Gibran Tueni

Al-Nahar launches scathing attack on Syrian FM
8 June 2000

The editor of Beirut's mass-circulation Al-Nahar daily newspaper strongly condemned a statement made by Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al- Shara earlier this week that Syrian troops would withdraw from the country only if requested to do so by (Syrian-appointed) Lebanese officials and that Lebanon would "explode" if they left now. "Mr. Shara, allow us to completely reject your words and the words of some Lebanese trumpets that use the same justification to defend the presence of Syrian troops in Lebanon," wrote Gibran Tueni. He also responded to Shara's criticism of a series of editorials in the Lebanese press calling for a withdrawal. "It is natural for Minister Shara to believe journalism does not have the right to claim it represents the views of citizens because in Syria, as in similar regimes, journalism does not represent public opinion but talks with the tongue of the ruling regime."

New report: Lebanon's economy "on the brink of disaster"
8 June 2000

Al-Quds al-Arabi (London) published a summary of a 234-page report by economist Marwan Iskandar that says the Lebanese economy is "on the brink of disaster." According to the report, efforts to stop the public debt from increasing have been a complete failure--the government is now spending approximately twice its revenues and debt servicing has risen to 98% of revenues during the first four months of this year. The government, the report said "does not seem to understand" the fundamental changes that are required to restore economic growth. Much-needed administrative reforms and privatization programs still have not been implemented.

Government prepares to indict Mugraby
15 June 2000

Beirut's prosecution committee ruled today that Muhamad Mugraby, a prominent Beirut human rights attorney, can be prosecuted on libel charges stemming from allegation he made about corruption among senior judicial officials. The committee ruled that the permission of the Beirut Bar Association is not needed to indict Mugraby because his allegations "did not stem from practicing his profession."

Swedish paper: secret Israeli-Hezbollah talks preceded withdrawal
17 June 2000

Dagens Nyheter (Sweden) reported today that the Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon in May resulted from secret negotiations between Hezbollah and Israeli Justice Minister Yosi Beilin through two Swedish university professors acting as mediators. Hezbollah and Israeli officials later denied that the talks had taken place.

Foreign publications confiscated by Lebanese security forces for "defaming" Assad
19 June 2000

Lebanon's General Security Directorate (GSD) acknowledged today that it had confiscated copies of seven foreign magazines and newspapers last week for "defaming" the late Syrian President. "Last week after the death of President Hafez Assad there were malicious attacks in some publications, which were not about political thinking but only sought to defame Assad and hurt the feelings of those upset by his death," the security agency said in a statement. Reuters earlier identified the publications as The Herald Tribune, Le Monde, Liberation, the Financial Times, the Economist, Time and Newsweek.

Lebanese man imprisoned for "dishonoring" Assad
20 June 2000

A man who called for Lebanese to celebrate the death of Syrian President Hafez Assad was sentenced by a military court to one year in prison today for "dishonoring the leader of a sisterly country." Salah Noureddine was arrested in Beirut shortly after the announcement of Assad's death on June 10. The court also fined him $600.

Hezbollah, Amal militias clash in Tyre district
20 June 2000

Al-Safir (Beirut) reported today that a clash between rival Hezbollah and Amal militiamen in the township of Dayr Qanun in the Tyre district took place the night before last, leaving Ghalib Hammadi, 35, wounded. The clash erupted after a dispute between members of the two militias who were hanging pictures of Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah and Amal leader Nabih Berri, lasting all night until a Lebanese army unit intervened. A similar clash broke out in the village of Tura but there were no casualties. Hammadi was the ninth person injured this month in clashes between the two militias.

G7 blacklists Lebanon for failure to cooperate against money laundering
22 June 2000

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) of the Group of Seven industrialized nations placed Lebanon on its "blacklist" of countries refusing to cooperate against criminal money laundering. Lebanon's bank secrecy laws are considered to be among the strictest in the world. The FATF report recommended that financial institutions "give special attention to business relations and transactions with persons, including companies and financial institutions, from the noncooperative countries and territories."

Lebanese PM receives Hamas delegation
22 June 2000

Radio Lebanon (Beirut) reported today that Prime Minister Selim al-Hoss met with a delegation of the militant Palestinian group Hamas, led by Khalid Mish'al. The Hamas leader said afterwards that he congratulated Hoss on the "great victory achieved by Lebanon [over Israel]" and discussed the situation of Palestinians refugees in Lebanon.

New internal security appointments
24 June 2000

A Lebanese official said today that Brigadier Said Eid, 51, has been appointed head of the Internal Security Forces (ISF) regional command, responsible for police forces outside the capital. He also said that Col. Wafiq Shuqair was appointed head of security forces at Beirut International Airport.

University president condemns Syrian occupation
24 June 2000

The president of St. Joseph University denounced the Syrian occupation of Lebanon during the university's graduation ceremony today. Lebanon's political elite "finds it easier to accept foreign sovereignty than think about how to amend the Constitution, achieve true national accord and rebuild the republic," said Father Salim Abou, according to the Beirut Daily Star. "The official discourse names Israel as the sole usurper and praises the Lebanese-Syrian 'friendship.' If students distribute leaflets calling for the withdrawal of Syrian troops, they get arrested, treated harshly and sometimes go to trial . . . The gap is widening between the government and the people."

Druze gunmen storm hospital
28 June 2000

Twenty armed Druze gunmen stormed a hospital in Ain Wozein, Aley, firing rifles at its facilities. According to informed sources, the gunmen were supporters of Marwan Abu Shakra, a former manager of the hospital, which is run by the Druze Endowments Authority (DEA). Abu Shakra claims that he was fired from his position after he decided to run against Druze MP Walid Jumblatt in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

UN report highlights deterioration of living conditions
29 June 2000

According to the results of a survey of living conditions around the world released today by the United Nations Development Program, Lebanon has slipped from #69 to #82 in the world. The report mentioned a number of specific factors that account for Lebanon's dismal rating: 32.1% of households lack "basic needs" in housing, education, water/sewage services and income; 80% of people in the above-mentioned households are illiterate and twice as many women as men are illiterate; 42% of Lebanese have no health insurance or social security. Reacting to the findings, the head of the Beirut Bar Association's Human Rights Committee, George Assaf, said that the current regime is a "police state" unable to provide for the basic needs of the population. "Although the government is guided by civil institutions in the implementation of a number of development projects," said Assad, "it remains a police state, which sticks to its prerogatives."