LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
March 12/09
Bible Reading of the day.
Luke12/16-19 He spoke a parable to them, saying, “The ground of a certain
rich man brought forth abundantly. He reasoned within himself, saying,
‘What will I do, because I don’t have room to store my crops?’ He said, ‘This is
what I will do. I will pull down my barns, and build bigger ones, and there I
will store all my grain and my goods. I will tell my soul, “Soul, you have
many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.”“But
God said to him, ‘You foolish one, tonight your soul is required of you. The
things which you have prepared—whose will they be?’ So is he who lays up
treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
Free Opinions, Releases, letters &
Special Reports
The Syrian disappointment/Future
News 11/03/09
The
current softening of stances can only be good for Lebanon.
The Daily Star
11/03/09
Analysis: Engaging Syria carries potential risks, rewards-CNN
International 11/03/09
Beirut, day two: The unanswerable question-guardian.co.uk
11/03/09
Analysis: Seeing the world through the Iranian
prism-Jerusalem Post 11/03/09
Latest News Reports From
Miscellaneous Sources for March
11/09
Washington: Hizbullah's
Recognition of Israel a Condition for Dialogue-Naharnet
Williams: It's Difficult to Take Weapons out of Hizbullah-Naharnet
France: Suleiman's Visit is 'Message of Confidence' in Lebanon-Naharnet
Netanyahu: Stabilizing Lebanon Difficult as Iran Becomes More Powerful-Naharnet
Riot
Breaks Out at Roumieh Prison-Naharnet
Hezbollah: War with Israel unlikely in short term-Ha'aretz
Netanyahu's pre-election vow to Syria: Israel won't provoke war-Ha'aretz
UN committee accuses Iran of violating arms embargo-Xinhua
Sleiman: Security breaches will not disrupt elections-Daily
Star
Gunmen abduct Lebanese woman in Venezuela-Daily
Star
Israel warns nationals to be wary of Hizbullah reprisal-Daily
Star
Muscat conference renews support for Lebanese-Daily
Star
British think tank vows to seek arrest of Hizbullah spokesman-Daily
Star
Spending on ads in Lebanon up 22 percent in 2008-Daily
Star
25
inmates injured in Lebanese prison riot-Daily
Star
Veteran professor Mohammad Yusuf Najm passes away-Daily
Star
Army
soldier fires toward car of MP's wife-Daily
Star
Sit-ins look to highlight gender discrimination-Daily
Star
NGOs
identify ways to curb violence against girls-Daily
Star
Baroud joins calls by women's rights activists to amend nationality law-Daily
Star
'Arab
governments growing increasingly repressive-Daily
Star'
Symbolic
restart for shattered Nahr al-Bared.AFP
Netanyahu sees 'weakened Iran' as key to peace-AFP
Sudan
dismisses UN warning over expulsion of aid agencies-(AFP)
Talks
with Taliban moderates 'worth exploring' - Biden-(AFP)
Hundreds
In Canada mourn fallen soldier Marc Diab at candlelight vigil
Mar 11, 2009
Nick Aveling
Toronto Star - Ontario,
Canada
STAFF REPORTER
It is a perfectly forgettable suburban street, but Pedalina Dr. was a major
thoroughfare in the life of Trooper Marc Diab.
Fitting, then, that hundreds of mourners followed the same route that connected
the 22-year-old to his girlfriend of six years in a candlelight vigil earlier
tonight.
"We are connected to Mary's house spiritually," said Diab's father Hani Diab
from his Mississauga home. His son, who was killed Sunday by a roadside bomb in
Afghanistan, had planned to propose to Mary Barakat when he returned to Canada
late this month. The couple lived only a block apart.
Hundreds of mourners, mostly members of Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic
Church, packed the street. Heads bowed and illuminated by candles, they recited
the Lord's Prayer in Lebanese and English as they moved toward the Diab home.
Priest Emmanuel Nakhle led the prayer from in front of the group.
"Marc was a very active member of our church. He was a youth leader who used to
organize our summer camps and activities," he said. "He worked hard for the
community. Whatever we do will not compensate for this loss."
A reception was held in the Diab home following the vigil.
"There are people here in my house that I don't even know, from all over Canada,
who came to offer their condolences," said Hani Diab. "He was all about uniting
people together, and by dying as a hero, he has done what he had to do."
