LCCC NEWS
BULLETIN
MARCH 11/2006
Below news from the Daily
Star for 11/03/06
Hind Hariri is world's youngest billionaire
Army deploys troops in North along Syria border
Hariri, Nasrallah firm on dialogue success
Soueid: Syria using Shebaa to force Lebanon into Arab-Israeli conflict
Assembly of Catholic Patriachs and Bishops elects new members
Economic sector fears impact of failure in talks
Expatriates join anti-Lahoud petition drive
March 14 groups continue push for Lahoud's ouster
Qabalan: People aren't politicians' slaves
Harb explains resignations in electoral law committee
Leaders react to Jumblatt's 'insults'
Dialogue's failure would provoke crisis
Army Intelligence cracks crime network hoarding arms
Cosmonaut to visit Lebanon: 'It looked fantastic from space'
Alternating the top political jobs around the three main confessions every four
years can reinforces the sense of national identity in the Lebanese
Below news from
miscelaneous sources for 11/03/06
Anti-Syrian Coalition Supports Jumblat, Considers Taef Priority-Naharnet
Geagea, Franjieh to Reconcile Soon-Naharnet
Hamadeh: Agreement Close on International Court-Naharnet
Israeli Army on High Alert for Possible Hizbullah Kidnap Operation-Naharnet
Geagea Rejects Having Aoun or Lahoud as Only Options for Presidency-Naharnet
Jumblat Adamant that Shabaa is not Lebanese, to Present Fresh Evidence-Naharnet
Hind Hariri Is World's Youngest Billionaire-Naharnet
Beirut: A city of contrasts-CNN
Bursting Billionaires-ShortNews.com
Damascus optimistically welcomes UN inquiry chief-AsiaNews.it - Italy
US report hammers China, Syria, Iran over human rights-Daily Times
Lebanon at the French-Saudi Summit-Dar Al-Hayat
STATING THE NUCLEAR OBVIOUS-IsraCast
The stupid spurning of an Arab ally -By
David Ignatius
Prominent Lebanese and Arabs dot Forbes list of
world's richest-By Osama Habib
Army Intelligence cracks
crime network hoarding arms
Four lebanese, four palestinians were arrested
By Leila Hatoum -Daily Star staff
Saturday, March 11, 2006
BEIRUT: The Lebanese Army Intelligence has arrested members of a criminal
network in various areas extending from the capital Beirut to the Bekaa and the
South. According to a statement issued by the Army's Orientation Directorate on
Friday, the criminals "had gathered a large number of explosives, individual and
military weapons, missiles, and ammunition, and stashed this arsenal in caves
and lands which they own."
A high security source told The Daily Star that "eight people were arrested:
four Lebanese and four Palestinians."
The same source added that the army intelligence "received tips from sources and
acted on them, monitoring the network's members for some time before moving in
to arrest them."
The source refused to elaborate on the case "for security reasons," saying that
the investigations are "still ongoing."
The statement added that the seized arsenal was prepared for "commercial and
sabotage purposes," and that it was well hidden in several locations around
Lebanon. It also mentioned that those arrested were transferred to the judiciary
to take legal action against them. Interior Minister Ahmad Fatfat told The Daily
Star Friday that monitoring the criminal network as well as the whole operation
was carried out by army intelligence, "which has been monitoring the works of
the criminals for a long time."
Fatfat added that the criminals apprehended "are arms dealers," and that their
arrest would be the key to uncovering further arms smuggling. He also said that
there was no coordination between the Defense Ministry and the Interior Ministry
in the network's arrest as it was "all the work of the army intelligence."
Fatfat also spoke to The Daily Star of the arrest of two other people on Friday
after a kilogram of Hashish with two dynamite sticks were found in eastern
Beirut's Naccache area. The entire case "involved a few people trying to hassle
others. The fact that illegal drugs were involved adds to the seriousness of the
crime," explained Fatfat. "The action taken by Interior Ministry personnel was
in coordination with the Lebanese Army and the Defense Ministry," he added.
Dialogue's failure would provoke crisis
By Walid Choucair - Daily Star
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Despite suspicion about whether the national dialogue conference will resume
next Monday, the major forces involved in the talks asserted that all
participants will attend despite the obstacles because no one can take the
responsibility for its failure.
However, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea's recent statement, in which he
said that resolving 20 percent of the issues on the agenda would be a positive
beginning to maintaining the national dialogue, implies that resumption of talks
on Monday will constitute an opportunity to classify the issues that could be
agreed upon for announcement.
It also means that there will be a chance to continue dialogue later, whether
inside Cabinet or through another conference in a few weeks to settle the
remaining issues.
Sources familiar with the issue believe that the national dialogue will
definitely continue because failure to do so would cause a political crisis that
would prod the March 14 Forces to take to the street again in a bid to oust
President Emile Lahoud.
This would definitely mean that the other party will also take to the streets
and eventual clashes would break out.
One party of the national dialogue believes that ending the discussions with one
issue still unsettled, i.e. the identity of the Shebaa Farms, will not serve the
interest of the Shiite alliance because it would prove to foreign countries that
Hizbullah is a militia because the Lebanese cannot agree on the one issue that
justifies the presence of the resistance.
Sources familiar with one aspect of the meeting between the head of the Future
parliamentary bloc MP Saad Hariri, and Hizbullah's Secretary General Sayyed
Hassan Nasrallah recently indicated that they agreed on adopting a plan
facilitating progress upon its resumption on Monday. This plan aims at proving
the identity of the Lebanese part of the Shebaa Farms, according to
International Law, through efforts by Hizbullah and Amal to acquire a Syrian
document that would be submitted to the United Nations.
This would provide the exit and would win time to recover the Shebaa Farms
diplomatically and to find a proper solution for Hizbullah's arms without
relinquishing international efforts to release Lebanese detainees in Israeli
prisons.
The question remains: If participants in dialogue agree on this solution, what
is the guarantee that Syria will reply to Hizbullah's and Amal's move to get
these documents to prove the Lebanese identity of the Shebaa Farms? And what
about the March 14 Forces' calls to oust Lahoud?
A source close to the Shiite alliance said that the issue of the presidency is
difficult to settle within the Lebanese framework alone and reality requires the
intervention of foreign powers. Syria is not expected to relinquish the Lahoud
bargaining chip without a price in return, which means that participants in the
national dialogue must agree on issues within their power and announce their
consensus about changing the president. According to the sources, perhaps
participants in the national dialogue should suspend their sessions for 10 days
or 2 weeks until Arab countries make a move toward Syria in an effort to
convince it to relinquish Lahoud. This would allow participants in the national
dialogue to meet again and agree on the alternative.
