Tens of Thousands Rally in Tripoli for 'Arms Fall, Independence Spring'
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Tens of thousands of supporters of the opposition gathered Sunday in the northern city of Tripoli to denounce the Syrian regime and its Lebanese ally Hizbullah, under the slogan “The Fall of Weapons, The Spring of Independence.”
The rally organized by the Mustaqbal Movement, the main opposition party headed by ex-premier Saad Hariri, came amid mounting tension over the financing of the U.N.-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon and the revolt in neighboring Syria.
"We initially backed Sheikh Saad for the sake of Lebanon's freedom, but now we also support him for Syria's freedom and to rid the country of Hizbullah's weapons and the regime of (Syrian President) Bashar al-Assad," said Mohammed Alameddin, 27.
Mohammed Hamdash, a 40-year-old bank employee, said he was taking part in the demonstration in the northern port city to denounce the Hizbullah-led government.
"We are here to say that we are against this government imposed by Hizbullah," he said, as fellow demonstrators waved Lebanese and party flags as well as pictures of Saad Hariri and his father Rafik.
In the the first speech during the rally, Mustaqbal bloc MP Mohammed Kabbara said “Assad’s hegemony over Lebanon must be toppled and we should put an end to the criminal weapons that are accused of killing our martyrs.”
“This government will first fall in Tripoli before it falls in the rest of Lebanon and there is nothing called the Resistance, as those who send gunmen to Syria to attack its people are not a resistance movement,” Kabbara said.
Prime Minister Najib Miqati has threatened to resign should his cabinet refuse to pay Lebanon's 49 percent share of funding to the STL. The ministers of the Free Patriotic Movement have also hinted that they might resign over dissatisfaction with the government’s performance and Miqati’s policies.
“Haven’t they learned from the Beirut Spring that people are stronger than all tyrants and that police states would fall in the face of the people’s resolve,” Mustaqbal bloc MP Samir al-Jisr said in his speech at the rally.
“This government does not need to be toppled because it is already toppled in people’s minds, as it rose to power through a coup perpetrated on a black day … after the disavowal of the promises and the pledges,” he added.
“What kind of a ‘resistance act’ was being plotted in Tripoli and why are the seized weapons being described as arms belonging to the Resistance?” Jisr wondered, accusing Hizbullah of arming groups in the northern city.
For his part, MP Marwan Hamade -- who had broken from the Democratic Gathering parliamentary bloc of Druze leader Walid Jumblat over refusal to vote for Miqati for the premiership in the binding parliamentary consultations -- urged the premier “not to allow the killers to remain on the loose.”
“I will not feel sorry for Hizbullah’s falling and tumbling government and I will never forgive Assad’s criminal regime,” Hamade stressed.
“I call on him (Miqati), from here, not to let justice be defeated at the hands of his limping government and never to forgive those who had first slaughtered his friend, ex-PM martyr Rafik Hariri, before slaying the son of his city, the hero and young martyr (slain Intelligence Bureau officer) Wissam Eid,” Hamade went on to say.
He urged President Michel Suleiman and Speaker Nabih Berri “not to let Lebanon be captivated by the grand prison.”
“I will not urge the party which has described the accused as being sacred (Hizbullah) or the Aounist movement (of MP Michel Aoun) … because they are part of the grand prison of totalitarianism,” Hamade charged.
"Who would fear the tribunal other than the accused, the criminals and the accomplices who are covering up for them.”
Hamade called for returning to “the democratic roots.”
“No to eliminating anyone in the name of fake proportional representation,” the MP said of the proposed proportional representation electoral system, which has been slammed by Jumblat on fear it might slash his parliamentary bloc.
“No my brother, Najib, tomorrow will not be another day as you have claimed, as those present here are pursuing the path of freedom and justice,” Hamade vowed.
He also called on the Arab League to launch “an initiative that would besiege the killer of Damascus,” calling on the Lebanese authorities to “implement the Arab initiative in its entirety.”
Meanwhile, MP Boutros Harb said that Hizbullah’s weapons have “impeded national dialogue and put us before two choices: compliance or civil war.”
But he wondered “among whom would civil war erupt if all the Lebanese do not want that.”
“Weapons would eventually kill those carrying them and we don’t want to kill or be killed,” Harb stressed.
The STL has indicted four Hizbullah operatives in connection with the murder. The party has refused to hand over the four members and has dismissed the court as an “American-Israeli plot.”
Miqati was appointed premier after Hizbullah and its allies forced the collapse of Saad Hariri's government over its refusal to cut ties with the court based in The Netherlands.