Hani Diab was away on business when he received news of Marc's death.
"I was alone, I was desperate, I was afraid," he said. "I was proud to see his
picture in the paper when I got back, but it's painful. I want to see a picture
of his marriage there."
Dona Nassif, who took part in the vigil, is not a member of the Diabs' church.
Nonetheless, she said she was compelled to show her support.
"I live in the neighbourhood and I'm also Lebanese background," she said. "It
brings the war in Afghanistan home a little bit when we see casualties taking
place so close to home. Sometimes when they're on TV it's two-dimensional, but
when it happens to someone that we know of in flesh and blood it gives us a
whole new dimension."
Diab's body will return to Canada on Thursday afternoon. Gov. Gen. Michaelle
Jean and Defence Minister Peter MacKay are expected to be on hand when the plane
lands at CFB Trenton.
Diab is the 112th Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan.
With files from the Canadian Press
Washington:
Hizbullah's Recognition of Israel a Condition for Dialogue
Naharnet/The United States has made it clear that
Hizbullah must renounce violence and recognize Israel before it can expect even
low-level U.S. engagement.
"Hizbullah is acting as a state within a state," the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat
quoted a U.S. official as saying.
He said Hizbullah held celebrations on the occasion of commander Imad
Mughniyeh's assassination anniversary in Beirut's southern suburbs while for
years the Shiite party denied any link to Mughniyeh.
He said U.S. Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs
Jeffrey Feltman met with Deputy Head of the Supreme Shiite Council Sheikh Abdul
Amir Qabalan in Beirut last week in order to make clear to him that President
Barack Obama was committed to Lebanon's sovereignty and independence.
The official told al-Hayat that the mission of U.S. special envoy to the Middle
East George Mitchell includes achieving comprehensive peace on all tracks:
Israeli-Palestinian, Syrian-Israeli and Lebanese-Israeli.
Asked if the U.S. would change its policy if Hizbullah and Michel Aoun's Free
Patriotic Movement became the majority in parliament, the official said the
government that will be formed after the elections should stress commitment to
U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 so that the current partnership between
the international community and Lebanon continues. The
U.S. official lauded President Michel Suleiman's efforts "to come up with a
strategy that protects the country from the consequences of having two separate
visions."
The U.S. is concerned about efforts to cripple the government, he said,
wondering how Syria's supporters in Lebanon claim that a national unity cabinet
is the only choice after the elections. "Had they
wanted the perfect government for Lebanon, they would have stopped crippling
it," the official said.
Meanwhile, the White House said Tuesday that both Hamas and Hizbullah must
renounce violence and recognize Israel before they can expect dialogue with the
U.S.
The comments came after U.S. ally Britain confirmed last week that it had
authorized low-level contact with the political wing of Hizbullah, to stress the
urgency of disbanding militias. "The president has
stated on a number of occasions that, in order for anything like that to happen,
there are certain responsibilities that those individual organizations have,"
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said. Those
requirements include recognizing the right of Israel to exist and renouncing
"terrorist activities," he said, also referring to the Islamist Palestinian
group Hamas which rules the Gaza Strip. "There are
activities and responsibilities that have to be undertaken by those
organizations well before this administration can render a judgment," Gibbs
said. The State Department said last week that the
United States was not ready to follow Britain's move.
Britain has had no official talks with Hizbullah since 2005, and last July added
its military wing to a blacklist of designated terror groups.(Naharnet-AFP)
Beirut, 11 Mar 09, 07:40
The Syrian
disappointment
Date: March 11th, 2009 Source: Future News
The Syrian disappointment from the US administration is so big that the US
assistant Secretary of State Jeffery Feltman said that Damascus is called for a
“continuous engagement”.
This engagement means the commitment of Syria to a clear list of defined
interests, incomparable to a menu were you can choose what suits your desire.
The problem with Syria is that it is overweighing its regional role. That is
what the Damascus regime has tried to illusion its followers in Lebanon while
the reality is different. In a balance sheet the Syrian regime did not gain
anything since it withdrew from Lebanon in April 2005, but on the contrary, it
placed all its influence at stake to cover the Iranian gains.
