LCCC ENGLISH NEWS BULLETIN
December 1/06Biblical Reading For today
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 4,18-22.
As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him. He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed himLatest New from the Daily Star for December 1/06
Pope visits Istanbul's famed Blue Mosque, performs gesture of praying toward Mecca
'Whole world will pay' if US abandons Iraq - Kuwaiti emir
Royal says France wants 'to help Lebanon prosper'
Siniora: 'Democratic system is in danger'
Sfeir warns clashes will only make matters worse
Promised opposition protest kicks off today in Beirut
Opposing youth movements take different approaches
New 'Third Force' aims to mediate among 'conflicting' Christians
Can Hizbullah 'discipline men' keep protesters in line?
Talks with Syria would be akin to approval - Bush
Text of statement by German foreign minister
United in grief, widows of assassination victims come together for mutual support and emotional rhetoric
March 14 comes out on top as AUB election saga ends
Beirut merchants fear sit-in will deal fatal blow
USJ student leaders agree to disagree over claims of Hizbullah 'espionage' on campus
US, Lebanon ink framework deal to foster bilateral trade
Arabs may one day miss George W. Bush.By Michael Rubin
Rice visits Abbas, Olmert to seek 'consolidated' cease-fire
Latest New from miscellaneous sources for December 1/06
Nasrallah Calls for Open-Ended Sit-in in Downtown Beirut Friday-Naharnet
U.S. Shows No Sign of Warming to Syria Over Lebanon Interference-Naharnet
Aoun Calls Street Protests to Bring Down Saniora's Government-Naharnet
Families of Captured Israeli Soldiers Beg for their Release-Naharnet
The price of democracy and foreign connivance in Lebanon-Yemen Times
Message to US: Don't sell Lebanon short-Ynetnews
Lebanon's pro-Syrian opposition calls for protests-Reuters.uk
State Department challenges Assad to change Syria's "negative ...International Herald Tribune
Peacekeepers Bring Calm To South Lebanon-Guardian Unlimited - UK
Are Hezbollah's demands justified?Blogger News Network
Somalis and Hezbollah What Connection?Garowe Online
Middle East Series Goes On-UCLA International Institute
Lebanese divided over tribunal-Edmonton Sun
Assad: Syria to Challenge US Efforts-Washington Post
Talk about Talks with Iran and Syria-Voice of America
Bush, Abdullah discuss Lebanon, Israel-United Press International
Royal to visit UNIFIL during Lebanon trip-People's Daily Online
Lebanon's pro-Syrian opposition calls for protests-Reuters.uk
Our Views: Suspiciously, a sad Syria-2TheAdvocate -
Nasrallah to Lebanese: Launch mass protest-Ynetnews
The cabinet that stays together, stays together-Globe and Mail - Canada
UN starts mapping disputed Shaba Farms on Lebanon border-Ha'aretz
Briefly: Mass protests planned by Hezbollah-led groups-International Herald Tribune
U.S. Shows No Sign of Warming to Syria Over Lebanon Interference
Naharnet: U.S. President George Bush has told King Abdullah II of Jordan the time was not ripe for dialogue with Syria, which would only see encouragement for its interference in Lebanon, a White House official said in Amman.
The king for his part told the president at a dinner at Amman's Raghadan Palace Wednesday that a solution to the Palestinian problem must be found to reduce tensions in the Middle East, according to a Royal Palace statement. "The two main topics of the discussions were the situation in Lebanon and Syria's role in it, and the Israeli-Palestinian situation," said the White House official. Iraq was also brought up during the dinner, attended by colleagues of the two leaders including U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, "but it really was not the focus," the official said.
"There was a lot of concern expressed about the role that Syria is playing in Lebanon and its failure to heed U.N. Security Council Resolutions 1559 and 1701," he went on. Those resolutions dating respectively from September 2004 and August 2005 basically affirmed Lebanon's sovereignty over its territory. "The president made clear his view that this is not the time for engagement with Syria because the Syrian government always seems to see any such form of engagement as a gesture of approval, or as a way of getting off the hook for actions that it is taking," the official said.
There have been growing calls in the United States and abroad for Bush to accept direct discussions with his administration's two bugbears in the region, Syria and Iran, to contribute to restoring stability in their neighbor Iraq.
On Wednesday, the Bush administration also sharply rejected a charge of U.S. colonialism by President Bashar Assad and demanded Syria cease its support for terror groups. Assad, through the Syrian official media, sounded a defiant note, however.
"Colonialism has not ended," the Syrian leader was quoted as saying. "In the past they used to call it colonialism. Today it is called liberation," an apparent slap at Bush's campaign to spread democracy through the Middle East. "Names differ but the essence is the same. As colonialism continues, revolution and resistance continue," Assad was quoted as saying. Tom Casey, a State Department spokesman, responding to press reports of Assad's remarks, retorted: "The Syrians, rather than worrying about the behavior of others, have a lot of work to do on their own front."
Specifically, he said, "What we want to see is Syria desist from its negative activities. That includes its long legacy of domination of Lebanon and its interference in Lebanese affairs." And, Casey said, "That includes its well-known support for Palestinian rejectionist groups, as well as other terrorist organizations." The spokesman also took a swipe at Syria on a clash Tuesday between the Syrian leader of an Islamic militant group and Syrian border forces near Lebanon. Omar Abdullah, 28, the leader of the Islamic militant group Tawhid and Jihad, blew himself up after trying to cross into Lebanon.