Although Miqati pledged after taking office to uphold Lebanon's international commitments, Hizbullah and its allies in the cabinet are insisting that the country stop all cooperation with the tribunal.
The funding of the STL is due to be discussed at a crucial cabinet meeting next Wednesday.
27 November 2011, 18:46
123
The crowd (that does not look like to number "tens of thousands" look extremely bored in the pictures. Also, they did not seem to pay the Islamists enough money to attend. Politics aside, what a bunch of inept politicians they are.
27 November 2011, 18:55
39
This is the natural progression from the Cedar Revolution. The experiments of the "National Unity" governments after winning elections in 2005 and 2009 were failures. Perhaps it was necessary to go through that phase before entering the next phase.
M8 has distorted the constitution at every step of the way.
1. Claiming the Speaker of Parliament has to be decided by the majority of Shiites. This is not true, as the Speaker is decided by the Majority who controls Parliament (which was M14 in 2005). Whoever controls Parliament gets to elect any Shiite Speaker they wish to elect.
2. Imposing the selection of Suleiman as President. A weak figure who was put in his previous position by the Syrian Occupation, and was not the first choice of the Majority who won the elections in 2005, and specified by the constitution. The Majority in Parliament elects the President.
3. Extorting Veto Power in the Cabinet to the M8 minority. This is not provided for in the constitution.
27 November 2011, 19:05
37
This demonstration is a clear manifestation of the wedge between the regime in Syria and m 14. It’s the turn of Syria to endure the repercussions of its involvement in Lebanon which has brought destruction of the Lebanese fabric. I think M14 has come to the conclusion that the Syrian regime’s end is unfolding and the time to reap the fruit of that is better now than later. It’s a very rational thinking because the ones that support the opposition in Syria would be the ones who would reap the benefits when the Syrian regime collapses. Lebanon has always been used by Syria as a donkey for its own purposes and has been rather successful in taming most of the leaders in Lebanon including at some point members of M14. Now it’s its turn to get the same from Lebanon. The days of Hezbollah and Aoun on the other hand are numbered. They would be condemned to the rear of history as being at some point supporters of evil impersonated by the Syrian regime.
27 November 2011, 19:13
04
Nice rally, but if it is only in Tripoli and only Sunni complaining of injustice at the hands of the Shia governing clique, then the rally is of little to no concern to Hezbollah.
Freedom and justice are cross-confessional ideals, not insular, but universal. Lebanon, if it is to reach that level of political development to which it aspires, must begin with a look in the mirror at themselves, not in the newspapers to look at the faces of their political class. The political class is a reflection of what the Lebanese see in their mirrors, that is, of themselves.
If the Lebanese demand leaders who respond to confessional identity politics; who will pay patronage in order to obtain their blind loyalty; and who do not hold elected officials accountable, then the sorry political class is what the Lebanese deserve.
Change starts with the people. They must rise above confessional identity politics and demand accountability from the political class if Lebanon is to be a country.
27 November 2011, 19:16
29
The Veto Power was extorted by the May 7 thugs, at the same time they promised in Doha not to resign from the government.
But the thugs broke their promise not to resign from government, and that was the beginning of Phase 2.
Why did they resign? Because the STL has built up enough evidence to prove their guilt in the murder of Hariri and others, and they felt the need to try to stop the STL by resigning.
The attempts at unity and dancing together in Phase 1 is being replaced by CONFRONTATION in Phase 2.
No more skirting of the Constitution. The future Speaker in 2013 will be elected by the majority of all sects in Parliament, not a back room deal, and not Berri. The next President will be elected by the Majority in Parliament, not determined in Damascus. The Cabinet will be selected by the Prime Minister without giving Veto Power to the minority. And ILLEGAL ARMS will no longer be tolerated.
Phase 2 has begun, and it is the right path of the Cedar Revolution
27 November 2011, 19:35
27
On a different scale, the criminals will pay a price for their crimes. Those who killed Hariri, Gemayel, Tueni, Kassir, Eid, Hawi, Eido and others will suffer consequences. And so will their paymasters.
The regimes that support the murder of politicians, journalists, and peaceful protesters will not survive. This is no longer the same Beirut as during the civil war, or the same Hama as 1982. Times are different now. The whole world is watching on cable TV and internet. The crimes cannot be swept under the rug.
Not only the Western powers, but even the overwhelming vast majority of Arab League countries have decided that the criminal regime in Syria must end. It is only a matter of time.
