"Occupation Democracy"
 By: General Michel Aoun
 (Translated by: Elias Bejjani)
 26 June 1998

 After the 1992 parliamentary elections, some of the Western godfathers of the Taef Accord congratulated Lebanon's puppet government for the return of democracy, and those who boycotted the elections lost.

 After the 1996 parliamentary elections, the Taef Accord godfathers again congratulated Lebanon's puppet government for the return of democracy, and those who boycotted the elections lost.

 After the 1998 municipal and mayoral elections, the Taef Accord godfathers again praised Lebanon's puppet government for the return of democracy, and this time everybody lost.

 The "return of democracy" to Lebanon appears to be a seasonal phenomenon. It flourishes during elections and then vanishes when the elections are over. It is worth mentioning here that nobody speaks of democracy between election years.

 We know very well that Lebanon is paying the price for these congratulations in the form of submission to some and treasonous collaboration to others.

 How devious are some in the international community who speak of a democracy that was swept away by their own hands (or as a result of their "blessings"), and than congratulate us for its "resurrection". When will these ongoing crimes committed against Lebanon and its people come to an end?

 We would like to ask all those who extend congratulations for the return of democracy to Lebanon the following simple questions--not to change their position on this matter, for we realize that they will never do so, but to make them aware that simple people cannot be cheated forever.

 How can a democracy flourish in a country when its government impoverishes the people and makes them practice political prostitution through vote-selling and buying in the electoral marketplace?

 How can a democracy flourish in a country when the majority of its media are owned by the ruling authority and the rest muffled by occupation forces?

 How can a democracy flourish in a society when its opposition parties and figures are exchanging obscenities and fighting among each other in a bid to appease the occupation forces and not to expel them?.

 How can a democracy flourish when the occupation itself is electing its puppets and collaborators through non Lebanese nomadic mercenary voters?

 How can a democracy flourish while the regime itself is pressuring the voters and depriving them of their basic rights whenever they take opposing stances?

 How can a democracy flourish in a country when its legitimate government was ousted by the military forces of these congratulatory or through their blessings because it called for free and decent elections under the supervision of the United Nations?

 It is a humiliating for both humankind and the Lebanese people to see those who committed all kinds of atrocities and crimes against humanity entrusted by the international community to safeguard democracy in Lebanon as a payback for their collaboration, crimes and treason.

 It would have been more humane and fruitful for all these congratulatory, individuals and countries, to have called for the respect of the United Nations and human rights covenants in Lebanon, and for the support of its people's struggle for liberation.

 Let everybody take note that democracy shall flourish only in a free and independent Lebanon.