Leaders react to Jumblatt's 'insults'
By Therese Sfeir -Daily Star staff
Saturday, March 11, 2006
BEIRUT: The news conference held by MP Walid Jumblatt in New York triggered a
wave of reactions among politicians and prominent national figures, with one of
Hizbullah officials accusing him of "seeking the support of a country which
helped the Zionists slaughter our people." Hizbullah Foreign Affairs official
Nawaf Musawi said: "We cannot understand how one party in the dialogue leaves
the country and heads to the United States, knowing that the U.S. political
strategy in the region is managed by the Zionists." He added: "Jumblatt attacked
the resistance and denied the Lebanese identity of Shebaa Farms from the Hopkins
Institute, which is affiliated with the Zionist lobby." "He also described the
resistance as a militia; we say that the militias are the warlords who
perpetrated genocides and killed innocent people," he added.
"Is the party, which related itself to the Western projects, able to implement
its decisions? The person who is hampering dialogue believes that he will be
able to rule the country through insults, shouting and lamentation," Musawi
said.
MP Qassem Hashem said that the "postponement of the dialogue sessions came as a
result of random attacks from Washington against the dialogue roundtable."
He added: "Some parties participated in the dialogue because they did not want
to bear the responsibilities of its failure before its beginning; this direct
attack was a clear message to the internal and international forces."
In a statement issued on Friday, Hashem said that "doubting the identity of
Shebaa Farms and Kfar Shuba hills is equal to high treason." The National
Liberal Party held its regular meeting on Friday and issued a statement
afterward, in which it said: "We cannot understand how some people allowed
themselves to ask Jumblatt's allies about their position regarding a statement
he had publicly declared during the dialogue session, while they disregarded the
statements and the heinous interference of the head of the former Syrian
security regime in Lebanon's affairs." The statement also accused "the
supporters of the Syrian-Iranian coalition of hampering the dialogue."The party
reiterated its calls for "the implementation of the Taif Accord and the
international resolutions, in particular Resolution 1559, which reflects the
spirit and the content of the Taif."
The statement added: "We strongly adhere to Lebanon's right to freedom,
independence and sovereignty, as well as the building of a strong country which
guarantees the people's rights and unity."Labor Minister Tarrad Hamade rejected
any demand for foreign intervention in the country's internal affairs."No
political or national leader should ask for foreign help, particularly when the
Lebanese are holding a transparent and free dialogue to determine the fate of
their country," Hamade said in a statement delivered on Friday.
Hind Hariri is world's youngest billionaire
Daily Star staff-Saturday, March 11, 2006
BEIRUT: Late former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri's daughter Hind Hariri became
the youngest billionaire in the world after inheriting $1.4 billion of her
father's massive fortune, according to Forbes magazine. The 22-year-old Hind
graduated last June from the Lebanese American University. She campaigned for
her brother Saad in the last parliamentary election, which he won by a landslide
majority. Saad himself inherited $4.1 billion from his father's fortune and his
brother Bahaa received a similar amount. Rafik Hariri, who was assassinated in
February 2005, amassed a huge fortune from construction work in Saudi Arabia
before passing his financial empire to his children Saad, Bahaa, Ayman, Fahd and
Hind. Forbes also said that Carlos Slim Helu, who is of Lebanese origin and
heads the largest telecom company in Mexico, ranked third-wealthiest in the
world with a fortune close to $30 billion. The magazine said that Latin
America's richest man added more than $6 billion to his fortune this year. - The
Daily Star
Hariri, Nasrallah firm on dialogue success
By Majdoline Hatoum -Daily Star staff
Saturday, March 11, 2006
BEIRUT: Parliament majority leader MP Saad Hariri and Hizbullah chief Sayyed
Hassan Nasrallah held a meeting Thursday night that lasted several hours, in an
effort to revive Lebanon's second round of national dialogue to kick off Monday.
Neither party commented on the meeting, the second one to take place in the past
two weeks, but a Hizbullah statement said the two leaders discussed the first
round of talks and the latest developments. The statement added that both
leaders agreed on making the second round of dialogue - which will take place
next Monday - succeed. Speculation was rife after the meeting that the two had
discussed the controversial issue of the disputed Shebaa Farms and MP Walid
Jumblatt's statements that they were not Lebanese. Jumblatt had said a vote
should take place in the dialogue to determine definitively the identity of the
Farms. He added that even if his allies vote for the Lebanese identity, then he
was willing to stand alone, but at least the state could then push Syria into
officially announcing it.
Hariri has been consulting with his allies in the March 14 Forces for the past
week to ease tensions that followed Jumblatt's statements, and led - according
to some political factions - to postponing the country's national dialogue after
Nasrallah refused to be personally present at the dialogue table until Jumblatt
returns. The Chouf MP is expected to be back in the country within 48 hours, a
spokesperson from the Progressive Socialist Party told The Daily Star Friday,
and added that the PSP leader will be present at the dialogue roundtable Monday.
Asked whether Jumblatt will stop over in France for any official meeting, the
spokesperson said: "Jumblatt has finished all his official meetings but for
security reasons we cannot disclose the details."
These developments came as international and Arab support for the dialogue
continued Friday, with French Foreign Ministry spokesman Jean-Baptiste Mattei,
saying his country encouraged Lebanon's second round of dialogue. Mattei added
France "Welcomes the dialogue and hopes it will go on and succeed."
And as France voiced its support for Lebanon's dialogue, a visit by Kuwait's
Ambassador Ali Suleiman Saeed to Speaker Nabih Berri took place during the day,
after which Saeed said his country considered Lebanon's dialogue an "internal
issue."
"Lebanon has a special place in the hearts of the Kuwaiti people ... and we have
felt comfort lately since the Lebanese leaders started to sit down at one table
and discuss their differences, and this is a very good indication," he said. But
Saeed added that the Lebanese have to "reach a minimum level of understanding,
in order to allow their Arab brothers to help them."
A press statement issued by Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea's press office
said the LF leader had agreed with Hariri on the need to attend Monday's session
in order to make the dialogue work.
Geagea also held "an intensive phone call with Berri," with both men agreeing to
carry on with efforts preparing to hold the dialogue session. Jumblatt's
statements, however, were criticized by Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel
Aoun, who labeled them as "cross-continent missiles." Aoun also criticized
"foreign interference in Lebanese affairs," adding Jumblatt's request for help
from the U.S. could "affect the dialogue." "If we want this dialogue to work,
then we have to go to the discussion table leaving the controversial mentality
behind us," Aoun said. Hizbullah number two Naim Qassem said during the day that
the resistance party will work on making the national dialogue succeed. "We will
not abandon the dialogue even if attempts to sabotage it came from abroad, and
we will not surrender to such desperate moves," Qassem said.
He added Nasrallah would not be attending the dialogue unless all party leaders
are personally present in the meeting. "If even one of the leaders is absent,
the dialogue will be left to be represented by second-level representatives," he
said.
Qassem said the party will demand that "specific work agendas result from the
dialogue."Regarding the presidential file, and demands by the March 14 Forces to
oust Lahoud, Qassem said Lebanon is not facing "a dilemma called the
presidential file."
