problems were solved but all meetings are now 
taking place in the Capitol.  The luncheon for about 250 
people was also successful despite the lack of air 
conditioning.  In any case, the Liberian legislature is 
clearly proud of its new Capitol and very grateful to the 
U.S. Government for financing the effort. 
 
¶6. (SBU) COMMENT CONTINUED: The good news on the bribery 
allegation issue is that the legislators (and some elements 
of civil society) are now seriously debating how, rather than 
whether, to investigate the allegations.  It is no longer 
just the ICGL and the U.S. calling for action.  END COMMENT. 
Booth