Casey said, "One of the things that is clear about this is that this act of terrorism is in part a result of the fact that the Syrian regime continues to tolerate the presence of terrorists on its territory," especially to stage attacks in Iraq.(AFP-AP) Beirut, 30 Nov 06, 08:40
Nasrallah Calls for Open-Ended Sit-in in Downtown Beirut Friday
Naharnet: Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, terming Premier Fouad Saniora's government "failure," called for an open-ended sit-in Friday in downtown Beirut to achieve what he described as "political partnership" in running Lebanon. Nasrallah, in a televised statement Thursday, described Saniora's cabinet as "a government representing one party … Lebanon should not be ruled by a single party." He was referring to the March 14 alliance which groups at least seven factions representing Sunni, Christian and Druze communities. He said "we are left with the choice of popular protests to press for achieving this goal," in reference to the demand by opposition groups for the formation of a national unity government.
Nasrallah said: "A national unity government should be formed. All the Lebanese, from the various regions … and religions are invited to take part in the peaceful, civilized popular protest to express our beliefs and push matters, peacefully, politically and in a civic approach towards achieving this choice."
Nasrallah's call came shortly after a statement released by the opposition leadership which set 3 p.m. Friday a deadline to unleash mass protests to topple Saniora's government amid heavy security arrangements in Beirut to face any chaos. The statement, carried by Hizbullah's Al-Manar television, said the main job of the new government should be to draw up a new electoral law. The statement called on anti-government supporters to wave only the Lebanese flag and to avoid carrying party banners or posters.
Outspoken Telecommunications Minister Marwan Hamadeh pledged that the anti-Syrian government will not succumb.
"The government will not give in. It rests on a comfortable majority in parliament and among the people and has the support of the Arab world and the international community, apart from Syria," Hamadeh told Agence France Presse. "Lebanon faces a choice of system -- democracy or religious autocracy," he said in allusion to Hizbullah. Six pro-Syrian ministers, including two from Hizbullah, resigned from the cabinet two weeks ago in protest at the failure of cross-party talks to agree to their demands for a national unity government.
The opposition, led by Hizbullah, had postponed by at least a week threats to resort to the streets after the November 21 murder of Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel, the sixth critic of Syria to be killed over the past two years. His killing instead brought hundreds of thousands of government supporters on to the streets two days later in an outpouring of anger at Syria and its allies among the opposition, including Hizbullah.
The customary mourning period for the slain minister was due to end later Thursday, one week after the funeral. Lebanese army troops and police have stood ready in Beirut to prevent disturbances to public order. An Nahar said that between 15,000 and 20,000 army troops backed by a couple of thousand men from the Internal Security Forces have been put on the alert. "The army will not tolerate any damage to public property or any clashes. It considers it stands at an equal distance from both sides," said Lebanese army commander General Michel Suleiman, referring to the deep rift between the pro- and anti-Syrian camps."In contrast to the situation on the eve of the outbreak of civil war in 1975, where the army was neutralized by political divisions ... today it stands united and enjoys the trust of the people," he said.
Syrian-backed President Emile Lahoud said civil servants "don't have to obey government orders.""This can be one of the peaceful measures the opposition can take in its protests" against Sanior's government, Lahoud said in an interview with BBC television on Wednesday. Hizbullah ally General Michel Aoun on Wednesday called for his supporters to take to the streets. Aoun dubbed "criminals" both Interior Minister Hassan Sabaa and Youth and Sports Minister Ahmad Fatfat, accusing the Saniora government of "representing them as innocent" from the assassination of Gemayel, who was gunned down in broad light. The March 14 follow-up committee, responding to Lahoud's and Aoun's statements, called on "all Lebanese to be ready to face up the coup … which is organized by the Syrian regime against the Lebanese legitimacy."(Naharnet-AP-AFP) Beirut, 30 Nov 06, 09:30
Aoun Calls Street Protests to Bring Down Saniora's Government
Naharnet: Free Patriotic Movement leader General Michel Aoun called Wednesday for his supporters to take to the streets to demand the formation of a new national unity government. "We are going to take to the streets peacefully. The other camp is obliging us to do this," Aoun, an ally of pro-Syrian Hizbullah, told reporters at his house in Rabieh. "I call on all Lebanese to take part in this movement against the (anti-Syrian) government" of Prime Minister Fouad Saniora, he said. But Aoun, who set no date for the protests, said he was still willing "to listen carefully and with a positive attitude to proposals for a solution" to Lebanon's political crisis.
"There is still a path open to solutions," he said. The opposition had decided to postpone by at least a week plans to take to the streets after the November 21 murder of Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel, the sixth critic of Syria to be slain over the past two years.
The crisis centers on calls for the formation of a government of national unity, a demand seen by many as a bid by the pro-Syrian opposition to regain its influence within the leadership, now dominated by anti-Damascus forces. Amid the tensions, Lebanese army chief General Michel Suleiman called Wednesday on his men to "stand ready" to maintain public order in case of mass demonstrations in Beirut.
"I call on all soldiers to stand ready to maintain freedom of expression while preventing disturbances to public order," he said in a statement.