Army deploys troops in North along Syria border
By Raed El Rafei -Daily Star staff
Saturday, March 11, 2006
BEIRUT: The Lebanese Army deployed troops in two villages Wednesday along the
Nahr al-Kabir river, which separates Syria from Lebanon in the North. The
national news agency reported on Friday that more troops will be deployed along
the river on Saturday. Foreign Minister, Fawzi Salloukh told The Daily Star that
"these measures were taken to prevent the illegal entry of foreigners into
Lebanese territory," Salloukh refused to comment any further. This step comes a
week after the army had erected permanent military points and closed all illegal
crossings along the mountain passageways linking Syria to Lebanon in the Upper
Hermel. Elias Hanna, a researcher on military affairs, told The Daily Star that
a military decision at this level was "very important" and must have been
preceded by a political decision.
Hanna said that deploying the army would help in preventing the illegal entry of
individuals as well as the flow of weapons, but stressed that it was more
important to control weapons already present in Lebanese territories.
According to Hanna, deploying the army would allow the army to gather "good
intelligence" information about the flow of arms and individuals across the
borders with Syria. But he added that coordination between the army and the
Internal Security Forces was vital to guarantee the success of the army in
deterring that flow.
Security sources said that the deployment of army troops was an attempt to
thwart the smuggling of goods between Lebanon and Syria and to close illegal
crossroads linking the two states. Speaking from UN headquarters Thursday, MP
Walid Jumblatt had voiced his "hope that the last shipment of weapons, which
recently entered the country, would be the last one smuggled into Lebanon from
Syria." Jumblatt was referring to truckloads of arms and missiles arriving from
Syria and destined for the Lebanese resistance group Hizbullah earlier in
February. He indicated then that the army had intercepted the arms shipment but
allowed its delivery to Hizbullah and possibly Palestinian groups.
Local newspaper As-Safir reported on Friday that the UN special envoy for the
implementation of UN Resolution 1559 will talk "extensively" about the issue of
arms shipments in his next report. According to the paper, Jumblatt told Terje
Roed-Larsen, whom he met at the UN headquarters Thursday, that "he obtained
assurances from the Army Commander Michel Suleiman that this incident would not
be repeated in the future." In recent months, Lebanese authorities have been
alarmed by an influx of arms from Syria to armed Palestinian militias in
Lebanon, in particular Ahmad Jibril's Popular Front for the Liberation of
Palestine-General Command, which maintains military basis in the Bekaa Valley
and the Naameh area, south of Beirut.
Assembly of Catholic Patriachs and Bishops elects new
members
Daily Star staff-Saturday, March 11, 2006
BEIRUT: New additions were made to the Assembly of Catholic Patriarchs and
Bishops in Lebanon on Friday during an extraordinary meeting held at the
Maronite Patriarchate Seat in Bkirki. The meeting was chaired by Maronite
Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir. Participants elected Archbishop Salim Ghazal
as President of the Episcopal Committee for Islamic-Christian dialogue;
Archbishop Semaan Atallah as the President of the Episcopal Committee for the
Lebanese Diaspora; Father Elias Sader as Vice President of the Episcopal
Committee for Media; Archbishop George Abu Jaoude as member in the Episcopal
Committee for the Faculty of Pontifical Theology and Archbishop George Baqouni
as the Assembly's delegate to the Eucharistic Conference. New members of the
nominations committee included Archbishops Boulos Matar and Salim Ghazal, Father
Khalil Alwan and Mother Angel Saliba. Father Sami Chalhoub was elected as
general counselor for the Fraternity League in Lebanon. Three candidates were
proposed for the position of National Director for the Organization of the Papal
Apostolic Works; the list will be sent to the Vatican to decide on one name. The
new members decided on the subject for the assembly's next session that will be
under titled: "Parish and Pastoral Work: Applying Christian Upbringing for
Adults." - The Daily Star
Economic sector fears impact of failure in talks
Associations urge dialogue participants to take common national stance
By Nada Bakri -Daily Star staff- Saturday, March 11, 2006
BEIRUT: Various prominent industrialists, businessmen and bankers pleaded with
Lebanon's leaders Friday to deal with the economic situation, which they said
"has reached a critical stage while the national dialogue was taking
place."Delegations from the Chambers of Commerce, the Association of Hotel
Owners, Lebanese Industrialists' Association, the Association of Lebanese Banks,
and Beirut's Merchants Association visited Speaker Nabih Berri, former President
Amin Gemayel, Information Minister Ghazi Aridi and MP Boutros Harb to convey
their fears of a further decline in the economy.
The national talks which started almost 10 days ago were due to last for a week,
but instead they were adjourned on their fifth day until the following Monday.
During the adjournment period there was a rush to buy dollars, which aggravated
fears of a financial crisis. The delegations also sent letters to several policy
makers detailing the critical situation in the country and pointing to the
negative impacts the dialogue's failure might have on the financial and
industrial sector.
This development came as Finance Minister Jihad Azour announced the economic
issue will be added to the agenda of the talks. The topics were until now
limited to the investigation into former Premier Rafik Hariri, the
Syrian-Lebanese relations and United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559.
Azour said he had raised the issue with Speaker Nabih Berri on Friday. "Speaker
Berri's reaction to the request was very positive and he said that the topic
might be discussed during the talks.""I believe there is an urgent need to reach
a united economic vision and economic program that will attract mass support,"
he said. President of the Association of Lebanese Banks Francois Basil urged the
leaders to reach a common stance during the talks as any further political
division "might lead to severe economic dangers that can deepen the physical and
financial imbalance and limit economic growth."He added the political stalemate
and instability discourage Arab and international capitals from investing in
Lebanon. The Chambers of Commerce said in letters to various politicians urging
a common national stance that will put an end to the deterioration of financial
institutions. "If the dialogue fails to solve the situation, foreign capitals
will recoil and the money sector will face additional obstacle and endure
outstanding pressure," read one letter.
President of Lebanese Industrialists' Association Fadi Abboud, who visited
Gemayel, outlined the problems his sector was facing especially the scarcity of
diesel oil from the Lebanese market, which local factories primarily rely on. "I
don't want to create panic, but the economic situation is critical which
requires a successful outcome from the talks," said Abboud, following his
meeting with Gemayel. President of Beirut's Merchants Association Nadim Assi
said the participants in the dialogue should realize the grave situation in
trade and industry. "We asked Minister Aridi to echo our fears and concerns
during Monday's session," said Assi, after meeting with Aridi. Assi also pressed
for economic reforms that emphasize a rational economic cycle as the situation
allows no retreat at all. Meanwhile the owners of restaurants and shops located
in Downtown Beirut, where the talks are being held, pressed Berri to take
necessary procedures to revive the area and compensate them for their losses.
These shops are forced to shut down during the period of the dialogue for
security concerns.
Soueid: Syria using Shebaa to force Lebanon into
Arab-Israeli conflict
By Maher Zeineddine -Daily Star correspondent
Saturday, March 11, 2006
CHOUF: Anti-Syrian politician and former MP Fares Soueid said Friday Syria "is
using the Shebaa Farms issue to force Lebanon into the Arab-Israeli conflict."