The American conditions imposed on Syria include the “peace” process with the
Jewish state, the meddling in the Palestinian affairs, the efforts to influence
over Lebanon and incite the security situation in Iraq. What has been proposed
on the Assad regime is to choose on the basis of interests not on illusions.
What is more surprising is the Syrian joy to the contacts with the Americans,
which leads to the crucial question: Why insulting and accusing of treason the
Arab countries opposing the politics of Damascus, as long as engaging with the
United States is a political game? How come the White House is not a den for
imperialism and Zionism anymore?
The answer is that all what Syria has done and still doing is an effort to imply
that it holds the keys to any regional solution, and that whoever is to get to
the region must pass by the portal of Damascus. There is the problem and the
solution at the same time.
But the declaration of the US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton in accordance
with the visit of Feltman to Damascus that the time to reinstate an American
ambassador to Syria has not come yet, ascertain that the Assad regime has to pay
his dues first.
Washington:
Hizbullah's Recognition of Israel a Condition for Dialogue
Naharnet/The United States has made it clear that Hizbullah must renounce
violence and recognize Israel before it can expect even low-level U.S.
engagement.
"Hizbullah is acting as a state within a state," the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat
quoted a U.S. official as saying.
He said Hizbullah held celebrations on the occasion of commander Imad
Mughniyeh's assassination anniversary in Beirut's southern suburbs while for
years the Shiite party denied any link to Mughniyeh. He said U.S. Acting
Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman met with
Deputy Head of the Supreme Shiite Council Sheikh Abdul Amir Qabalan in Beirut
last week in order to make clear to him that President Barack Obama was
committed to Lebanon's sovereignty and independence. The official told al-Hayat
that the mission of U.S. special envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell
includes achieving comprehensive peace on all tracks: Israeli-Palestinian,
Syrian-Israeli and Lebanese-Israeli.
Asked if the U.S. would change its policy if Hizbullah and Michel Aoun's Free
Patriotic Movement became the majority in parliament, the official said the
government that will be formed after the elections should stress commitment to
U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 so that the current partnership between
the international community and Lebanon continues. The U.S. official lauded
President Michel Suleiman's efforts "to come up with a strategy that protects
the country from the consequences of having two separate visions." The U.S. is
concerned about efforts to cripple the government, he said, wondering how
Syria's supporters in Lebanon claim that a national unity cabinet is the only
choice after the elections.
"Had they wanted the perfect government for Lebanon, they would have stopped
crippling it," the official said. Meanwhile, the White House said Tuesday that
both Hamas and Hizbullah must renounce violence and recognize Israel before they
can expect dialogue with the U.S. The comments came after U.S. ally Britain
confirmed last week that it had authorized low-level contact with the political
wing of Hizbullah, to stress the urgency of disbanding militias.
"The president has stated on a number of occasions that, in order for anything
like that to happen, there are certain responsibilities that those individual
organizations have," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said. Those requirements
include recognizing the right of Israel to exist and renouncing "terrorist
activities," he said, also referring to the Islamist Palestinian group Hamas
which rules the Gaza Strip.
"There are activities and responsibilities that have to be undertaken by those
organizations well before this administration can render a judgment," Gibbs
said.
The State Department said last week that the United States was not ready to
follow Britain's move. Britain has had no official talks with Hizbullah since
2005, and last July added its military wing to a blacklist of designated terror
groups.(Naharnet-AFP) Beirut, 11 Mar 09, 07:40
Williams: It's Difficult to Take Weapons out of Hizbullah
Naharnet/U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams said disarmament
of any organization throughout the world is "very difficult, so how, rather,
with Hizbullah, which is a strong and well-organized party." "It's difficult to
take the weapons out of politics. It needs to be done. It needs to be a
Lebanese-led process," Williams told reporters after a closed-door briefing to
the U.N. Security Council Tuesday.
He said southern Lebanon and northern Israel have experienced their longest
period of stability in many years despite the violations of a 2006 cease-fire
during the recent war in Gaza. The cease-fire between Israel and Hizbullah
"continues to hold" but much remains to be done to fully implement Security
Council resolution 1701 that ended their 34-day conflict, including disarming
Hizbullah and all other militias, Williams added.
