In Beirut, Sunni-Shia crisis getting worse
Hariri also spoke about “false witnesses” who “harmed relations between Syria and Lebanon, politicising the murder”, adding, “A new page has been turned in the [Syrian-Lebanese] relationship following the formation of the Lebanese government.”
“We have started assessing mistakes that were made in relation to Syria, which influenced the relationship between the two countries and with the Syrian people,” the Lebanese prime minister noted.
Speaking about the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) set up in 2007 by the United Nations to shed light on the Hariri assassination, the prime minister said, “The tribunal is doing its job, and from our point of view we must review the facts.”
Rumours are flying that STL Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare will soon go public with the indictment and that members of Hizbollah might on the list of accused.
“I don't know what will be in the indictment and I cannot intervene in that, nobody can. All that I ask for is the truth and justice,” Hariri said, words that set off fireworks. Although the prime minister might have thought that he was doing a nice gesture towards Syria, his political adversaries, starting with Hizbollah, took advantage of the statement to engage in a campaign of unprecedented vehemence to discredit the STL and some of Hariri’s aides, accusing them of giving false testimonies.
Hizbollah is particularly concerned that after political accusations were made against Syria, the STL, which it considers manipulated by the United States and Israel, might also make false accusations against it. Indeed, for Washington, Hizbollah is a terrorist organisation.
The most vehement attack against Hariri came however from Jamil Sayyed, the former director-general of Lebanon’s Public Security, who was dragged into the Hariri affair by “false witnesses”.
After four years in prison, Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare ordered Sayyed’s release for lack of evidence. However, in a recent statement, he threatened to take revenge “personally” against the prime minister if he was denied justice. The verbal clash that followed this statement went beyond politics, and led to a heated row between Sunnis and Shias.
Ordered by a court to appear, Jamil Sayyed received the support of Hizbollah, whose bearded troops raided Beirut airport last Saturday to welcome the former general on his return from a brief trip to Paris.
For their own reasons, the Saudis, Syrians and Iranians have moved in to calm down the political and confessional storm. Iran does not want any trouble because President Ahmadinejad is expected on an official visit to Lebanon on 13 October. Syria and Saudi Arabia want peace and quiet because they sponsored last July’s political truce following a joint visit to Lebanon of Saudi King Abdallah and Syrian President Bashir al-Assad. For them, the survival of the Hariri government and respect for the media and political truce are crucial. Whilst it would not have the STL abolished, Saudi Arabia said that in exchange for an end to the row it would try to get the main charge in its present form changed.
Thus, the focus is not on the STL itself but on what is happening around it. Hizbollah for instance has come up with evidence that would connect Israel to the Hariri assassination. If substantiated, this would allow its members to avoid trial. In fact, the Shia movement, which is in the current government, has denied claims that it was involved in the Hariri assassination. Its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, said instead that the UN tribunal is nothing but an “Israeli project”.
For Hariri, speaking about relations with Syria, “the facts of the past must be clarified [. . .]. We must draw lessons from the past to build the future in which the Lebanese and Syrian peoples and their respective states can recognise themselves. This is the reason for dialogue with President Bashir al-Assad.”
Likewise, “Our opinion did not spring just now [. . .]. We want better relations and no one will stop us. Syria is our economy’s door to Arab markets as well as an important market in itself,” he said.
Speaking about his own party, the Lebanese prime minister added, “Within the Future Movement, there are basic principles that we must uphold as I said at our general congress. Of course, there are different points of view, but when a decision is taken; everyone must respect it [. . .]. I am beginning to see people and supporters share this view, becoming aware of the privileged relationship between Lebanon and Syria, understanding how important these relations are.”
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