Soueid was speaking on Friday during a seminar before a crowd of university
students who came to show their support for the Independence Intifada. The
seminar was organized by the students of the Lebanese University in Deir al-Qamar
entitled "The Independence Intifada Goes On." Soueid added: "After we liberate
the Shebaa Farms from the Israeli troops, we will liberate them from Syria's
control." Soueid further added the country is in need of a new president to
settle all accumulated pending issues, such as the "weapons of the resistance,
the Shebaa Farms, and the Syrian-Lebanese relations." With ongoing disputes
about the identity of the Shebaa Farms, Soueid said "Syria is not willing to
give us any document to prove its real identity."Soueid rejected the remarks
made against MP Walid Jumblatt that accuse him of deliberately trying to
sabotage the dialogue. He said: "These accusations and some of the positions
taken will not discontinue the Independence Intifada, but it will move on. It
has scored many achievements." Soueid called for "demarcating the borders with
Syria and sealing the (illegal) border points between the two
countries."Democratic Gathering bloc MP Wael Bou Faour reiterated during the
seminar that the national dialogue was one of the fundamental demands the March
14 Forces have been calling for. Bou Faour said that the March 14 Forces "are
fully prepared to return to the dialogue to reach a political settlement for
Lebanon."He reiterated that what Jumblatt said in Washington late this week week
about disarming the resistance was nothing new. "That was said during the
dialogue before he left for the U.S.," he said.
The MP slammed officials for lashing out at Jumblatt for his U.S. trip "while
the Syrian regime is allowed to tour the world in search of a settlement with
the U.S., Israel and other Western countries to regain control over Lebanon."
Future Movement MP Walid Eido also voiced his rejection at the seminar for any
kind of tutelage over Lebanon. He said: "The only tutelage we have is the one
represented in the March 14 and February 14 crowds."He said that the "foreign"
efforts to topple the dialogue "aim at showing that the Lebanese are unable to
go-vern themselves."Eido was adamant on having President Emile Lahoud resign no
matter what consequence the dialogue reaches. "Whether the dialogue succeeds or
fails we want Lahoud to resign, and he will resign and we will continue our
efforts to topple him," said Eido.
Qabalan: People aren't politicians' slaves
By Karen Mneimne -Special to The Daily Star
Saturday, March 11, 2006
BEIRUT: Senior Shiite cleric Sayyed Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah gave a harsh
rebuke to Lebanon's politicians Friday, saying participants in the national
dialogue share no "common points" in their political projects since each one of
them is adamant on his own position. Fadlallah was speaking on Friday following
prayers at the Imamein Hasanein mosque in Haret Hreik in Beirut's southern
suburbs, where he delivered his regular sermon.
The Shiite cleric said that the dialogue wasn't based on "objective criteria
because each politician is holding firm to his own position, and this is not
yielding any progress. A dialogue requires that the parties be ready and take
steps forward to advance the solution."
Besides tackling political issues, he asked the participants to hold another
dialogue to handle socio-economic and security issues. He also slammed foreign
interference, saying the U.S. and Israel should stop their meddling in Lebanon.
Fadlallah, who survived an assassination attempt on March 8, 1985 - almost
exactly 11 years ago - said: "On this day, the Lebanese people, particularly
those in the southern suburbs, remember this brutal crime that claimed the lives
of more than 200 men, women and children."Lebanese intelligence operatives set
off a car-bomb to assassinate Fadlallah near a mosque. Many blamed the U.S.
Central Intelligence Agency for the attack, but U.S. National Security Advisor
Robert McFarlane denied that the CIA was behind the attack, placing the blame on
"rogue operatives."
The Shiite cleric countered McFarlane's version. "The U.S. justified the blast
as self-defense," he said. "Self-defense against what?"As for the Vice-President
of the Higher Islamic Shiite Council Sheikh Abdel-Amir Qabalan, he stressed the
need for Lebanese to "remain united and stay clear from tensions and enmity."
He asked why politicians meet with each other and then disagree. "The country is
not owned by the politicians, and the people are not slaves to the politicians,"
he said. Qabalan added that he believed it is essential to adhere to the
Constitution, the laws and the 1989 Taif Accord in settling crucial matters of
state.
Warning that the overall situation is unbearable, he addressed the politicians,
saying: "they (the Lebanese people) will reject you all with no exception. The
people and the politicians are now divided."
Regarding Shebaa Farms, Qabalan said the disputed land is Lebanese territory and
that "there are documents and agreements that prove its Lebanese identity." He
asked politicians to take into consideration the socio-economic conditions of
Lebanon, and went on to advise that street protests "can't solve problems." In a
separate event, Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani held a closed-door
meeting with Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and Education Minister Khaled Qabbani
at the Grand Omari mosque in Downtown Beirut on Friday after prayers. Following
the meeting, participants underlined the "need for the national constants and
unifiers to get the country out of the crisis."
March 14 groups continue push for Lahoud's ouster
Saturday, March 11, 2006
BEIRUT: "President Emile Lahoud unified us through his practices," said Nader
Naqib, the head of the Future Movement youth committee. Speaking to The Daily
Star on Friday, Naqib said the March 14 Forces youth committees "were satisfied
by the results of the petition campaign to oust the president," adding that he
has noted "strong feelings of resentment among the people toward Lahoud." Naqib
said campaign representatives visited all the Lebanese universities, "where
students were positive toward the petition." "Even the people who do not support
the March 14 forces were not against the resignation of the president," he said.
"Some of them signed the petition, while others said they were with ousting
Lahoud after the politicians agree on his successor," Naqib added.
As for the celebrations of the March 14 Independence Intifada, Naqib said a
symbolic ceremony will be held on Tuesday in Martyrs' Square, where a "huge
Lebanese flag will be raised, accompanied by national songs and speeches
delivered by the forces' figures." Public Works and Transport Minister Mohammed
Safadi urged President Emile Lahoud to "abide by the demands of the Lebanese
people and resign," and added: "Building a modern state begins with respecting
the Constitution, which cannot be amended to suit some people's political
interests."
Safadi added his name on Friday to the petition calling for the resignation of
Lahoud. The campaign was launched on Sunday February 26 by State Minister Michel
Pharaon. Addressing a delegation from the March 14 forces' youth committees,
Safadi said: "The extension of President Lahoud's term did not result from the
free will of the Lebanese people; what is important today is to restore the
dignity of the presidency and elect a new president who will be a symbol of the
unity of the country." Safadi added: "We hope that during Monday's dialogue
session, we will reach all the solutions demanded by the Lebanese people." In a
separate development, a delegation from the March 14 forces' legal experts
committee paid a visit Friday to the head of the Justice and administration
parliamentary committee, MP Robert Ghanem. After signing the parliamentary
petition to oust the president, Ghanem said: "The youth of the March 14 forces
gave strength to the march toward the achievement of the country's democracy,
independence and sovereignty." Ghanem added: "The president should represent the
leading authority in the country and should not divide between the people."
