HRAWI OR DEMOCRACY

WAR OR PEACE   

On Tuesday, September 17, 1991, the U.N. General Assembly convened its 46th session. This annual event serves to bring all heads of state together to present to the world body the wishes and aspirations of their people, the people who they are supposed to represent. 

This year the wishes and aspirations of the Lebanese people are going to once again go unspoken. The Lebanese people will not be represented in the 46th session of the U.N. General Assembly. Syria, however, will have two representatives, its own along with its surrogate "President" Elias Hrawi of Lebanon. Alas, they will not even speak for the Syrian people, rather they would both articulate the personal wishes of Hafez Al-Assad. 

The implementation of the "Taef Accord" along with its subsequent treaties and agreements have robbed the Lebanese people of the freedom and democracy they once enjoyed. They are now governed and represented by a Syrian assigned President and Government. Even the Parliament members have been assigned by Syria, rather than be elected by the people whose interests they purport to represent. 

Today we are witnessing, for the first time in Lebanon's history, political persecution and the elimination of the freedom of expression and speech. Expressing certain political preferences - if they differ from Assad's - could result in long term incarceration or even death. Even blowing one's car horn in a certain way has become a capital offence under the new "Democratic System." Recently the Syrian surrogate government has undertaken to eliminate the basis for a free market economy, further alienating the public and greatly reducing the chances for a quick national recovery. 

The acquiescence and support of the Western democracies, specially the U.S. Government, to such blatant violations of basic human rights and freedoms, is by itself an inexcusable crime. 

Brutal suppression of millions of people has never been acceptable to Western Government, wherever it occurred and whatever the price of opposing it may be. 

Why then is it acceptable in Lebanon ? 

The classic response is that the Lebanese must endure this situation which is claimed to be a necessary step on the road to lasting regional peace. But, Why should the Lebanese be the ones to pay the price for settling the Middle East conflicts? And, more importantly, would Taef and its consequences actually improve the chances of a lasting peace? NOT BY A LONG SHOT. 

The Syrian dictatorship by spreading its influence into Lebanon through its surrogates, the "Hrawi Government", together with increased Syrian military preparedness using upgraded equipment have gravely disturbed the status quo in the region and increased Israel's insecurity in regards its northern border. Add to that Syria's decision to allow radical Palestinian and Islamic Fundamentalist groups to continue their antagonistic low intensity warfare against Israel, and the region becomes dangerously close to irrupting into full scale war. 

Furthermore, giving Assad control over both the Syrian and Lebanese votes in the upcoming peace conference - as granted by the treaty of brotherhood and cooperation - with a possible third Palestinian vote, dramatically decreases the chances of such conference ever taking place. The failure of the peace conference under such conditions would most certainly lead to war. A war, which would probably be fought on Lebanese soil inflicting further damage on an already shattered country. 

In summary, the perpetuation of the Hrawi regime would neither further the peace process, nor would it fulfill the aspirations of the Lebanese. In fact, any support for such a regime would be both inhumane and criminal, for it will mean inflicting misery on a whole population leading to and eventual war that does not serve the interest of anybody. 

The cold war is over. The Gulf war is over. The U.N. has proved its capacity to impose its own solutions to world conflicts. It is time to do justice to the Lebanese and not resort to appeasing compromises. In this light, the National Alliance of Lebanese Americans calls on the United Nations to finally act upon its long-standing resolutions calling for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of foreign forces from Lebanon and to support the Lebanese demand for U.N. supervised free elections. 

If their is ever to be peace in the Middle East, the Lebanese must be allowed to elect their own government, which would represent and defend the rights of the Lebanese people. As long as Lebanon is used by the vying regional powers through surrogates and agents sparing them the direct effects of their war acts, their shall never be peace.