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Comments of the Association:
1
Maronite Patriarch, Bechara RAII said:
"We support the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, but it
should not be politicized or falsified."
LSTDO Critics:
We have heard what he said in Internet’ Youtube film, in
Arabic. He has said that Hezbollah accuses the Tribunal to be
politicized. He added: “Tribunal must not be politicized”. This is not a
hostile position against the Tribunal. This is not a matter to us. What
important is that the Patriarch supports the Tribunal and we are waiting
truth and justice.
2
Maronite Patriarch, Bechara RAII said:
"Hezbollah weapons are linked to multiple affairs, and
this is what we have said to France authorities. Everyone says why
Hezbollah wears weapons, we answer that the international community did
not put enough pressure on Israel to go out of Lebanese territory, and
as long as there is occupied Lebanese territory, Hezbollah will continue
to say that he wants to carry weapons in defense of his land, then what
can we say to him? Aren’t you right? ".
LSTDO Critics:
In this speech the Patriarch RAI denies his own political
past and get out from the political line of Patriarch Sfeir.
This speech is not acceptable. Hezbollah hides behind
this "theoretical" excuse in order to legitimize weapon carrying. But
weapons went in favor of the Shiite community against the Lebanese
people. Either, arms are legitimized to all Lebanese, so we continue the
chaos and feudal mini-states, or, we must
restrict weapon under the command of the army and democratic government
to be able to build a unique State that protects everyone.
3
Maronite Patriarch, Bechara RAII said:
"Also, there are Palestinians on Lebanese territory,
having weapons and they want the right of return to Palestine. Hezbollah
wants to help them. The international community should press on Israel
to help return to their land and then we can say to Hezbollah to render
weapons."
LSTDO Critics:
This talk is not acceptable. Palestinians’ weapons in
Lebanon constitute a threat and a fear on the security of Lebanese
people, just like Hezbollah weapons are. This is because extremists
existence into the two groups.
Patriarch has explained the known theoretical arguments
for the rights of the Palestinians and the Shiite Hezbollah. But he did
not make clear if, under his leadership, the Maronite Church is now
defending these arguments.
This is a large surprise and it’s unacceptable by most
Maronites.
We are laic, from multiple religious origins. We reject
the Patriarch position because it does not apply to the Lebanese
reality. Heavy weapons are wearing with extremists groups and oriented
against the majority of Lebanese people.
The presence of weapons outside the authority of the
democratic State represents a threat against Lebanon people before to be
against Israel. That multi-confessions Lebanon's people has no
confidence to armed groups which create insecurity and blackmailing.
Linking this atmosphere of economic weakness and
insecurity to a no end time, and since 60 years, under the pretext of
the right to bear arms against Israel, while it is stronger than all the
combined Arab countries, is something not less than the delirium of
Hassan Nasrallah, Nabih Berri, and the followers of Bashar al-Assad.
We doubt the surrender of the Patriarch to the
intimidations and incentives pressings from followers of the terrorist
Syrian regime. We will search the explanation for this bad turn which is
not less than treason, like Walid Jumblatt has done with March 14 Group
because his fear from terrorism.
As our approach for a solution with Israel, it is quite
different from Hezbollah, which wants to end the presence of the Jews
and the construction of the State of Palestine from the sea to the
Jordan River. This is impossible and unfair.
The Arab countries, Israel and the United Nations should
reach a just solution to all peoples and religions of the region and the
building of two independent States.
Lebanon is a small and weak country, and it can not
alone be the world police. We will not accept collective suicide in
order to satisfy the backward beliefs and stupid terrorists.
Hezbollah rockets can’t prevent Israel using atomic
bombs against neighboring peoples. Extremism creates extremism on the
other side. And woe will be to all.
4
Maronite Patriarch, Bechara RAII said:
" If situation in Syria worsens more than it is
presently, we will see a worse regime than Bachar ASSAD regime, like the
Muslim Brotherhood." He added: "Christians will pay the price, as
happened in Iraq." And:"Change of government in Syria and the advent of
the Sunnis’ rule will lead to their alliance with their Sunni fellows in
Lebanon, which will lead to more worsening situation between Shiites and
Sunnis."
LSTDO Critics:
Patriarch spoke about his fears of civil war in Syria and
Lebanon. He said that the division of the region into sectarian
mini-states hurts people's rights.
But his fears don’t mean that he was defending the
Bashar Assad regime. There are young Syrian intellectuals who aspire to
freedom and democracy. They will not let Syria to move from extremists
to other extremist forces.
What is strange in "eastern" Patriarch’ words is his
proud to be free opinion, on behalf of the Maronite Church.
The reality, in an atmosphere of intimidation and
blackmailing from Hezbollah and its arms, is that these words smell to
obey the wishes of Nabih Berri, Hassan Nasrallah and Bashar Assad.
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