Expatriates join anti-Lahoud petition drive
By Hadi Tawil -Special to The Daily Star
Saturday, March 11, 2006
BEIRUT: Lebanon's March 14 Forces' expatriate community in the United States and
Canada has voiced its intention to sign the petition for ousting President Emile
Lahoud. Baha Bou Karroum, who is responsible for the campaign abroad, told The
Daily Star: "We will hold an event in front of the Lebanese Embassy in the
States, where the petition will be signed."
Events will be held in Los Angeles, Detroit, Washington, Miami, New York,
Cleveland and Boston, Bou Karroum said. "We contacted the Free Patriotic
Movement in the States and Canada, but I don't think they will participate in
the event," he added.
"The participation should be vast, especially in Los Angeles. However, the
problem is that the event will happen on a weekend, and some of the Lebanese
consulates might be closed. "The same event will take place on March 12 in
France and Switzerland," he said. Nader Nakib from the Future Movement said the
event will also take place in Australia and Africa, where there are large
expatriate communities.
Harb explains resignations in electoral law committee
Daily Star staff-Saturday, March 11, 2006
BEIRUT: MP Boutros Harb said Friday the two Maronite members of the national
committee drafting an electoral law resigned after disagreements with other
members over the mission entrusted to the committee.
In an interview with the LBC television, Harb said Michel Tabet and Ziad Baroud
believed that they were entrusted with agreeing on a draft electoral law, which
the committee would submit to Cabinet. The other committee members thought that
they were entrusted with submitting to Cabinet more than one option to choose
from. The second reason behind the resignation was a failure to reach an
agreement about the division of electoral districts based on the proportional
electoral system, Harb said. Harb said he believed that discords resulted over
the number, size and structure of the electoral districts, as Tabet and Baroud
agreed on 13 whereas the other committee members did not oppose the proposition
but had other options.
Harb said the solution to this problem is not to replace the two people who
resigned, but to resolve the issues that prompted them to resign and try to
reintegrate them into the committee. "The two people who resigned are
independent academics and their stands are not political, but rather
scientific," he added. The MP highlighted the importance of an electoral law
that would propose a fair representation of the people, adding that time is
running out and perhaps it would be better for Cabinet to extend the deadline
for the committee. Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel urged the committee to set a
unifying modern parliamentary electoral law and not merely revise the draft
electoral laws already proposed by other parties and political leaders. Gemayel
said he had pinned high hopes on the committee, which is "formed by a
trustworthy elite," but he was surprised about the resignation of two of its
members. The minister added that he was confident that the calm settlement of
the issue will help the committee adopt a modern law that meets the expectations
of the people. - The Daily Star
Cosmonaut to visit Lebanon: 'It looked fantastic from
space'
Alexei A. Leonov was first to float free outside spacecraft
Daily Star staff-Saturday, March 11, 2006
BEIRUT: Cosmonaut Alexei A. Leonov, the first human being to step outside a
spacecraft and float freely in space, will be visiting Lebanon on Monday "to
make sure that the Lebanon he saw from outer space is the same on Earth."
Local daily Al-Balad published an interview with Leonov by Alexander Kfoury of
the Novosty Russian news agency, in which Leonov said: "My visit to Lebanon
comes upon the request of the Russian Foreign Ministry with the agreement of the
Lebanese authorities, after I visited Syria, Saudi Arabia and Iran." Leonov
added: "The code word of my fellow astronaut Yuri Gagarin was 'cedar,' and the
cedar is the symbol of Lebanon. ... I remember I saw Lebanon from my spaceship
when it was surfing above the Middle East," he added. Leonov said: "Lebanon
looked fantastic from outer space. That is why I decided to come and visit. "I
intend to visit several cities during my stay in Lebanon, and I will organize a
photo exhibition of my time in space. I also intend to meet several people," he
said. "The most amazing thing for me in outer space is not the absence of the
law of gravity but the ability to see the sun, moon and Earth all at the same
time," he added.
Leonov talked about the impressions he used to get while he was in space and
said: "The impressions are many. First there is the visual, that is the bluish
Earth and the black sky and the sun and stars."The second thing you notice is
the complete silence, he said: "Everything used to be so calm I could hear my
heart beat.
"All astronauts say the same thing: It's beautiful, unlimited, and our home, so
let's protect it," Leonov said. "I have been the head of an organization called
Astronaut since 1985, and we issued a very important book titled "Our Blue
Planet, Earth," Leonov continued. As to what he is currently doing, Leonov said:
"I now have another job as the vice president of Alfa Bank and the President of
the financial institution Bering-Foe Stock Capital. I flew with honor all these
years and I left the job not for health reasons but for political reasons." He
did not specify those reasons. Leonov added: "I paint every morning and every
evening. The subjects of my paintings are varied, I draw natural sceneries.
"However I haven't lost my contact with space traveling and astronauts," he
said. - The Daily Star
Alternating the top political jobs around the three main confessions every four
years can reinforces the sense of national identity in the Lebanese
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Since Syria's "sanctities" collapsed along with its project in Lebanon, is it
time for Lebanese safeguards to establish true civil peace that protects this
country-message from booby-trapped, poisoned and imported rhetoric?
By Lebanese safeguards I mean the constitutional guarantees that preserve
confessional diversity and balance between institutions without failing to
promote national identity in every Lebanese, regardless of confession, tribe or
place of birth.
It is true that the Taif Accord saw Lebanon's Civil War end. However, the
inherent faults and constitutional defects that endangered the institutions'
work were demonstrated on the one hand through practice, and on the other by
being partial, selective and temperamental implementation in a manner that
distorted its content and shook its consensual foundations.
Consequently, if the Lebanese are serious about coexisting on the basis of
equality and regaining their sense of national belonging, they have to prove
that by forming a committee of high-ranking lawmakers that would address the
Taif's defects without tampering with its substance. This committee would also
have to present these amendments to the first House freely elected on the basis
of a fair and modern law.
One of the major issues that should be disregarded is the reconsideration of the
jurisdiction of the three powers - not to limit it but rather to facilitate a
stable and equal rule, allowing confessions to alternate between these powers
after the creation of the Council of Ministers stipulated in Article 22 of the
Lebanese Constitution.
The presidency
Reducing the term of the president from six years (Article 49 of the
Constitution) to four nonrenewable and nonextendible years is imperative to
implementing the principle of alternation of the presidency between the
confessions. This ensures that no single confession monopolizes a specific
presidency for too long. The four-year mandate has become sufficient to
implement the program of a specific presidency, giving the people the
opportunity to decide whether to maintain this program of not. By reducing the
mandate to four years, the parliamentary elections would coincide with the
presidential elections; they should be even held before the presidential
elections so the people can have the opportunity to change the parliamentary
majority should they wish to.
The legislative power
Parliament's ordinary session:
Articles 31 and 32 of the Constitution set the legal dates to hold a
parliamentary session; other dates are considered void and in violation of the
law. The House's two ordinary periods stretch from the Tuesday following March
15 until the end of May and from the Tuesday following October 15 until the end
of the year, provided texamining and voting on the take precedence over anythign
else.