"The army will not tolerate any damage to public property or any clashes. It considers it stands at an equal distance from both sides," Suleiman said, referring to the deep rift between the pro- and anti-Syrian camps. "In contrast to the situation on the eve of the outbreak of civil war in 1975, where the army was neutralized by political divisions ... today it stands united and enjoys the trust of the people," he said.(AFP-Naharnet)Sfeir warns clashes will only make matters worse
By Leila Hatoum -Daily Star staff
Friday, December 01, 2006
BEIRUT: Taking to the streets has never been a solution to any of Lebanon's problems, Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir said Thursday. Addressing a crowd of female relatives and widows of assassinated Lebanese leaders at the Maronite seat in Bkirki, the influential patriarch said a demonstration against the government to be held by the opposition Friday would only make matters worse.
"We have said this before and we repeat it now, strikes and demonstrations, taking to the streets and other steps of escalation they might rely on, we don't see them as solving any of the problems we are facing but rather complicating them," the patriarch said.
"You know very well that if some people take to the streets and others take to the streets to face them, we would have a collision and clashes as a result," he added. "We don't know where that would lead us or where it would end."
Hizbullah and its allies in the opposition have called on all supporters to gather in the capital Friday to demand that the government, dominated by a majority from the anti-Syrian March 14 Forces, step down and be replaced by a more representative body.
"We are fed up with assassinations and deaths and clashes among the Lebanese. The Lebanese proved a long time ago they can coexist regardless of their religion or sect. Yet, there are some who are trading with Lebanese lives, and some Lebanese have become merchandise in the hands of others," Sfeir said. "Lebanon is distinguished by the fact that some 18 sects coexist within its borders. This is what makes Lebanon rare because Muslims and Christians coexist in this country, and it shall remain like that, the country of Muslims and Christians."
Sfeir said it was time for Lebanon to become Lebanese.
"Enough following others. Enough being the followers of East or West. The Lebanese must be Lebanese and not followers," he said.
"We don't want to go back 30 years [to the outset of the country's 15-year Civil War]. This will never happen," he added. "We though that we had turned a new page of peace and stability and safety in Lebanon, but apparently there are some who don't want this country to be stable. The main evidence of that is what we are witnessing every day."The prelate reiterated his belief in dialogue as the only way to solve the country's problems.
"Our problems cannot be solved but through dialogue and discussion. This dialogue must be true in the heart and not only words in the mouth so that together we can face these problems," he said. "Public institutions in Lebanon are hampered ... everything from the presidency to the Cabinet and Parliament. Those you elected to take care of your best interests and to maintain your safety, we find them clashing every day," he added.
Sfeir also noted the disastrous effect the political deadlock has had on the economy. "I have been speaking to economists and they said the economy is deteriorating, employees are being laid off, hotels have few tourists and the Lebanese are immigrating in hundreds. This is unacceptable," Sfeir said.
"We do not accept that the Lebanese become immigrants across the globe in search of an alternate country ... Lebanon is ours and shall remain our country; we will not accept an alternate country whatever that country is. It belongs to us, our children, and our grandchildren after us," he added.
"I know you have suffered, lost a husband or a brother or a relative, and are wearing black clothes for that. This must not continue. Everything has a limit, and together we say enough," said the prelate, speaking to the women clad in black.
Promised opposition protest kicks off today in Beirut
Hizbullah, allies call for peaceful demonstration
By Rym Ghazal -Daily Star staff
Friday, December 01, 2006
BEIRUT: Hizbullah and its allies announced Thursday that a much-anticipated demonstration to force the resignation of Premier Fouad Siniora's government and make way for a "more representative" body would begin Friday in the heart of the capital and continue until their demands were met. "I call upon all the Lebanese people from across the country, sects and classes to join in the massive rally against an incompetent government," Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the Hizbullah leader, said in a televised address Thursday on the party's Al-Manar television station.
The announcement came after a tense week in Lebanon, marked by speculation as to when, and in what manner, the protests would take place.
Reminiscent of similar protests held in Beirut's Martyrs Square in 2005 ago that resulted in the resignation of the Syrian-backed government of then-Premier Omar Karami and the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon - famously dubbed the "Cedar Revolution" in the Western media - the opposition claims the Siniora government has failed to meet "internal" demands and "has failed to fulfill its promises or achieve anything significant."
"Lebanon, with its [sectarian] makeup, cannot be administered by one side amid difficult internal conditions," Nasrallah said. "Let us call for a national unity government.""We are not talking about eliminating others," he added, but "negotiations and consultations have reached a dead end because the ruling authority has opted to act unilaterally, despite its inability to rule."
All opposition leaders insisted Friday's protest would be "peaceful and civilized," as the aim was to "proceed in a peaceful, civil, democratic and political manner toward the main goal of a new government."Nasrallah did not specify whether protesters would camp out on the streets until their demands were met or gather in the core of the capital anew each day. The opposition released a joint statement ahead of Nasrallah's appearance in which they said they were calling for a demonstration "only after failing to reach any agreements with the ruling parties through dialogue and discussions."
"The opposition forces, on the basis of their constitutional rights, call on all Lebanese, whatever their religious confession, to demonstrate peacefully in an open-ended sit-in from 3 p.m. Friday for a national unity government," the statement said, adding: "The opposition forces appeal to demonstrators to brandish only the Lebanese flag and authorized slogans and avoid any party or sectarian symbols."