And furthermore, the dictator regime in Tehran has overplayed its hand. They have overstepped their boundaries and need to be reprimanded. After the fall of Assad, Hezbollah will be weakened severely. The STL will weaken them further, and will also have severe consequences in Tehran.
27 November 2011, 20:35
101
Tens of thousands? That's an improvement over past years when they used to count in the millions! Keep up the good work. But now, just go back to tweeting and dreaming.
27 November 2011, 20:57
112
IbnalJabal..what does "john" mean? It is a name, Arabic is Hanna. What do you mean??? I am a Lebanese citizen, Sharqee. Because my name is John, I need to be a western slave? Is "Nelson" Mandela a western Slave? How about George Habash or George Hawi of the LCP? Are ALL African Americans who were given their masters slave names are owned by the white man?
I am not aligned with any non-secular organizations like HA. But, HA never committed cold blooded massacres of woman and children (including Christians) like the criminals you support in M14. Try to be human, before being used for sectarian reasons by persons who only want to use you and harm you.
27 November 2011, 21:40
20
It's not the quantity that matters. It's the quality. Just look at them and listen to their loud mouths. QUALITY!!! What do you expect when the millions of Syrian supporters have an impossible time coming through because of all the land mines there, and the Egyptians are busy re-revolutionizing? It is understandable. On the other hand, the millions of Christians of Dr. Falso & Co. have the day off. Remember, it's Sunday. However, I assure you that they are so in love with their Sunny crazies brothers, but as y'all Sunday is a special day for Christians. I hope y'all understand.
27 November 2011, 22:24
27
To John who knows that his name means Hanna...
Why do people who support Hezbollah insist that the party has never killed "innocent people"? Mind you, a few years ago, the same historically-challenged people insisted that Hezbo never used their arms against the Lebanese. That changed in 2008, when that obvious lie could no longer be substantiated. Now, the same lie covers strictly women and children. Even if that statement were true, would it be OK to be killing fellow Lebanese men? Killing your countrymen is murder, be it men, women or children. And that makes Hezbollahis murderers who are not any better than the ones you are criticizing.
27 November 2011, 22:51
32
To "Selective critic" :When you are asked a stupid question like what your name "means" you get a stupid answer.
HA in 2008 fired on Armed Hariri militias who were confronting them with gunfire. HA handed over all the captured gunmen UNHARMED to the Lebanese army. The Hariri militia in Halba tortured to death ALL the captured M8 gunmen. I NEVER said that HA or M8 were perfect, just a lesser evil. I am an independent leftist who opposes any sectarian groups (most of M8 are sectarian). This website is pro M14 so I mainly criticize M14. This is not the only website I read.
28 November 2011, 00:24
21
Slash ...I agree with you about Aoun. Amal is very corrupt, but not as corrupt as Hariri. In 1992 when he became PM, he was not a billionaire, when he died in 2005, he had 16 billions in net worth. You are blaming HA for the killing of 1000 Lebanese for resisting Israeli aggression and occupation??? If that is the case, how many civilians death is Samir Geaga responsible for in the last 36 years??? Good night
28 November 2011, 00:32
21
Ibnaljabal...thoise who commit massacres, invade, and occupy, kill in the name of what??? It is EVIL to support them (and this is coming from a secular agnostic).
28 November 2011, 01:10
22
Time to free Lebanon. Time for a real leaders focus on us LEBANON
28 November 2011, 08:36
12
John from Koura
Agreed they are not the best politicians and they might not be as eloquent as Nasrallah, but the values they are defending are the basis on which a nation is built. We need to be progressive, we need to think independently as Lebanese and we need to build. March 8th has to understand that not all Lebanese want to enter History as the people who resisted the US influence in the region and gave a lifeline to the Assad's dynasty and created special ties with the ugly Iranian regime. They had their chance at government for years, well before The Hariri government and after it. Total disaster every time.
No one cares anymore whether your name is Hannah or Abbas, the best thing that ever happened in this country is the Cedar Revolution and March the 14 are trying to use it but so should everyone else!
28 November 2011, 11:00
12
Whenever there is an M14 rally...we hear the same crap from M8 people...
If we say there was a million in the streets, they scream hysterically, and say a hundred thousand at most...if we say hundreds of thousands...they go crazy, and say a few tens of thousands at most...when we say tens of thousands...same crap...
ok Galiboun... they were 100 people...chill...
28 November 2011, 16:51
01
@sweating thing
Bottom line, you compose with a tyrant, but when an opportunity shows up, you seize it (encourage it...finance it...support it....etc...)!
So?