Consequently, the meeting of MPs to legislate and vote on a budget does not
exceed 180 days a year if no extraordinary sessions were called for.
First, regarding the increasing need to legislate and emphasize the quality of
the laws, it is not acceptable to limit Parliament's legislative work only to
the mid-year. There are draft laws and law proposals lying in the drawers not
for political reasons but for the financial impossibility of examining and
voting on them.
Second, limiting Parliament sessions to a relatively short period of time, and
giving the president, with the premier's consent, the authority to call for
extraordinary House sessions by virtue of a decree setting the opening and
closing date as well as the agenda (Article 33 of the Constitution), means
limiting the jurisdiction of the House to serve as an executive power and comes
in violation of paragraph (c) of the Constitution's preamble which clearly
stipulates that "Lebanon is a parliamentary democratic republic."
This is why we suggest the amendment of Article 32 of the Constitution and the
adoption of one ordinary session for the House, stretching from mid-October
until mid-June.
Such an amendment would contribute to making Parliament its own master.
Executive power
Separating Parliament from the Cabinet:
The principle of separating the legislative power from the executive power
stipulated in the Constitution is not effectively implemented. Article 28 of the
Constitution, which authorizes grouping the Parliament and Cabinet function,
contradicts paragraph (e) of the Constitution's preamble which stipulates that
the regime is based on the principle of separation, balance and cooperation
between the powers.
So how can the House hold Cabinet to account if ministers are also MPs? Could it
be both the opponent and the arbiter?
Consequently, based on the principle of separation of powers which guarantees
government's performance, we believe the Cabinet and the House should be
separated and therefore Article 28 of the Lebanese Constitution should be
amended, and a mechanism regulating the vacancy of the positions of MPs who
joined the Cabinet be included in the electoral law.
About urgent bill:
Article 58 of the Constitution stipulates that: "Every bill the Cabinet deems
urgent and in which this urgency is indicated in the decree of transmission to
the Parliament may be issued by the president within 40 days following its
communication to the House, after including it on the agenda of a general
meeting, reading it aloud before the House, and after the expiration of the time
limit without the House acting on it."
Linking the 40-day deadline granted to the president to pass an urgent bill by
Cabinet to the proviso of including this bill in the agenda of the general House
meeting and reading it aloud before the Assembly gives the House speaker the
chance to maneuver and the possibility to hamper the implementation of this
article by not raising the urgent bill in the agenda and consequently postponing
the 40-day deadline.
Based on the principle of equal and separated powers, the House speaker should
not be given this authority to hamper the Cabinet's work. But, if we adopt the
one-session principle for the House, which stretches from mid-October to
mid-June every year, then the general meetings become weekly throughout the year
and including an urgent bill as soon as possible in the agenda becomes
inevitable.
The governmental solidarity
The National Accord document entrusted the executive power with the Cabinet
(Article 65 of the Constitution) and Article 66 of the Constitution made the
ministers responsible in general of Parliament's general ministerial policy and
made them responsible of their personal actions.
The practice gave the ministers the freedom to revolt against the ministerial
decisions and the Cabinet's general policy, which destabilized the governmental
solidarity and weakened the position of the prime minister, who coordinates with
the ministers and gives general instructions to guarantee the well-functioning
of public institutions and administrations (Article 64 of the Constitution).
In order to avoid any embarrassment and to guarantee the governmental
solidarity, which incarnates a unified political will and a coherent vision of
the Cabinet's direction, the opposition ministers should voice their rejection
from inside the Cabinet.
Any minister, who rejects the Cabinet's general policy by publicly criticizing
its directions and objecting its practices, should resign or should be forced to
resign.
The Cabinet cannot stay in power if it is divided and cannot be an arena for the
loyalists and the opposition at the same time. It is true that Lebanon is based
on a consensual democracy but this does not allow the executive power to turn
into a forum for exchanging accusations between its members, because such a
thing would hamper democracy.
Keeping the opposition ministers away from the government strengthens executive
power and enhances both the opposition and the loyalists.
Setting a deadline for the prime minister to issue decrees
Article 56 of the Constitution set a time limit for the president to issue the
laws and decrees to prevent him from stalling and hampering the work of the
constitutional institutions. Article 64 of the Constitution did not set any
deadline for the prime minister to issue these decrees, which encouraged the
adoption of the boycott and the refusal to signing the decrees for political
reasons concerning the premier, effectively hampering the work of the government
and destabilizing the relations between the president and Parliament.
Consequently, in order to restore balance between the three top politicians and
guarantee the smooth running of the government, Article 64 of the Constitution
should be amended by adding deadlines on the prime minister similar to the
president's deadlines to issue decrees.
Prosecuting the ministers
The Lebanese Constitution neither includes a document that defines "high
treason," the "violation of the Constitution," or "failing to assume the
duties," nor does it impose compliance with the Penal Code; knowing that the Law
of Procedures before the Higher Council To Try (the Three Top Posts) and
Ministers compelled this council to abide by the principle of the legality of
the crimes and the legality of punishments stipulated by articles one and six of
the Penal Code.
Consequently, in order to abide by Article 70 of the Constitution, it is
necessary to include in the Law of Procedures before the Higher Council a text
explaining the meaning of the minister's failure to assume his/her duties so
that the minister does not remain above the law.
The Constitutional Council
The Constitutional Council should be granted a mandate to review the
constitutionality of the laws, according to a request of one of the legal
parties before the State Council or the Cassation Court. This mandate should be
preceded by a two-year period, during which Parliament accounts for the laws
that might be unconstitutional. It is obvious to include in the constitutional
council the mandate to review the constitutionality of the constitutional
amendments and to preserve the higher principles in the Constitution, which
cannot be altered even in a constitutional amendment, like coexistence or
consensual democracy, and these principles are called "supra-constitutional" in
the constitutional law.
An interpretation of the Constitution by Parliament cannot produce mandatory
results unless this interpretation takes place through a legal text that
respects the constitutional procedures stipulated by articles 76 and 77 of the
Constitution.
Consequently, it is necessary to reconsider allowing the Constitutional Council
to interpret the Constitution, since this mission does not conflict with the
concept of sovereignty, especially as the theory of monitoring the
constitutionality of laws is now adopted in most countries of the world.
The independence of the judiciary
The Constitution provides only Article 20, which organizes the executive power
and stipulates that: "The executive power is handled by all the courts,
regardless of their competence and levels, within a system that is stipulated by
the law and provides the legal parties with the necessary guarantees. The
conditions of the judicial guarantee and its limits are set by the law. The
judges are independent in performing their job while the decrees and decisions
are issued by all the courts and implemented in the name of the Lebanese
people."
While the Constitution stresses the independence of the judges, it does not
mention any mechanism that guarantees this independence.
The National Accord document noted this gap and tried to fill the void in
paragraph (b) pertaining to the courts, and said: "In order to enhance the
independence of the judiciary: the judicial body elects a certain number of the
members of the Higher Judicial Council."
