Monday, July 18, 2005

A Sweet Day, A Bitter Day

Geagea will be out in a week! That's a piece of news.

But there's more: Today Saad Hariri came out at last from his silence. He said that at many times during the past 15 years, the late Rafiq Hariri was not represented in the government, despite having a hefty Parliamentary representation, "did he play the sectarian card or did he just contend with assuming the side of the Opposition?" he asked. He also added that many Christian power blocs and Jumblatt as well were at times not represented in the government and no one steered the political discourse towards sectarianism the way it is being steered right now.

On another point: Aoun today was asked whether Geagea's return to the political arena will create a new Christian power balance. Aoun answered that nothing will change until after a new Parliamentary elections take place (which translates to: "I am the sole Maronite popular leader for now.")

I don't know why a famous Egyptian movie's title is stuck in my head: A Sweet Day, A Bitter Day (Yom Hilou, Yom Murr). Perhaps because this is how Lebanon makes me feel : A Sweet Day, A Bitter Day...

"Nobody knows how many rebellions, besides political rebellions, ferment in the masses of life which people earth."

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

many times? when was hariri out of the government except for 2 years, 98-00? and during those 2 years the sunnis felt targetted and mobilized as a community to bring him back in 2000.

Anonymous said...

what about karame's govt, or mikati's, or what about christian representation for 15 years smarty rr?

Mustapha said...

Doha,

Hariri's comment is part of a larger campaign by the parliamentary majority to establish the fact that you mentioned (that the previous governments did not have what lahhoud calls "a national unity government"). Hariri said it, Almustaqbal newspaper wrote it, Future T.V. Said it, Jumblat said it. This is all designed to put pressure on lahhoud who is now "mulling over" Seniora's proposal.

Also, Aoun said something else which was very important:
"The president can do whatever he wants, he can even submit a list of ministers to the prime minister". THAT, to me, is saying this: "i'm planning to be president one day and i am telling you from now that the presidency is a very important seat, so don't mess with it"

Anonymous said...

mustapha, your last comment re Aoun and the presidency is fully true, and this is why aoun has been seen as protecting lahoud, while in fact he is simply (like the patriarch) trying to keep the face of the presidency seat that he is hoping to acquire. last thing he wants is to take on a seat that has no power and no respect left. and this is why, if you follow his speeches and interviews carefully, he seems to be constantly starting his sentences with "according to the constitution..."

on another note, yesterday here in london, an afghani ex-warlord now living in the UK was sentenced for crimes and torture he did in kabul 10 years ago, setting a precedent in a UK law allowing a foreign criminal to be prosecuted even for offences done outside the UK http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4693239.stm. Question is, if as the rumor is going, Geagea is now coming to London for treatment and to "live" a bit (i.e. finally enjoy his wife i guess), can he be prosecuted for his crimes done during the Leb war?