In a report to the council, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the firing
of rockets from southern Lebanon toward Israel during the Gaza conflict as
"serious violations" of the cease-fire resolution. The fact that Israel returned
fire without prior warning to U.N. peacekeepers in southern Lebanon is also "a
cause of serious concern," he said. "On the positive side, the resolution has
continued to ensure a cessation of hostilities between the parties and the
longest period of stability that south Lebanon has known in decades," he said.
"There is stability on Israel's northern border which it has not known since the
1980s."
In other positive developments, Williams said the internal political situation
in Lebanon in the run-up to June 7 general elections "remains good."
He also pointed to the establishment of diplomatic ties between Lebanon and
Syria, and moves toward Arab reconciliation "which I think have an enormously
positive effect on the situation on the ground in Lebanon." Williams, however,
said "there are many other issues in 1701 where very little progress has been
achieved."
The resolution reiterates a call for the disarming of all militias in Lebanon,
bans arms transfers to any group except the Lebanese armed forces, and urges the
Lebanese government to secure its borders to prevent arms smuggling.
Williams believed that Lebanese national dialogue under President Michel
Suleiman "has had enormously beneficial effect on the country in enhancing
national stability, but where the question of the disarmament of armed groups is
making only slow process."
He expressed hope that the government elected in June can move the issue
forward. Beirut, 11 Mar 09, 07:34
France: Suleiman's Visit is 'Message of Confidence' in Lebanon
Naharnet/A visit to France by President Michel Suleiman on March 16-18 is said
to be a "message of confidence" in Lebanon. The daily Asharq Al Awsat on
Wednesday said France dedicates such a high-level visit to states it has "good
relations" with. Citing high-ranking French diplomatic sources, the daily said
Suleiman's visit will tackle issues such as "the return of Lebanon to full
sovereignty, the return of institutions, primarily the presidency, to exercise
its functions in full and consolidate success of the Doha agreement." The
sources said choosing the time of the visit ahead of the June 7 parliamentary
elections in Lebanon "carries a French message of faith in Lebanon and its
democracy." It is also a message to encourage Lebanon to restore its full role,
the sources added. French President Nicola Sarkozy and Suleiman are expected to
hold lengthy talks on Monday, according to the sources. The meeting is to be
followed by a banquet in Suleiman's honor.
Beirut, 11 Mar 09, 08:45
Netanyahu: Stabilizing Lebanon Difficult as Iran Becomes More Powerful
Naharnet/Israeli prime minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu believes that
weakening Iran is key to ending the Middle East conflict and stabilizing the
situation in Lebanon, a senior aide said on Tuesday.
"Iran's growing power and intransigence give great advantage to the radical
elements among Palestinians and in Lebanon," the aide said, when asked about
talks Netanyahu held with outgoing Defense Minister Ehud Barak earlier in the
day.
"Any progress in the Middle East peace talks will require Hamas' weakening which
can be achieved only if Iran is seen as weakened," he said. Israel accuses Iran
of supplying weapons to both the Islamist rulers of Gaza and Lebanon's Hizbullah,
which fought a devastating war with Israel in 2006. Netanyahu, a hawkish former
premier who heads the right-wing Likud party, said at the meeting, which was
also attended by chief of staff Lieutenant General Gabi Ashkenazi, that he
intends to focus his efforts on ending Iran's nuclear program. "It will be very
difficult to stabilize the situation in Lebanon or to hold negotiations with the
Palestinians as long as Iran's power is on the rise," the aide quoted Netanyahu
as saying. The Likud leader, who is expected to form a narrow right-wing
coalition next week, has rejected establishing a Palestinian state and has
advocated what he calls an "economic peace" with the Palestinians. This could
lead to tension with the new U.S. administration after Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton last week announced that Washington intends an "aggressive"
pursuit of Middle East peace. While expressing support for international efforts
to resolve the standoff over Iran's nuclear program by diplomatic means, Israel
has repeatedly refused to rule out military action to prevent any possibility of
Iran developing a bomb. "The military option remains on the table because it
gives more chance for dialogue that will lead to a compromise with Iran," the
aide said. U.S. President Barack Obama has vowed to engage in dialogue with Iran
in an effort to end the nuclear standoff, in a policy break with the
administration of George Bush which refused to deal with Tehran without a prior
agreement to suspend nuclear enrichment.(AFP-Naharnet) Beirut, 11 Mar 09, 08:45
Riot Breaks Out at Roumieh Prison
Naharnet/Around 100 inmates rioted in one wing of Lebanon's largest prison on
Tuesday to demand reduced sentences.
