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Gemayel Assassination... Destructive Havoc Returns:Opposition Tarries in Preparation, in Defense against False Accusations
administration relies greatly on this option in order to save their program that has begun to collapse in the region, thanks to the steadfastness and opposition within the region, especially in Lebanon. One must not forget the republicans` loss in favor of the democrats in the midterm elections of the USA.
The events which the U.S. Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, anticipated two months ago, have surfaced. They pertained to assassinations that would strike figures of the February 14 team! This time, the assassination of Minister Pierre Gemayel took place at a time in which the opposition was making preparations for a peaceful and democratic option against the government of the U.S. suzerainty in order to readjust the compass. The event led to a reshuffling of the cards, where the team in power tried to exploit the incident against the opposition as it exploited the issue of the international court to frustrate the formation of a national unity government through consultative meetings.
Last week was initiated with the momentous speech of Hizbullah Secretary-General his eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah who addressed the preparatory committees of the public movements. In his speech, his eminence defined the features of the next stage and the plan of the movements that will be employed by the opposition to reach one of two demands: a national unity government or early parliamentary elections via the peaceful option by taking to the street. Based on this issue, the practical and logistic preparations of the opposition team began via summoning party cadres, last Tuesday and Saturday, awaiting the zero hour to take to the street in a modern way. This attacking reality of the opposition seriously frightened the team in power and its U.S. patron because its continuation would to lead to an inevitable outcome that would deliver a fatal blow to the U.S. program in Lebanon. Therefore, they opposed it on more than one field.
First: This team spread a numerous rumors concerning sabotage and riots that were to happen on the streets, the aim of which was to terrorize and frighten the citizens urging them to avoid participation in the opposition movements. Three figures participated in spreading these rumors: Geagea, Junblat and Hariri.
Second: Following its treacherous acts in the last consultative sessions, the ruling team tried to suture the rupture of its relation with Speaker Nabih Berri. On his return from his official visit to Tehran, it tried to re-communicate with him via Minister Gazi Aridi and Saudi Ambassador Abdul Aziz Khoja, asking him to re-launch consultations based on a governmental formula that was designed by the U.S. ambassador to Beirut, Jeffery Feltman—It stipulates the widening of the cabinet to include 30 ministers, giving the ruling team 19 and the opposition 9 while maintaining 2 neutrals who “would agree to the international government and never resign.”
This proposal was delivered by several delegates and was adopted later by Siniora and Hariri while Berri rejected it conclusively because it violated the Taif Accord firstly, and secondly it did not provide the participating third. Besides, it was a new attempt at liquefaction and stalling, hence, it was not worthy of discussion or contemplation.
The frightening of the people away from the street and the twisting of the opposition’s arm in order to prevent completion of its plan of democratic actions failed. In addition, the proposal to widen the government to include 30 ministers without the participating third failed after Speaker Berri rejected it. Up until this point, the opposition was finishing the final touches of the action plan and had defined the zero hour, but without any announcement in order to maintain the element of surprise existent. This issue confused the ruling team. Synchronizingly, communications were taking place for a last attempt to avoid this option. The clock was ticking with few hours remaining.
At this time, a surprising attitude of the ruling team surfaced. It announced that it would not take to the street against the opposition after it had been reiterating over the last few weeks that a street will be opposed by another street. At this point, several mediums questioned concerning the motives that attracted this option. Was it the ruling team’s helplessness in mobilizing the street which they allege to represent? Alternatively, did their attitude mirror other dimensions?
The surprise that shuffled the cards took place last Tuesday afternoon with the assassination of Minister Pierre Gemayel. At this point, one can recall several statements and anticipations:
- Statements of the U.S. Condoleezza Rice two months ago had predicted assassinations of a number of figures of the February 14 team!
- Statements of the Lebanese Forces leader, Samir Geagea, only a week ago, had predicted the assassination of ministers of the cabinet!
- Statements of the Progressive Socialist Party President, MP Walid Junblat, repeated words concerning assassinations that will take place at this stage!
The ruling team rushed into politically exploiting the assassination incident. For example, Future bloc president, MP Saad Hariri, exploited this incident immediately on ending his press conference which he had been holding at the time of the assassination.
In addition, the “general” of the Lebanese Forces, Samir Geagea, began to exploit this issue when he took upon himself the task of calling from the cedars area on the ministers of Hizbullah and Amal to return to the government; otherwise, they will be considered suspects!
Moreover, Progressive Socialist Party President, MP Walid Junblat, in his press conference, held on Wednesday in Mokhtara, contained incitement against Hizbullah and Amal movement with his not so innocent call to speaker Nabih Berri requesting that he quickly summon parliament to approve the court’s issue and refrain from obstructing this matter.
On the other bank, the opposition tarried during the hours that succeeded the assassination of minister Gemayel. It did not respond to the false accusations that came from the icons of the ruling authority. Some sources informed Al-Intiqad that this tarrying would end after the burial ceremonies of Gemayel, and harsh responses are anticipated against these accusation campaigns, especially against the words of Geagea and Junblat as well as the statement of the authorities that was released last Tuesday night. Speaker Nabi Berri inner circle mediums pointed to this issue.
With respect to the actions program that was ready to topple Feltman’s government, preparations are continuing and they will become active in the following few days. This tarrying was dictated by the assassination of minister Gemayel. One of the aims of this assassination was to boost the ruling team and the U.S. program on the approach of its collapse before the zeal of the opposition that relies on the constitutional and democratic means.
Al-Intiqad, 2006-11-24
Author: Hilal Salman