Maronite bishops' "no" to new government demanded by Hezbollah and Lahoud
In a statement, the bishops make it clear that they see the call for an executive of national unity as a means to avoid the creation of an international court on political crimes, starting with the murder of Rafic Hariri. They say this move would serve the aims of "certain international parties and factions".
Beirut (AsiaNews) The Maronite bishops' rejection of suggested changes in the current government led by Fouad Siniora was seen as a "blow" to the President of the Republic, Emile Lahoud and Hezbollah. The bishops' view was expressed at the end of their monthly meeting yesterday, together with a strong appeal to unity among all Lebanese and an emphasis on the need to carry out concrete gestures able to lift the country out of the crisis currently gripping it.
The Maronite bishops came together in Bkerke under the chairmanship of the Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Nasrallah Sfeir. In their final statement, they said: "The debate under way about a change of government and the formation of an executive of national unity, should not be motivated by a hidden objective aiming to prevent the setting up of an international court to judge the assassination of the ex-prime minister Rafic Hariri and all the homicides committed later. This would serve the objectives of certain international parties and factions."
The statement also criticised recent statements and popular rallies (Hezbollah with its "Divine Victory", the Lebanese Forces with "They died for us", the Maradah of Souleiman Frangieh with the announced foundation of a party and General Aoun's announcement of a rally) because "they do not serve the country and national unity, rather they deal it a grievous blow."
The words of the Maronite bishops have been seen and read as a "new blow" against General Emile Lahoud, current President of the Republic, who supports the view that there is the need to form a new "more representative" government, as requested by Hezbollah. A demand that has the backing of General Aoun together with his ally Souleiman Frangieh, and the leader of the Bekaa, Greek Catholic MP Elie Skaff.
Sheikh Nahim Kassem, the deputy secretary-general of the Party of God, came out against the suggestions of the Maronite bishops, reiterating the call for the formation of a new "more effective and more representative" government. He said the "latest attitude of the Maronite bishops is very conditioned by the stands take by Saad El Hariri and Walid Joumblatt."
The Grand Mufti of Lebanon, Sheikh Mouhammad Rachid Gabbani, has declared himself in favour of the bishops' statements. In his view, he told AsiaNews, Bkerke's concern about the risk hanging over the creation of an international court, which would be charged to try criminals who caused the assassination of the ex-premier Rafic Hariri, was "right and proper".
In their statement, the bishops also "renewed their gratitude towards all those people and organisations who helped Lebanon during this latest crisis". They drew attention to the need for commitment to rein in emigration that had recently increased. A common, capable effort must be made in order to motivate youth to remain in their land of origin, because "young people are the true richness of Lebanon, and we call on all to offer their contribution in an able way to remove the prevalent state of anguish and worry."
At the end of their statement, the Maronite bishops joined their voices to that of Benedict XVI, so that in this month of October consecrated to the devotion of Our Lady of the Rosary, she may remain "the light of our families".
Meanwhile, the Patriarchal Synod of the Greek-Orthodox Church of Antioch also raised concern about the diminishing Christian presence in the Middle East, during its deliberations under way in Damascus under the chairmanship of Patriarch Ignatius VI Hazim. The patriarch and his Synod are set to take a stand in the light of a report published in recent days, which revealed that more than 60% of young Christians have had to leave Lebanon, Syria and Iraq over the past two years.
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