16 May 2009
03 May 2009
29 April 2009
The generals are out – good news after all.
In the aftermath of the assassination of Rafik Al-Hariri in 2005, and since then, 4 high-profile security officials were held in custody of the Lebanese authorities without being charged, as permitted by Lebanese law when the detainees are believed to be a threat to national security.
Now that the Hariri case is under the international tribunal’s jurisdiction, such detention cannot be justified by the laws governing it. This led to the court’s decision to release them, and the Lebanese justice department acquiesced.
At first I was infuriated when I first read the news. How could they let them loose after what they have allegedly done? They might run away or start causing chaos again!
Coming back to my senses , and having reviewed the facts led me to think otherwise.
The fact that the Lebanese government abided by the decision of the tribunal is yet another proof that this case has not been politicized as Hezbollah & co. have been claiming.
More importantly though, and in the context of the upcoming elections, what has happened today should be an eye-opener for a lot of people.
When the tribunal was in the very early stages of being formed, we all saw how many impediments the ‘opposition’ put in the way of its formation (Resigning from the government, boycotting the parliament, to name a few of the non-violent ones). All was done under the pretext that this is a politicized tribunal whose verdict has already been pronounced and bought by the March 14th Alliance and that its formation will be a threat to Lebanese sovereignty.
Today’s event have shown how wrong March 8th Alliance was, but most of all, it offered us an opportunity to view the contrast between the 2 parties and how much they value the rule of law when it does not play in their favor…Enough for me to decide which of them I want to lead my country into the future.
25 April 2009
22 April 2005
The Human Shield
Throughout the last couple of months, we witnessed what some may mistake for an independence movement.
Our so-called leaders now sound as if they are starting to actually care about the freedom of their people, encouraging men, women and children to take onto the streets and express their frustration and anger towards a regime that has left their country on its knees after thirty years of occupation.
The latest trend for politicians had been to appear in the Media and to tell all about the low acts of manipulation, control and threats that they have been subjected to for the past fifteen years, which, of course, they now all blame their mistakes on. A lot have publicly admitted having made enormous concessions under Syrian pressure and they want us to believe that today they are leading a liberation movement out of courage.
I find it very clear that during these fifteen years and until today, their actions have been led only by fear.
They felt that selling their country and their integrity was a good enough act of allegiance that would permanently guarantee their safety and wellbeing. The occasional leniency towards their even more occasional disobediences on the national scene only made that feeling stronger.
Hariri's assassination came as a reminder that no one is safe and that during a regional crisis no stepping out of line will be tolerated. So in an infinite act of cowardliness they sought a new protector, one that would guarantee their legitimacy in front of the world who was now turning its attention on them. Where else could they find it but among their own people? The ones they were protecting themselves from have now become their only refuge. So they used the momentum created by decades of oppression and triggered by an explosion in the heart of their country to rally the crowds behind them. A final jump for safety that has so far been successful.
Just like a blind man who can see for the first time, the Lebanese people have been blinded by the rays of hope.
As pessimistic and negative as this may sound, we have not yet learned from the past, and we think we can correct a mistake by another, more esthetic one. To ensure long-term freedom and stability we have to question the motives behind people's acts, we are yet to learn that more often than not, those who are eager for elections are those smart enough to see an opportunity and want to grab it.
Only in Lebanon does the blame get put on those who bought the country instead of those who sold it.
Only in Lebanon does History always forget.
Edgard Saliba
eddysaliba@gmail.com
Our so-called leaders now sound as if they are starting to actually care about the freedom of their people, encouraging men, women and children to take onto the streets and express their frustration and anger towards a regime that has left their country on its knees after thirty years of occupation.
The latest trend for politicians had been to appear in the Media and to tell all about the low acts of manipulation, control and threats that they have been subjected to for the past fifteen years, which, of course, they now all blame their mistakes on. A lot have publicly admitted having made enormous concessions under Syrian pressure and they want us to believe that today they are leading a liberation movement out of courage.
I find it very clear that during these fifteen years and until today, their actions have been led only by fear.
They felt that selling their country and their integrity was a good enough act of allegiance that would permanently guarantee their safety and wellbeing. The occasional leniency towards their even more occasional disobediences on the national scene only made that feeling stronger.
Hariri's assassination came as a reminder that no one is safe and that during a regional crisis no stepping out of line will be tolerated. So in an infinite act of cowardliness they sought a new protector, one that would guarantee their legitimacy in front of the world who was now turning its attention on them. Where else could they find it but among their own people? The ones they were protecting themselves from have now become their only refuge. So they used the momentum created by decades of oppression and triggered by an explosion in the heart of their country to rally the crowds behind them. A final jump for safety that has so far been successful.
Just like a blind man who can see for the first time, the Lebanese people have been blinded by the rays of hope.
As pessimistic and negative as this may sound, we have not yet learned from the past, and we think we can correct a mistake by another, more esthetic one. To ensure long-term freedom and stability we have to question the motives behind people's acts, we are yet to learn that more often than not, those who are eager for elections are those smart enough to see an opportunity and want to grab it.
Only in Lebanon does the blame get put on those who bought the country instead of those who sold it.
Only in Lebanon does History always forget.
Edgard Saliba
eddysaliba@gmail.com
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