"A number of inmates at Roumieh prison began rioting this evening, burning
mattresses and other items to press their demands for reduced sentences," the
official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. He said security
reinforcements had been sent to the prison eight kilometers northeast of the
capital Beirut and the rioting died down after about 90 minutes. Five prisoners
suffered smoke inhalation, he added. The same prison was the scene of a mutiny
in April last year in which seven warders were held hostage overnight before a
peaceful resolution was negotiated. A riot also broke out at the Qubbah prison
in the main northern city of Tripoli in January with inmates holding two wardens
overnight.(AFP) Beirut, 10 Mar 09, 21:27
How broad should restrictions on free speech really
be?
By Ian Buruma
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Bishop Richard Williamson has some very peculiar, and frankly odious, views: He
believes that no Jews were murdered in gas chambers during World War II; that
the Twin Towers were brought down by American explosives on September 11, 2001,
not by airplanes; and that Jews are fighting to dominate the world "to prepare
the anti-Christ's throne in Jerusalem." And these are just some of his opinions
on secular matters.
On questions of Roman Catholic doctrine, his views were considered so out of
line with the modern Church that the Vatican excommunicated him in 1988, along
with other members of the ultra-conservative Society of St. Pius X, founded by
the fascist sympathizer Marcel Lefebvre. Supporters of Williamson include the
British historian David Irving, who was recently jailed in Austria for
glorifying the Nazis.
The bishop, then, does not strike one as an attractive man. But does he deserve
everything now hanging over his head? As a consequence of the views he expressed
on Swedish television, he was denied re-entry into the Church, as was promised
earlier by Pope Benedict XVI, which is probably just as well. But he was also
kicked out of Argentina, where he lived, and is threatened with extradition to
Germany, where preparations are being made to prosecute him for Holocaust
denial.
Meanwhile, consider the case of another unappealing man, the Dutch politician
Geert Wilders, who was banned last month from entering the United Kingdom, where
he had planned to show his short film, entitled "Fitna", which describes Islam
as a terrorist faith. Back in Holland, a case is being made against him in an
Amsterdam court for "spreading hatred" against Muslims. He has compared the
Koran to Hitler's "Mein Kampf", and wishes to stop immigration of Muslims to the
Netherlands.
The British ban, as well as the impending Dutch court case, has actually made
Wilders more popular in the Netherlands, where one poll indicated that his
populist anti-Muslim party, the PVV, would get 27 seats in Parliament if
elections were held today. The reason for Wilders' surging popularity, apart
from widespread distrust of Muslims, is that he has successfully cultivated an
image as being a fighter for free speech.
The principle of free speech, which is one of the fundamental rights in liberal
democracies, means that we must live with views that we find reprehensible, up
to a point. The question is, up to what point?
Laws on free speech differ somewhat from country to country. It is a criminal
offense in various European democracies, including France, Germany and Austria,
to express the view that the Holocaust never happened. Many democratic countries
also have laws against inciting violence or hatred. Some countries, including
the Netherlands, even have introduced laws against deliberately insulting people
on the grounds of their race or their religion.
Bishop Williamson's ideas may be loathsome, but criminal prosecution against a
man for his views about history is probably a bad idea. The bishop should be
criticized, even ridiculed, but he should not be jailed. Similarly, it would
have been much better to let Wilders show his wretched film in Britain than to
ban him. Whatever one thinks of laws against spreading hatred or insulting
people, the law remains a blunt instrument when it came to matters of speech.
Nevertheless, free speech is not absolute. Even Wilders, with his absurd call to
ban the Koran, clearly believes that there are limits - for his opponents, of
course, not for himself. But it is not so easy to define precisely what those
limits should be, for they depend on who says what to whom, and even where.
Williamson's opinions suddenly mattered, because this obscure, excommunicated
priest was about to be reinstated by Pope Benedict. This would have given
institutional legitimacy to his private views. In the case of Wilders, it makes
a difference that he is a politician, not just a private individual, who is
pandering to dangerous prejudices against a vulnerable minority.