A stream of calls soon followed from Hizbullah's allies in the opposition for supporters to join the demonstration to demand a "more representative government," stressing that the public protest would take place in "a peaceful" manner. President Emile Lahoud reiterated that such demonstrations were constitutional and warned against outside interference. "The Lebanese Constitution stipulates that it is everyone's right to demonstrate and express their views in a peaceful and civilized manner," a presidential statement said Thursday. Lahoud warned demonstrators to be aware "of any moves by outsiders to turn the demonstration into a riot." Marada Party leader and former Interior Minister Suleiman Franjieh urged his supporters to make Friday "a historic day.""Do not fall prey to outside attempts to turn a peaceful demonstration into a riot, and maintain your stance and your demands for a national government founded on fair elections," he said in a statement.
The former minister called on all opposition supporters in the North to begin making their way to the capital at 10 a.m. Friday. Similar calls were made by Hizbullah and Amal representatives in the South, with a plea for demonstrators to head out in the "early morning" and to "avoid clashes at any cost."
There are fears the demonstration will result in clashes between supporters of the opposition and the parliamentary majority, particularly between Sunni and Shiite in the Downtown core associated with former Premier Rafik Hariri. Ensuring the demonstration will also include Druze representation, former Minister for the Displaced Talal Arslan called on his supporters to join the demonstration and "help return true sovereignty to Lebanon," saying: "It is time to topple this corrupt government and resurrect the true faces of Lebanon." "This is a chance for all of Lebanon's voices to be heard," Arslan added. Speaker Nabih Berri, leader of the Amal movement, was noticeably absent from the statements made Thursday. Speaking after a meeting with Berri, Hizbullah's key Shiite ally, Saudi Ambassador Abdel-Aziz Khouja said the speaker was "still trying to find a solution to the crisis, and doesn't believe there are any closed doors or dead ends to dialogue."Opposing youth movements take different approaches
By Nour Samaha -Daily Star staff
Friday, December 01, 2006
BEIRUT: The youth movements of both the March 14 Forces and the opposition - predominantly the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), Hizbullah, and Amal - have made their own preparations in the build-up to the protests that will begin on Friday afternoon in Beirut by the opposition forces.
Samir Aachi and Rami Rayes, youth leaders for the Future Movement and the Progressive Socialist Party respectively, are urging their supporters to stay at home and wait until further notice before responding or reacting to the strikes. "We are telling our youth not to get involved in any sort of conflict," said Rayes in a telephone interview with The Daily Star Thursday. "We want them to stay alert and aware of the situation, but not to respond in any way until we tell them to." Aachi supported this statement, saying that "we want to wait and see how Hizbullah react on the street and what they do, before we decide on our next course of action. We do not advise our youth to go to the streets while the demonstration is taking place, in order to minimize any problems.""Whatever we decide to do after their demonstration, it will be a continuation of what we started after the assassination of [Industry Minister] Pierre Gemayel. It will be a continuation of the second revolution of supporting the government and the Lebanese agenda."
Both leaders are wary about crowd control, saying recent demonstrations and strikes organized by the opposition have been neither peaceful nor civilized. "Only last week [Hizbullah chief] Sayyed [Hassan] Nasrallah had to go on television to order his people to control themselves and to get off the streets," Rayes said.
"The past three months have been increasingly tense in the country and people's emotions are heightened, so anything can become a trigger for the crowd to lose control," said Aachi. "There is a chance that Syrian agents and terrorist cells will be working in the crowd, and they could start something making the whole situation explode. There is no guarantee that Hizbullah can control the crowd."
These statements were refuted by Mario Chamoun, the youth leader of the FPM, who emphasized to The Daily Star that "our crowd is made up of educated and civilized people, so there will be no issue of crowd control as everyone is always well behaved.""We are not wild beasts that need to be tamed; we understand the norms of democracy and human rights" he added. Chamoun stressed that a large majority of the student population of Lebanon is mobilized, waiting, and looking forward to taking part in the protests, saying that "the students will be the generator of the movement and the strikes, as the FPM's grassroots support comes from the students. What we are doing today is for the future of the youth; it is to ensure the creation of a new Lebanon." Hassan Ayoub, the coordinator of the Amal youth movement, also stressed that all precautions were taken to ensure a peaceful demonstration. "We're doing this because the government isn't responding to the Lebanese needs. However, we are determined that the demonstration will be peaceful and we are taking all necessary measures to make sure there is control on our part, as this is part of our policy and our role," he said.
"If the March 14 Forces and their youth insist on coming down, we will not fight them or clash with them," Ayoub added. Universities and schools in and around Beirut are adopting a "wait and see" approach to determine whether or not they will be open for classes on Friday. Both the Lebanese American University and the American University of Beirut say classes will continue normally Friday, unless they feel it necessary to suspend the afternoon sessions. Other universities and schools such as Notre Dame University and the Catholic schools in the Beirut area have made the decision to hold classes until noon, or cancel them completely if news Friday morning deems it unsafe for the youth to attend class. Each institution will be judging the situation accordingly.
