We won't allow the Lebanese people to be marginalised, says Aoun
Beirut (AsiaNews) We won't allow a Roustom Ghazale-like character to decide in each province what the real Roustom Ghazale decided for the whole of Lebanon.
This is how General Michel Aoun explained his opposition to the current electoral law imposed by the Syrians in 2000. In his remarks, he was referring to the powers exercised by the chief of Syria's secret service in Lebanon.
In an interview with AsiaNews, he said "the Lebanese people won't accept being marginalised as the law forces it to be".
The General spoke yesterday in Bkerke after meeting Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir, the day after the country's bishops objected to the 2000 law which, in their opinion, "violates Islamic-Christian coexistence".
"We will never submit to this situation and we refuse the Barnum-like meetings that are organised to show off would-be alliances that are just false," the General said.
For this reason, he called upon the people "to remain mobilised to stop this attempt to marginalise it". He did not however say how what concrete actions could me taken, but stated that "my candidacy in the election will be decided at the last moment".
In answering some questions, General Aoun referred to machinations by members of the opposition.
"Let Fares Souaid do something about the opposition's core demands. Let him state his position on the 2000 electoral law," he insisted.
"There is no opposition or loyalists any more," he noted, "only people who want reforms, and people who are happy with the status quo."
"We consider ourselves as part of the pre-reform group. We want reforms in the political, social and administrative fields, and first and foremost we want to fight the corruption that has invaded the administration."
"We demand accountability; we want to run in the elections wherever it is possible on the basis of a programme, and we call on the people to remain vigilant," he said.
Finally, General Aoun said that it was natural for him to "visit Cardinal Sfeir, to thank him for supporting his return after 15 years in exile. He added that he would let the Patriarch explain the content of the 'threats' that some have read into the message issued by Maronite bishops. (JH)
.png)
