(The LCCC received this letter on 22/9/2000 from Mr. Richard Charamand..it was sent also to Ghassan Tuieni of Annahar and almost every newspaper in Lebanon)

THE VICTORY OF DEMOCRACY
Ricardo Charamand
Barcelona- Spain

Democracy has won an important battle, but is still in danger of losing the war. Normally nations, if given the opportunity, tend to be wise in running their affair. Frequently though, Nations cannot rely on being given the opportunity to decide their future, they find themselves forced to fight hard and assume great risks to obtain the right to decide their future, and preserve their Culture, Liberties and Dignity.
The Lebanese people should feel proud of the political maturity and courage their political leaders showed recently, during the last 3 weeks prior to the elections date, specially those who assumed most of the political and non political risks, like president Gemail, Prime Minister Hariri and the courageous Mr. Jemblat, who went to great extend in their denunciations of the plot against the Lebanese Liberties, Democracy, Civil and Human Rights. Other significant leaders choose to support the battle for Freedom and Democracy implicity.
The greatest loser of the Lebanese Elections is without doubt "DICTATORSHIP" personalized by the leader who likes to be called " MASTER OF THE REGIME... SAYED EL AAHAD". It is crystal clear to any realistic political observer that, the new found unity of the Lebanese democratic political leaders and their tenacity, urged the intervention of the U.S. Administration and Syria, in the last 3 to 4 days prior to the election date to prevent the planned direct intervention and manipulation during the election day and the falsification of its results, thus avoiding a more than possible bloodshed among the families of Lebanon and, its armed forces. The stupid declarations and accusations like the one effected by minister Naaman, is designed to create confusion and uncertainties among the short sighted and, is typical product of the machinations of President Lahoud and his teams "SHABAB".
If President " General Lahoud" knew the basics of Democracy and believed in it, he should have listened to the Lebanese "voice" and presented his irrevocable resignation. The Lebanese voted "Freedom and Democracy", against dictatorship and tyranny and the forces serving it in the dark. I lament very much the severe defeat of Prime Minister Hoss, but, I sincerely believe that deep inside Prime Minister Hoss does not feel proud of his political positioning and behavior tolerating the untellable, while "presiding" over the first government of General Lahoud Era. Neither him nor others, could or should ever blame former Prime Minister Hariri, who is in the opposition and being specially targeted by President Lahoud and all the instruments, official and non official, who operates in the dark, with the most savaged media campaign ever directed against any body in the Lebanese political history, for their debacle.
This is Democracy... and this is what the Lebanese voters decided. What will be the next step of President "General" Lahoud? Knowing the President as I do, he will trespass any limits to regain the initiative and the previous control of the country and its political and social affairs. In future letters I shall talk about his contingency plans. For the time being, President Gemail, Prime Minister Hariri, the free spirited and out spoken Jemblat and of course, the confident leaders of the South of Lebanon, should be very very vigilant and must never trust the patriotic- nationalistic declarations, these are as false as his real intentions behind the all famous Oath's speech.
In his political project, there is no room for anybody with a significant political organization or social and popular base. This is simply incompatible with his political project and his determination to have the absolute power. He will try to create the political and social conditions that should permit him to renew his 6 years presidential mandate and perpetuate in power with his Regime. Dear Mr. Tueni, a copy of this letter is being e-mailed to over 170 address including Lebanese political leaders, European and Spanish institutions, as well as, the international media. May I please ask you to publish it, and all my previous letters to the Lebanese citizens, they have the right and maturity to be informed. I am at the disposal of the Lebanese institutions and political leaders, as well as the media leaders to clarify any doubts they might possibly have.
Barcelona- Spain

Ricardo Charamand