New 'Third Force' aims to mediate among 'conflicting' Christians
Daily Star staff-Friday, December 01, 2006
BKIRKI: A new political alliance seeking to establish an alternative to "the two camps currently running the country" was unveiled at Bkirki Thursday. A "Third Force" comprising MPs Henry Helou, Robert Ghanem, Abdullah Hanna and Abdullah Farhat was announced after the group met with Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir. The coalition "represents the views of a Lebanese majority that refuses to join any of the two camps currently running the country," a party statement said. The group met with Sfeir "to discuss the possibility of initiating any sort of mediation efforts between conflicting Christian parties so as to avoid any further tensions," the statement added. The group styled itself as an alliance of unbiased observers with no intention of playing the traditional role of a "conventional mediator." "Our objective is to establish some common ground between conflicting groups, and we are sure that there are many," the statement added. The force called on politicians to bring an end to "growing tension in order to save all what is left of the country."Farhat said the initiative had been "blessed by Patriarch Sfeir" and could be considered a "last-minute proposal" to sidestep further conflict among Christian groups.
Sfeir later met with a delegates from the private sector. Following the meeting, Francois Bassil, the head of the Lebanese Banks Association, said the opposition's planned demonstrations "will not bring about much change, and will only contribute to adding more burdens on the country's already anguished economic state." "All banks, companies and outlets will be open as regular on the day of the protest," he said. Sfeir also met with a delegation from the Free Shiite Movement, which criticized "the irresponsible and rash behavior of some Lebanese groups." The delegation also accused the unnamed groups "of dragging Lebanon into a state of chaos." - The Daily Star
Can Hizbullah 'discipline men' keep protesters in line?
By Leila Hatoum -Daily Star staff
Friday, December 01, 2006
BEIRUT: Thousands of Hizbullah "discipline men" will deploy to maintain order during protests scheduled to take place in Downtown Beirut beginning at 3 p.m. Friday, Hussein Rahhal, the group's media officer, said on Thursday. Political opposition leaders have announced plans for a series of protests aiming to unseat the government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) official Tony Mokheiber said on Thursday that some "5,000 FPM, Hizbullah, Amal and Marada supporters will be sleeping in Beirut's squares." He added that the protesters will be provided with tents, food, medication, mobile toilets, generators and other logistics. "This sit-in is the first step of a long chain of steps that the forces of the opposition will be taking until their national demands are fulfilled. It is a protest against the absence of true partnership in ruling and a demand for a national unity government," Mokheiber said.
Rahhal told The Daily Star that Hizbullah "is prepared and has several thousand of our discipline men ready to monitor the situation during the demonstration tomorrow. The men will be deployed to prevent trouble and clashes and to prevent infiltrators and isolate fights that might break out."
Rahhal argued that every organization and party "is responsible for its supporters."The opposition includes Hizbullah, the Amal Movement, the Marada Movement, the Free Patriotic Movement, the Communist Party and the Lebanese Democratic Party. The protesters will carry Lebanese flags only and call for a national unity government, Rahhal said.
"We have agreed that this will be a peaceful political protest and the slogans and banners are supposed to comply with that," he added. "No one is supposed to carry party flags tomorrow, only Lebanese flags."The protesters will be gathering in "Martyrs Square, Riad Solh Square, anyplace. Whereever they reach and find a place, they will sit there," Rahhal told The Daily Star. Mokheiber called upon FPM supporters not to carry party banners or flags. FPM posts across the country are distributing banners and Lebanese flags, he said. A source close to Interior Minister Hassan Sabaa told The Daily Star on Thursday that government forces would not seek confrontation. The Internal Security Forces (ISF) "will not be clashing with or opening fire at the protesters," the source said. "We are here to help democratic demonstrations and to protect civilians," he added.
"The ISF are fully prepared for tomorrow," he said. "Thousands of officers and personnel will be deployed across Beirut to maintain safety. As long as the protesters don't vandalize public or private property, the ISF will not interfere."Meanwhile, widespread rumors that March 14 Forces would take to the streets tomorrow to protect the Cabinet remained unconfirmed. Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir, considered by many a supporter of the March 14 Forces, called on followers on Thursday to refrain from taking to the streets.
March 14 comes out on top as AUB election saga ends
By Nour Samaha -Daily Star staff
Friday, December 01, 2006
BEIRUT: The final chapter in the American University of Beirut elections drew to a close Thursday with the election of a new vice president of the University Student Faculty Committee. Lama Andari was announced the victor after a vote by the 17 student members of the USFC and seven faculty members. Andari is a senior in the Suliman S. Olayan School of Business, and was the student candidate for the March 14 Forces on campus.
The student representatives of the pro-government alliance took all 14 seats in the business department two weeks ago in elections for the Student Representative Council. Andari's victory has confirmed the March 14's majority in the USFC, with eight of the committee's 17 seats, including that of the vice presidency. The opposition, made up of student representatives from the Free Patriotic Movement, Hizbullah and Amal, gained seven seats, with the remaining two allocated to independents.
"The FPM considers it, as part of the opposition, won by the student vote [in the USFC elections for vice president] as we received nine votes, with Lama only receiving eight," Marion Chamoun, youth leader of the FPM, said Thursday. "She won only because four out of the six professors voted for her."One of the seven faculty members was absent. Gustave Cordahi, youth leader of the Lebanese Forces at AUB, was ecstatic.
"We were always confident about this win, because we knew we chose the right person ... and we knew that from the beginning, with the SRC elections that the students supported us as March 14 and our political discourse as we represent the aspirations of the Lebanese youth," he said.
