In Damascus less than 200 people attend Kanaan's funeral
Damascus (AsiaNews) Less than 200 peoplerelatives, politicians and curious passers-bywere present at the funeral of Syrian Interior Minister, General Ghazi Kanaan's funeral. Oddly, the ceremony marked the end of a career that history led along strange paths.
For 20 years Kanaan embodied Syria's domination and terror in Lebanon. Between 1982 and 2002 he headed Syria's all-powerful intelligence apparatus in Lebanon. Arab newspapers are asking whether he jumped or was pushed, whether the Syrian regime rid itself of an embarrassing character or he was the loyal servant making the ultimate sacrifice.
For those 20 years he had carte blanche which he used efficiently and without reluctance, deploying his Machiavellian genius to serve the higher interests of Syria's Baathist regime. Ruthless and brutal when Syria's were at stake, he knew how to persuade and cajole when fires he started had to be put out.
When for 20 years one has known the heights of unchallenged rule over a country like Lebanon, making and breaking presidents and governments, the fall can be quite ruinous. Fate has its ironies. Kanaan's earthly demise coincides with the end of the Syrian era in Lebanon, thus bring the cycle back to square one.
"Whoever said that pharaoh's curse and vengeance was only for the Egypt of the pyramids?" said former Lebanese lawmaker, Fares Soueid.
Was he pushed or did he jump? That is the question local Hamlets are asking. As of lately, Syria's former strongman in the Land of the Cedar trees did not seem unduly worried or unstable. Just Wednesday on Voice of Lebanon Radio, speaking with Warde Zamel, he "had a steady, determined voice. He was feisty enough to eloquently deny any wrongdoing," said the radioman.
At the funeral, Syrian Prime Minister Mohamad El Otari, who attended on behalf of President Assad, confirmed that Kanaan killed himself. He hailed the late general as the builder of Lebanon after the Taeff accords that in1989 brought to an end the civil war.
In a statement to Asianews Fayez Sayegh, editor-in-chief of state-run Al-Thawra daily, said it was important to find out what led General Kanaan to take his own life. He also reiterated his government's willingness to co-operate with the UN commission of inquiry led by German judge Deflit Mehlis.
Many people, he said, are waiting for the investigation's findings scheduled to be released on the 21st of this month, adding that President Assad told CNN that those who spoiled the atmosphere of friendship between Lebanon and Syria should be severely punished.
this said it takes little leap of faith to see a connection between Kanaan's death and the soon-to-be-released Mehlis report on the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
The German magistrate had med Syria's Interior Minister when he came to Damascus as part of his investigation. One question being asked is whether the man who knew everything in Syria betrayed secrets about his camp and was thus silenced forever or whether he chose a warrior's death to save the Syrian regime from a political earthquake.
(With the collaboration of Youssef Hourany)
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