However, the paragraph has not been put into effect yet. Criticism cannot stop
as long as the judicial power remains dependent on the executive power.
Consequently, we call for the implementation of the part of the Taif Accord
pertaining to the independence of the judiciary and we also propose that the
Higher Judicial Council be granted the mandate to make the judicial appointments
without referring to the executive power, which would give the public
prosecutors and the judicial body total independence, absolving them of all
suspicions. We also call for promoting the judges' social situation, which would
encourage skilled individuals to join the judicial body and empower them against
bribery.
The Senate
Article 22 of the Lebanese Constitution says: "With the election of the first
Parliament on a national basis and not on a confessional basis, a new Caabinet
should be created, in which all the spiritual families are represented and whose
mandate is limited to critical issues."
Consequently, this article linked the creation of a Senate to the election of
the first Parliament on a national, nonconfessional basis. This link is
illogical, because the creation of a Parliament on national basis could take
dozens of years and is related to the prior presence of the Senate, which
represents the guarantee of moving from a confessional Parliament to a national
one.
The creation of a Senate would also resolve the issue of the representation of
the Druze, Catholic and Orthodox confessions in the Lebanese pyramid, which will
be formed of four powers: the president, the premier, the speaker and the Senate
president.
The jurisdictions of the Senate are summarized as follows:
l The authority to veto every law that contradicts the principle of consensual
democracy or co-existence and rights of the confessions.
l Proposing laws, especially those related to the confessional structure in
Lebanon.
l A second reading of the laws whereby the Senate has the right to return to
Parliament provided that a two-thirds majority of its members (16 members as we
will see later) vote for it. In this case, the House should adopt the law by its
majority. If the president of the Republic requests to reconsider this law in
accordance with Article 57 of the Constitution, then the House should adopt with
its two-thirds majority (after amending Article 57 of the Constitution). The
Senate is composed of 22 members after the number of MPs in the House is reduced
from 128 to 108 as was mentioned in paragraph six of the item on political
reforms in the National Accord document.
The Senate members are distributed as follows:
Three Sunni representatives, three Shiite representatives, three Druze
representatives and one Alawite representative (10 Muslims). Three Maronite
representatives, two Catholic representatives, and two Greek Orthodox
representatives, one Armenian Catholic representative, One Armenian Orthodox
representative, and one representative for the Christian minorities (10
Christians). One representative for the Jews and one representative for the
nonconfessional (22 altogether). Each sect elects Senate members who represent
them and each voter has one vote (one man, one vote). Lebanon follows one
electoral district and those who secure the largest number of votes possible
from the voters within their sect for the seats allocated to this sect are
considered successful.
Alternations in presidency and in positions among confessions
What has offended the Lebanese structure the most was the domination of one
confession of a certain post for a permanent period. This made other confessions
feel they were treated unfairly even though they were competent enough to assume
a certain position. But their confessional belonging hindered their chances of
assuming a position. This is one of the reasons that weakened national identity
and pushed the Lebanese people to take refuge behind their confessional
identities. It is difficult to change this reality especially after the country
witnessed 15 years of war in the name of the weak and 15 years of struggle in
the name of the marginalized people. The answer to to resolving this
confessional reality lies in giving it guarantees so that it doesn't turn to
foreign countries, requesting protection from abroad, or to bloody internal
fighting or division.
Confessions in Lebanon are a fact that we have to acknowledge if we are to find
a solution to the problems that the country has been suffering from ever since
these confessions existed. Therefore, terminating political sectarianism in
Lebanon can't be acommplished following the French approach that has begun to
suffer from its shortcomings and restrictions.
Terminating political sectarianism in Lebanon definitely passes through
alternations in presidencies and posts between the major confessions (Maronites,
Shiites and Sunnis) and the others (Druze, Catholics and Orthodox) to pave the
way for other confessions to be active and play their roles in order to achieve
actual equality between the Lebanese people and to reinforce their national
identity in lieu of pure confessional belonging.
These alternations should be made every four years (duration of the mandate of
the president and House speaker) according to the way defined in the attached
table (the table is an example, which is why it does not tackle all posts in all
ministries and administrations).
The philosophy of alternations, which should coincide with adopting the
broad-based administrative decentralization stipulated in the Taif Accord, is to
pave the way for all confessions to actually participate in the essence of
governance without any one sect being dominated by another or making the other
confessions feel they are marginalized. In this way, national identity is
strengthened through the confessional guarantees whereby each party feels that
banking on foreign countries will not be more profitable than banking on
Lebanon. During each governance session, alternation and change in posts,
confessions get used to dealing with each other on the basis of equality and
complementarity and it becomes a motivation for peace without risk. From here,
each confession should feel it is represented by a person who holds a leadership
position in the four authorities and there is no default in that. As much as
alternation secures national balance and equality among the Lebanese on "the
Lebanese way" (that is much better than what is used today), the election of
each confession for its representative in the post of the presidency of the
Republic or the ministry or public prosecution or Senate secures political
stability that Lebanon has lacked since its independence.
There is no shame in having each confession elect its "leader" at a certain
stage as long as it has the option after four years of re-electing this leader,
but allow the succeeding presidency to have a different position and competence
but which still cooperates and interacts with the other presidencies.
This system limits these confessions from turning to other countries. At the
same time it limits the instinct that leans toward division because, by
maintaining the unity of the country, each confession is given its right in the
authority, and the right to participate and express its specificities within the
general structure. This doesn't stop the candidates of a certain confession
wishing to assume one of these presidential posts from cooperating with other
candidates of other confessions. Each one strives to win the confidence of his
voters on the basis of a unified governance program where it is up to the people
to decide an integrated ruling team on the basis of political and economic
choices and not on the basis of instincts.
Confessional strife under such a system can't be justified especially after
adopting a modern and fair law for parliamentary elections on the basis of
proportionality and large historic muhafazat that safeguards the rights of "nonconfessional
individuals."
With reference to the table on the alternation of posts between the confessions
every four years, the establishment of a Senate gives a fourth confession the
opportunity to assume a post in the authority.
This post was allocated to the Druze, but it is possible that even on this
level, there would be an alternation every four years between the Druze, the
Orthodox, the Catholics whereby each confession takes part in determining
Lebanon's fate on all levels.
In a quick reading of the typical table of the alternation of posts between the
confessions, we can see for example when the president of the Republic belongs
to a certain confession, Maronite or Sunni, the same confession is given the
finance portfolio since it is the main ministry. That is done in order to
compensate the modest powers of the president of the Republic compared with the
other presidencies. Furthermore, the posts of defense minister and director
general of the Surete Generale are given to a person from his confession
(Maronite, Sunni or Shiite) or from another confession (Druze, Catholic or
Orthodox) if the president was a Druze, Orthodox or Catholic.