Beirut merchants fear sit-in will deal fatal blow
'30 percent of downtown restaurants will close'
By Osama Habib -Daily Star staff
Friday, December 01, 2006
BEIRUT: A prolonged sit-in and demonstrations in Beirut Central District will put many companies, restaurants and shops out of business, merchants warned on Thursday. "The situation is horrific. If the sit in lasts for 10 days at least, then I can assure you that 30 percent of the restaurants in the BCD will close their businesses for good," Paul Ariss, the president of the Restaurant Owners Association, told The Daily Star.
Hizbullah and its allies are expected to stage a massive demonstration Friday afternoon to press the government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora to give up more than one third of the Cabinet seats to opposition groups. But Siniora has indicated that he will not give in to the opposition's demands, prompting analysts to expect a long political crisis in the country. The Economic Committee, which represents the main business groups in the country, has met all of the leading politicians from both camps to highlight the negative effects of the demonstrations on the fragile Lebanese economy.
But despite the intensive meetings, the committee was not able to get one pledge from opposition leaders to call off the demonstrations.
"Friday's highly anticipated wide demonstrations in the heart of the Lebanese capital will virtually shut down most businesses, shops and restaurants in Beirut Central District and all the adjacent areas," Ariss said. He added that the restaurants in Lebanon are still reeling from the fallout of the war with Israel this summer and that any more security setbacks will cripple the industry.
"I don't think we will have any customers if the protestors decided to stage a sit-in at the BCD for a long time," Ariss said.
He added that some of the small sandwich shops may open to feed the protestors, but stressed that the restaurant sector in general will stay closed during the sit-in. Ariss said each restaurant in the BCD has invested more than $300,000, meaning that the 100 restaurants have a combined investment of $30 million. The BCD is home to hundreds of companies, banks and shops which employ 3,000 people.
The private sector has already incurred more than $5 billion in direct and indirect losses due to the war with Israel and analysts fear that the country's GDP will fall below zero percent by the end of the year. Merchants had hoped to make up for the previous drop in the volume of business during the Christmas season as many Arab tourists booked rooms in hotels in Beirut and the mountains. Now they fear the expected tourists will cancel their plans.
Nadim Assi, the president of Beirut Merchant Association, said traders want a break from the continued political tension.
"Merchants have compiled huge losses and debts since the July war and if demonstrations are carried out as promised, these losses will mount," he said.
Assi appealed to all political groups to set their differences aside for the sake of the country and the economy. Economist Marwan Iskander predicted the private sector will loose around $30 million a day if the demonstrations take place. "Every day of strike will further harm the economy and shrink the $24 billion GDP," Iskander said. He added that the political stalemate will also reduce the chances of the donor conference taking place in Paris next year. "Even the opposition wants the Paris III conference to be convened in order secure grants and soft loans," he said.
Iskander believes that the crisis will come to an end because no one has an interest in seeing the country fall apart. Adnan Kassar, president of the Economic Committee, said business leaders have not yet decided on their next step if the crisis continues. "We are studying all options," he said, declining to reveal whether the committee will call for another open strike.
USJ student leaders agree to disagree over claims of Hizbullah 'espionage' on campus
FPM had threatened legal action unless an apology was made
By Iman Azzi -Daily Star staff
Friday, December 01, 2006
BEIRUT: Student members of the Lebanese Forces (LF) met with youth representatives from the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) and Hizbullah at Universite St. Joseph (USJ) on Thursday, resolving allegations that Hizbullah supporters had spied on campus.
On Wednesday, students supporting Hizbullah distributed questionnaires to university students asking for their name, phone number, address, email, parents' names and party affiliation. The same day, the LF youth issued a statement denouncing these actions as espionage.
"Students filled them out of their own free will, even members of the LF," said Selim Harb, the head of the Gathering of Resistance, a USJ coalition movement supporting Hizbullah, Amal and the Communist Party. Hizbullah has no official presence at USJ. "Is this spying?"
"I still don't quite believe their story," said LF member Mazen Ghosn, a law and social science representative to the student government. "At first they said it had to do with elections. Now they're saying they wanted to wish students holiday greetings. Come on."
Wednesday's LF statement accused Hizbullah supporters of spying on students and the president of the USJ student government, a member of the FPM, of attempting to conceal, or conspire with, those "committing espionage." The LF said the data collection was part of bigger "scandal" involving threats made to party members since the USJ elections. The FPM responded with its own statement, denying such claims and warning that it would take legal action if it did not receive an apology by 3pm on Thursday.
"I believe they are doing this to make a news story in order to cover up the fact that 22 members [affiliated with the LF] have been arrested," said Mark Sassine, spokesman for the FPM youth party. "The FPM were not informed as their role as the student government and had nothing to do with it."
Earlier this week, 22 members were arrested in the midst of a training exercise, and for allegedly carrying US- and Israeli-made weapons. The LF stated that they were bodyguards of Pierre Dagher, general manager of local television station LBCI. The FPM denied all charges in a press statement issued Thursday morning and maintained that the actions taken by the Hizbullah supporters were harmless and intended for social gatherings.
"The president of the student council was unaware of those papers and did not attempt to defend anyone," the statement said.
"We met with the LF and they agreed to issue a letter excusing us from their accusations. The FPM will not interfere between them and Hizbullah," added Sassine. The LF and Hizbullah students met Thursday evening and after "much shouting," according to Ghosn, the two parties came to a temporary solution. Hizbullah denied any hand in threats against LF youth members and said their data collection was limited for social use.
