Camouflage & Deceit
By:
Elias Bejjani
LCCC Media Chairman
30/10/02
There is nothing any more surprising in this current global era that does
not honor values and human rights. There is no more respect for ethics, integrity or
honor in politics. This deviation from the norm is shamelessly portrayed in the
twisted pattern applied by big countries in their relations with oppressed people
worldwide. All what these big powers care about is their own interests, while
freedoms and democracy are mere empty slogans, deceitful media tags used for manipulation
and camouflage.
This bitter reality was most evident during the Francohponie summit recently held in
Beirut. It is worth mentioning that thirty out of the fifty-six French speaking
countries that participated in the meeting, from Canada to Vietnam, oppress their own
people and infringe on basic human rights. Occupied Lebanon's regime is a leading
role model in this devious domain.
The outcome of the meeting was not a success for Lebanon's cause of liberation, nor for
the Arab-Israeli conflict. The recommendation stated,
"We reaffirm our complete support for Lebanon and its people in the efforts aiming to
face political, economical and social challenges. We call for an immediate
resumption of the peace process based on the Madrid Conference principles and the United
Nations resolutions, especially UN resolutions 242 and 338. We also support the
Arabic peace initiative adopted unanimously at the last Arabic Summit Conference held in
Beirut on (March 27/28/2002) . We consider this initiative with all its components,
"The Land for Peace" in particular, and the one addressing the Palestinian
Refugee problem, the best frame to reach a just and comprehensive solution in the
region"
The meeting has turned a blind eye on the UN Resolution 520, that demands for the
withdrawal of all non-Lebanese forces from Lebanon and Reaffirms resolutions 508 (1982),
509 (1982) and 516 (1982) in all their components. UN 520 also calls for the strict
respect for Lebanon's sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity and political independence
under the sole and exclusive authority of the Lebanese Government through the Lebanese
Army throughout Lebanon. In addition, it also affirms the UN resolutions 512 (1982)
and 513 (1982) which calls for the respect for the rights of the civilian populations
without any discrimination and repudiates all acts of violence against those populations.
President Chirac was a big disappointment for the majority of the Lebanese who expected a
courageous and just stance. He did not only drop the UN Resolution 520 from all his
speeches, interviews and statements, but also tied the Syrian Army withdrawal from Lebanon
with the final and ultimate Arabic-Israeli peace. In his speech at Lebanon's Syrian
installed parliament he said,
"Definitely there will be no constant, just and comprehensive peace unless it
includes Lebanon and Syria and unless a fair solution is formulated to address the
Palestinian Refugee problem. A solution that takes into consideration Lebanon's
interests, this is Frances's solid stance. At the same time, any progress towards
peace that we wish genuinely to see, will give Lebanon and Syria the opportunity to
arrange their own relations and accomplish the complete withdrawal of the Syrian army from
you country Lebanon in accordance to the Taef Accord."
We wonder if there is any justice in not addressing Lebanon's occupation dilemma in an
international meeting held in the Lebanese capital itself; although it was convened
under the Syrian occupier's flag and in the shadow of its oppressive Stalinist iron fist.
We also ask ourselves, according to which human rights' covenant, has Lebanon been
kept a hostage of the Arab-Israeli conflict, and a pawn in the devious Middle East power
balance formula? In the meantime, the Arab-Israeli conflict has been escalating for
the last fifty years, and might maintain this same status quo for another fifty years
more. Does this simply mean that the Lebanese people have to endlessly endure
Syria's occupation and suffer its savage consequences as long as this conflict remains
unsolved?
We believe that Syria's unlawful and dirty services delivered to Israel, Arab Monarchies,
France and the United States should not justify its ongoing occupation of our beloved
country!
The Lebanese people were shocked when they saw President Chirac addressing Lebanon's
Syrian installed Parliament. Mr. Chirac knows better than anyone else, that this
Parliament does not by any means represent the Lebanese hopes, aspirations or free will.
He is also fully aware that all elections that took place since 1990 were fake and
completely manipulated and staged by the Syrian occupier. These Syrian appointed
MP'S have betrayed Lebanon's people and sold the country to their Syrian master that had
appointed them for a price. They have passed legislations that made Lebanon a Syrian
Colony and a satellite state. They were and still are a local cover for Syria's
horrible atrocities inflicted on the Lebanese people in all domains. They were and
still are filthy rubber stamps and cowardly cronies of the puppet appointed officials in a
conspiracy targeting Lebanon's freedoms, sovereignty, independence, identity, history and
economy.
President Chirac has committed a terrible infringement against the Covenant of Human
Rights by addressing a Parliament that was not elected by the country's people. This
same Parliament does not honor any right for the Lebanese to call for the end of the
Syrian occupation or address any atrocities committed by the Lebanese Syrian-installed
officials. In the eyes of this Parliament, any Lebanese who is not kneeling for
Syria's hegemony is a Zionist, Israeli collaborator and a traitor.
President Chirac's call for the implementation of the "Taef Accord" can't be
taken seriously by any nationalist Lebanese. This Accord was born dead, while the
countries that sponsored it, including France, have dishonored their rhetorical vows and
never attempted to pressure Syria to abide by its terms. The "Taef Accord"
was forced on the Lebanese in a bid to legalize and legitimize the Syrian occupation.
It was not and will never be a successful means for Lebanon's Liberation. On
the contrary, it is a Syrian-Arab tool that is devouring Lebanon as an entity and
destroying its distinguishable identity, the essence of Lebanon's 7000 years of history.
We remind Mr. Chirac, that Israel has implemented the UN Resolution 425 and withdrew its
troops from South Lebanon in May 2000. Accordingly there is not one minute reason
left that justifies the ongoing Syrian occupation. Syria is not in Lebanon to defend
the Lebanese people against Israel because its army has never shot one bullet on an
Israeli soldier or military installment. Israel has militarily attacked Lebanon
hundreds of times. Many of these attacks have targeted locations only a few meters away
from Syrian Army posts without any kind of Syrian response, except childish rhetoric and
heroic press releases.
The Lebanese nationalists were betrayed by Mr. Chirac's cajoling and appeasing pro-Syrian
stances. He did not address the injustices and oppressions inflicted on Lebanon.
The Lebanese are confident Mr. Chirac is fully aware of Syria's venomous schemes to
annihilate Lebanon's distinguishable identity, destroy its economy and impoverish and
force the new generation into emigration and therefore change the country's delicate
demography. Mr.Chirac is also aware of the persecuting and murdering of
nationalists, the confiscation of independence, and hijacking of the peoples'
representation.
The Francohponie meeting was a conference without a soul and a big failure in the
domains of justice, witnessing for the truth, freedoms and human rights. It was a
shame and a horrible crime for the fifty six countries to not address the UN Resolution
520 and deny openly Lebanon's cause of liberation.
For centuries, dating back to the days when the ancient Phoenician traders sailed the
Mediterranean selling their wares, the Lebanese have always retained a keen sense of
independence, dignity and freedom. They continue to do so, and their struggle will
go on until Lebanon is again a free and sovereign nation!
Long Live Free Lebanon
(N.B: Email your comments to the writer on lccc@10452lccc.com)