When the prime minister is a Druze or Shiite for example, his confession can't
be given a major portfolio except for the Justice Ministry to maintain the
balance with the other confessions due to the broad jurisdiction the premier
enjoys although the Cabinet rules like an assembled commission. In this context,
the post of public works and transport minister (the largest service provider
ministry) can't be given to someone who is from a different confession than the
premier. The same is applicable to the post of the president of the Council of
Development and Reconstruction. As for the post of the Internal Security Forces
Commander, it is given to a person who is from the same confession as the
premier is so that this confession secures an advanced position among leaders of
security apparatuses.
For example, when the Speaker of the House is a Sunni or Catholic, the foreign
minister, education minister, army commander, president of the Council of
Development and Reconstruction are from his confession. In this way, this
confession secures a position for foreign affairs, and other social, security
and developmental positions.
The Senate, with the jurisdiction it has to legislate regarding issues such as
co-existence, consensual democracy, and rights of confessions, is like a
guarantee for a confession whose leader presides the Interior Ministry, the
Lebanese University, and the Constitutional Council. These jurisdictions
safeguard for this confession the Public Works and Transport portfolio as a
development guarantee.
If we apply the principle of alternation, with its defaults, in the presidential
posts between the confessions, we would allow the major confessions (Maronites,
Shiites, and Sunnis) to alternate the four presidencies between them in a
complete cycle every 16 years with a different presidency for each of them every
four years. This would also allow the confessions (Druze, Catholics, and
Orthodox) to take their turns in assuming these presidencies even for a longer
period (once every eight years, meaning that every confession needs 32 years to
alternate one complete session).
Isn't this equation, with its defaults, much fairer than the equation that is
currently adopted, wherey the Maronite confession dominates the post of the
president of the Republic, and the Shiite sect dominates the post of the speaker
of the House and the Sunni sect dominates the post of the prime minister and
then they all quarrel over the jurisdictions and denying the other confessions
their rights in shaping the history and future of Lebanon until they give up in
frustration?
It is true that this system is not being fair to all the confessions in Lebanon
starting with the Armenians and the Christian minorities to the Alawites. But it
is a bold step on the way to eradicate political sectarianism stipulated in
Article 95 of the Constitution.
When the largest number possible of confessions take part in running this
country, then their sense of national identity is reinforced, mutual distrust
disappears and fears and concerns vanish.
Our apologies to all those who still dream of a day where all confessional
identities disappear in favor of national identity and then naively try to
impose patriotism.
I can't imagine the orient without religions or a society without minorities.
Lebanon lies in the heart of this eastern part of the world and the Lebanese
community is composed of large minorities of a confessional nature. So why do we
lie to each other? And why do we ignore each other or challenge each other? No
one can eliminate the other or even live without the other. Our fates are linked
to the fate of the community as a whole. That's why we have to always picture
modern systems that sponsor co-existence in a fair and modern manner. These
systems should be tailored to Lebanon's needs, they should be neither copied
from foreign systems nor imposed on us. This alternation in the presidencies
between the confessions is an attempt to picture solutions to some of the
challenges that are somehow difficult our societies are facing. This solution
does not claim to be comprehensive and does not claim to be the perfect solution
that I look forward to. It is a real attempt that stands in the face of the
cycle of irrationality that is paralyzing our initiatives. Whoever believes that
the "truth" in Lebanon is only to safeguard this constitutional equation (the
charter and Taif Accord) is like a tourist riding in a taxi that has run out of
gas and believes that he reached his destination!
So, to all those who are convening in the name of the dialogue and are aiming to
reach a settlement for the country, I urge you to not let this stage of our long
national journey pass us by. Gather all your ideas and initiatives before the
country burns down!
Rabieh al-Shaer -Adviser in Public Policies
Français / English
Reporters sans frontières-
Communiqué de presse
10 mars 2006
LEBANON
No progress in solving murder three months after death of Gebran Tueni
Reporters Without Borders has joined the family of murdered Lebanese journalist
Gebran Tueni, in calling for pressure to be stepped up for an effective
investigation into his death in a car-bombing last December.
His daughter, Nayla Tueni, told the press freedom organisation on behalf of the
family, "We are shocked that three months after Gebran's death, no judge has yet
been appointed to open an investigation. It is unacceptable."
She called on the local and foreign press to help focus attention on the daily
harassment suffered by journalists in Lebanon on a daily basis. "Too many
journalists are killed for what they write," she said, herself a journalist.
Journalist and politician, Gebran Tueni, was killed in a car bomb blast on 12
December, 2005, in Mkalles in the Christian suburbs of the Lebanese capital. He
was editor-in-chief of the daily An-Nahar and a Beirut deputy.
Three journalists were victims of unsolved car-bombing attacks during 2005.
Samir Kassir, editorial writer on An-Nahar, died in a car bombing on 2 June
2005. Kassir and Tueni both knew they were under threat after the assassination
of the former prime minister Rafic Hariri, on 14 February 2005. Star TV
presenter, May Chidiac, of the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation was very badly
injured when her car blew up on 25 September 2005.
Liban
Aucune avancée trois mois après l'assassinat de Gebrane Tuéni
Trois mois après l'assassinat du journaliste libanais Gebrane Tuéni, Reporters
sans frontières s'associe à l'appel lancé par sa famille à la presse locale et
internationale.
Interrogée par Reporters sans frontières, Nayla Tuéni, la fille du journaliste,
a déclaré au nom de sa famille : "Nous sommes choqués que, trois mois après le
décès de Gebrane, aucun juge n'ait encore été nommé afin de commencer
l'investigation. C'est inacceptable."
Nayla Tuéni a demandé "une mobilisation plus importante" de la presse de son
pays ainsi que de la presse étrangère. Jeune journaliste elle-même, Nayla Tuéni
a ajouté : "Il faut attirer l'attention sur les pressions que subissent
quotidiennement les journalistes au Liban. Trop de journalistes sont tués pour
leurs écrits."
Le journaliste et homme politique, Gebrane Tuéni, a été victime d'une attaque à
la voiture piégée, le 12 décembre 2005, à Mkalles, banlieue chrétienne de la
capitale libanaise. PDG du quotidien An-Nahar il était également député de
Beyrouth.
Trois professionnels des médias ont été victimes d'attentats non élucidés au
cours de l'année 2005. Samir Kassir, éditorialiste du quotidien An-Nahar, a
perdu la vie le 2 juin 2005, dans l'explosion de sa voiture. Journalistes
réputés et respectés, Gebrane Tuéni et Samir Kassir se savaient menacés depuis
l'assassinat de l'ancien Premier ministre Rafic Hariri, le 14 février 2005. La
voiture de May Chidiac, la présentatrice vedette de la chaîne LBC (Lebanese
Broadcasting Corporation) avait explosé le 25 septembre 2005, blessant
grièvement la journaliste.
Maghreb & Middle-East Desk
Lynn TEHINI
Reporters Without Borders
5 rue Geoffroy-Marie
F - 75009 Paris
33 1 44 83 84 84
33 1 45 23 11 51 (fax)
middle-east@rsf.org
www.rsf.org