"I don't quite believe their story," said Ghosn. "But we believe their stories in good faith and we'll set up meetings next week with Hizbullah representatives on how to cool tensions."
United in grief, widows of assassination victims come together for mutual support and emotional rhetoric
Bombing survivor May Chidiac: 'We want Lebanon to live in peace, not in coups d'etat and turmoil'
By Paige Austin - Special to The Daily Star
Friday, December 01, 2006
BKIRKI: Solemnity met political invective on Thursday as several relatives of Lebanon's assassinated sons stood alongside the Maronite patriarch to urge Lebanese unity at a gathering in Bkirki. Besides inveighing against those who act as "tools for outside" and condemning Hizbullah's planned street demonstrations, Joyce Gemayel, mother of assassinated Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel, told the crowd: "Be strong, do not despair - otherwise Pierre will have died in vain." Gebran Tueni's daughter, Nayla, recited her father's well-known oath, urging Lebanese of all faiths to stand together.
But behind the scenes, family members also spoke of a grief and loss that, so far, politics have done little to redress.
Nicole Gemayel, Pierre's sister, told The Daily Star Thursday that 10 days after their father's death, Pierre's sons Amin, 6, and Iskandar, 3, are still struggling to understand. "Yesterday I saw Amin. He had his father's sunglasses in his hand," she said. "I asked him: 'Why are you playing with those?'... He said: 'I want to throw them very far, high in the sky. Maybe dad can catch them in case he needs them.'"
"What can I say to that?" she asked. "They are very young but they are old enough to feel the grief and to understand: They won't see their father again."
Siham Tueni, widow of the assassinated An-Nahar publisher, said her twin daughters, only four months old when their father was killed by a car bomb last December, have it easier: They do not yet understand the magnitude of their loss. Still, she said, they recognize his face, even in the different photographs posted larger-than-life on the streets of Beirut.
"They see pictures on the road and they say, 'Daddy, Daddy!'" she said. In front of them, she added, "I cannot break down or go into depression. I cannot." "I know Gebran would want this ... He said: 'I may not live very long but you'll be strong, you'll be here with them.' So that is what I have to do."Still, she said, 11 months after her husband's murder, she had hoped for more. Instead of the independent Lebanon for which he had worked, brooking an ever-greater risk of assassination in the process, the country in which Tueni's family lives today remains largely unchanged. The architects of Lebanon's devastating round of assassinations remain free, and political infighting threatens to set off a new round of violence in the days ahead.
"They haven't accused anybody, they haven't found out anything," Tueni said. "And then another person is killed and they are also going to go through the same scenario. People will go down, they will put on candles, they will stand, and then what? ... And then it happens again. It's not fair; it's not acceptable."The families gathered Thursday, she added, share a natural bond, rooted partly in the unnatural circumstances of their husbands' deaths, and partly in their husbands' rapid elevation to the status of icon.
And just as compelling, both women said, is the families' shared determination that their loved ones' deaths, contrived and committed for political ends, shall not pass without political effect. For Nicole Gemayel, this desire is strong enough that it has propelled her somewhere she says she has never gone before: straight into the political fray. "I am not at all a public figure and I have never wanted to be one," she said. "I hate politics. I always relied on Pierre; I thought that Pierre was doing all the work. But with Pierre gone now ... I am obliged to change my way of life."
Her mother, Joyce Gemayel, had already staked out her own stance. Speaking at Thursday's gathering at Bkirki, the grieving mother told the crowd of black-clad women, many of them holding her son's photo aloft: "Every Christian who takes to the street in the demonstrations tomorrow would be digging Lebanon's grave!"LBC anchorwoman May Chidiac, who lost an arm and a leg when a bomb detonated under her car in September 2005, followed with stronger words. "We don't want anyone to take to the streets," she told the crowd to an outburst of applause. "We want Lebanon to live in peace, not in coups d'etat and turmoil!"
Siham Tueni looked on but did not speak. Earlier she said the time she has spent with Pierre Gemayel's wife, Patricia, since his death had flooded her with sympathy, and memories. "Suddenly I am looking at somebody else the way they are looking at me," she said.
"People look at Gebran, they look at Pierre: They're like symbols, they're like idols," she explained. "Sometimes they don't realize we don't always look at them in that way. I've lost Gebran: I've lost a real person. We would wake up in the morning; we would have dinner. You have a life together. You have a house together. You travel, you come, you go ... and these things have all gone from my life. My children will never know their father."
Her husband, she said, knew the sacrifice that he was making. Beginning with Samir Kassir's death in June 2005, and then, more definitively, with the attack on Chidiac two months later, the Tuenis felt his murder would likely be next.
Sometimes, she added, "I feel a little bit angry, like 'why did you do it?' But if he had changed he wouldn't have been Gebran."
Gemayel, too, is said to have lived without the apprehension many would assume requisite for a minister in his position, the presumed political heir of an uncle and grandfather who were also assassinated.
The World Council of the Cedars Revolution
Representing the hopes and aspirations of many millions of Lebanese throughout the Diaspora
www.cedarsrevolution.org
cedarsrevolution@gmail.com
Thursday 30th November 2006
Washington DC
USA
Media Release
-Aoun Is Providing Cover for the Enemy? Or Has He Become the Enemy?
