Tuesday, August 30, 2005

Leaving Mines Behind

We can't but be happy and wary almost at the same time that something is up Mehlis's sleeve. We can't deny that!

But the story does not even end with Mehlis's report. After the report comes out, a decision needs to be made as to what judicial body will handle the actual trial. Will it be in Lebanon handled by Lebanese judges, or would it be in the Hague handled by the International Court of Justice? Mind you, that even Justice Minister Charles Rizk, Lahoud's man in the Government, begrudgingly professed that an international judicial body is more qualified to handle the trial; that Lebanese judges are able to hold the trial, provided that the judicial system is reformed...we know that this is a long stretch and he is indeed stretching it too far.

As you see, nothing is easy where we're at, because there is yet another chance for obstructionists to stand in the way. Another obstacle to overcome once the report comes out.

Definitely, there are a thousand question marks in my head about the course our country will take once the report comes out. The Syrian-Lebanese intelligence apparatus of the previous era (if it's possible to say previous at the moment) have set some major landmines in Lebanon before they departed. They have nothing to lose...(Even former MP Nasser Kandil is in Syria....) It's a mirror-image of Iraq's case: Saddam left behind insurgents of every kind wreaking havoc in every corner of life.

Naseer As'ad of Al-Mustaqbal some two days ago wrote about the Islamists' landmine. Many have returned from Iraq through Syria, many small groups in the north have been furnished with arms right before the April 30th declaration of independence, sectarian mobilization, death lists ad ma biddak...and the list of mines goes on...

Let us beware of these mines. In the hopes that our beloved country makes it through this critical moment.


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

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Even the German prosecuter has questioned the 'quality' of the Lebanese judiciary, so if this non-native judge (whom I have learned to admire) questions the 'quality' of the judges, then I would also question them.

An honest, incorruptable completely independent judiciary is an absolute necessity if a country is to stay free and able to correct abuses in other parts of their government.

REFORM of the ENTIRE JUDICIARY SYSTEM is one of the first steps needed in LEBANESE REFORM!!!

I really like the way Lebanon has been going since the big rallies in Martyrs Square.

Possibly the Lebanese people will recognize that Rafik Hariri did more for Lebanon in his death than he did during all those years when he was PM or when he was rebuilding Beirut, and he did a lot for Lebanon then!

Let's all pray for Lebanon, or if you'd rather, give her your best wishes for a FREE and bright tomorrow and a culture free of corruption.

barney

Anonymous said...

I agree. Syria is definetely out of the game. Game over for Bachar.

The real problem right now is islamism. Sunni islamism was apparently shut down by Syria's alawite regime but is still present. On the Shia side we have Hezbollah and it's as much dangerous. I can only hope that the Shia community will build a democratic party alternative. Right now, there's no democratic alternative to Hezbollah and this is very disappointing.