- WCCR Calls on the People of Lebanon NOT to go to the Streets behind Aoun and Nasrallah and to Ignore Lahoud.
Was he ever loyal to the full restoration of Lebanon’s Sovereignty? Or was he driven by personal ambition and a twisted agenda? These are some of the questions asked by many, including some of his former supporters and allies.
For fifteen years, Michel Aoun attacked, cursed, insulted and vowed retribution against the tyranny of the occupying enemy Syria and their terrorist militia in Lebanon, Hezbollah and their associate terrorists in Palestinian Camps, Islamic Jihad and Moslem fundamentalists.
For fifteen years Michel Aoun traveled the free world and the Lebanese Diaspora, playing on the emotions and honorable good will of Lebanon’s loyal sons and daughters, raising their hopes with speeches and promises of rebuilding a safe and sound Lebanon for their families and the future of their children.
For fifteen years, Michel Aoun played on the creditability of the Lebanese Diaspora to help him reach the world’s most powerful leaders, seeking their support for him to return in peace and safety to his supposedly beloved Lebanon so that he can continue the drive for an independent and democratically free Lebanon.
All the above were his accusations of the enemy and his projected planning for total retribution and destruction of his enemies and undoubtedly his list of Lebanon’s enemies of the time. Although, General Aoun gives the impression that he was behind the UNSCR1559, but where in fact he readily acknowledges that he was NOT behind the UNSCR1559 which was instrumental in the withdrawal of the Syrian Army from Lebanon after 30 years of occupation.
Was he only negotiating for his safe return to Lebanon? Perhaps after his arrival in Lebanon he assessed that he will never be able to overpower the enemy in time for his anticipated acceptance of the Lebanese presidency. Perhaps he assessed that retreat is the better part of valor; and given that the best part of his productive years and life are now behind him, if he still coveted the Presidency, perhaps it was better to work with the enemy instead of working with his loyal supporters and the people who had trusted him.
Is it possible that the Michel Aoun who spent fifteen years in Paris, planning the downfall of his enemies Syria and Hezbollah, has today betrayed his people to become his enemy’s puppet and perceived protector?
Can Michel Aoun truly look his Christian constituents in the eyes and tell them that he is doing all of this for their benefit?
For every reasonably intelligent person in Lebanon knows that if Hezbollah were to hold a Street protest in order to bring down the democratically elected government of Fouad Siniora, the whole world would rise in arms against them.
So, in order to provide cover for Hezbollah, Syria and Iran, Michel Aoun, the self declared champion of the Christian Community and the newly acquired Syrian weapon in Lebanon, will on Friday, set out on a street protest, supported by Syrians, Palestinians and Iranians, designed deliberately to divide his Christian base and set the nation on the path of civil war.
He has forgone all the powerful support of the intellectual, political, diplomatic and business communities who have already abandoned him because of his blind and self serving ambition. He does however enjoy and relies heavily on the support of an unconstitutional president who is the laughing stock of the whole world, a man who is regarded by world leaders to be totally bankrupt of any character, with little or no credibility and absolutely no trust.
How low can a president bring down the image of his country and people? Yet he has the audacity to attempt to bring down the democratically elected government of Fouad Siniora, in order to delay or avoid the establishment of an International Court to deal with the assassinations of anti Syrian political leaders who had served their country with loyalty and honor.
The president of the nation whose main charter is to unite and strengthen his people, generate cohesiveness amongst his people and be the source of character and honor for his people, is today calling on the public service of his country not to obey the instructions of the duly elected and sworn Fouad Siniora government.
Once again we call on the UNSC to urgently mandate Chapter 7, within the framework of UNSCR1701 for the safety and protection of the democratically elected Government and the freedom loving people of Lebanon.
It would seem that madness is the supreme ruler in Lebanon today.
The WCCR sends this all out alert to all other political leaders of the Cedars Revolution, Beware that the disease which has beset a one time perceived to be a great leader of the Revolution, Michel Aoun, might be contagious and spread to other leaders of this noble Revolution. It would certainly spell the end of democracy and freedom in Lebanon.
For and on behalf of the World Council of the Cedars Revolution.
Joseph P Baini
President/WCCR
Australia
Dr Rachid Rahme Secretary General Lebanon
Eng. Tom Harb International Committee UNSCR 1559 USA
Col. Charbel Barakat Intelligence and Security Director Canada
Eng. Toni Nissi UNSCR 1559 Coordinator Lebanon
Dr Anis Karam President World Lebanese Cultural Union WLCU USA
Eng. Fadi Bark Secretary General World Lebanese Cultural Union USA
Attorney John Hajjar Chairman International Relations WLCU USA
Attorney Claudia Chater Legal Advisor UNSCR 1559 Brazil
Attorney Joanne Fakhre President North American Continent WLCU USA
Lahez Haddad WCCR Council Officer New Zealand
Kamal El Batal WCCR Human Rights Officer Lebanon
Joseph Saouk WCCR Officer Sweden
Roni Doumit WCCR Coordinator Europe
Joseph Sokhen UNSCR 1559 Officer Lebanon
George Chaya Media Coordinator, UNSCR 1559 Officer Argentina
Snr Eng. Eblan Farris WCCR Communications Director USA
Sami Khoury Former Consul General of Lebanon Equador