In civilized life, people refrain from saying many things, regardless of
questions of legality. Words used by young black men among themselves in
American cities would have a very different resonance if young white men used
them. Mocking the ways and beliefs of minorities is not quite the same thing as
taking on the cherished habits and views of majorities.
If this smacks of political correctness, then so be it. But civilized life,
especially in countries with great ethnic and religious diversity, would soon
break down if everyone felt free to say anything they liked to anyone. The
problem is where to draw the line. Legally, this should probably be the point
where words are designed to result in violence. Socially, there are too many
variables involved in such cases to establish an absolute, universal principle.
The proper limits must be constantly tested, contested, and renegotiated.
People like Bishop Williamson and Geert Wilders are useful to the extent that
they allow us to do just that. Let them speak so that they can be judged, not in
court, but by contrary opinions. Banning them only allows them to pose as
martyrs to free speech. And that not only makes it harder to attack their views,
it also gives the idea of free speech a bad name.
**Ian Buruma is a writer whose latest book is "The China Lover." THE DAILY STAR
publishes this commentary in collaboration with Project Syndicate (c) (www.project-syndicate.org).
Israel warns nationals to be wary of Hizbullah reprisal
Daily Star staff
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
BEIRUT: Israel's counter-terrorism bureau advised Israelis against visiting Arab
or Muslim countries for fear of Hizbullah attacks ahead of a Jewish holiday, the
Israeli Haaretz newspaper reported Monday on its website. In its travel alert,
the bureau said it feared "Hizbullah would target or abduct Israelis abroad," to
avenge the 2008 assassination of Hizbullah top military commander Imad Mughniyeh.
Hizbullah has blamed Mughniyeh's death on Israel, although the Jewish state has
denied any involvement in the incident. However, the Israeli daily Yediot
Aharonot reported last month that Mughniyeh's assassins were Israelis who
infiltrated from "Kurdistan" into Syria. Meanwhile, a number of Israeli tanks
have been deployed in the vicinity of the southern town of Kfarshouba as
reconnaissance flights violated Lebanon's airspace over the Shebaa Farms, the
National News Agency (NNA) reported Monday. The Merkava tanks were spotted in
the afternoon on the environs of al-Alam, Rmatta and Summaqa, facing Kfarshouba.
- The Daily Star
Muscat conference renews support for Lebanese
Daily Star staff
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
BEIRUT: The 15th Arab Parliamentary Union Conference renewed support Monday for
the "Lebanese people, army and resistance for their efforts to liberate
[Lebanon's] land occupied by Israel." It also stressed in its final statement
the importance of continuing support for reconstruction in Lebanon and the
removal of land mines and cluster bombs left over from the summer 2006 war and.
Similarly it denounced Israel's "violation of UN Security Council resolution
1701." The conference, which was held in Muscat on March 7-9, also announced its
continued support for the Palestinians, especially those in Gaza. Speaker Nabih
Berri, who represented Lebanon, returned to Beirut Sunday evening. During a news
conference to mark the end of the conference, Berri said that "Arab entente is
the key to solving the disputes among Arabs." "We are approaching the Arab
Summit [in Doha in March]. Arab entente should expand to include coordination
with major Islamic countries in the region," he said. "We should protect
ourselves because we are losing more winning cards every day," he added. "Those
who do not see this reality need an optometrist." - The Daily Star
British think tank vows to seek arrest of Hizbullah spokesman
By Andrew Wander /Daily Star staff
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
BEIRUT: Campaigners from a right-wing think tank in Britain will seek an arrest
warrant for Hizbullah spokesman Ibrahim Moussawi if he is allowed into the
country later this month.
The Center for Social Cohesion has written to the British Home Secretary, Jaqui
Smith, pledging to begin the necessary legal proceedings to arrest Moussawi if
he is granted a visa to speak at a London university. Moussawi's proposed visit
has caused controversy in Britain because the government last month refused to
issue a far-right anti-Islamic Dutch politician Geer Wilders with a visa.
Wilders accused the British government of being "cowards" and traveled to
Britain anyway, where he was arrested and deported. The think tank said it would
be "beyond hypocrisy" if Moussawi, who is alleged to have made anti-Semitic
comments, is allowed into the country after Wilders was refused entry.
"We remain deeply concerned that the United Kingdom government finds it
acceptable that an individual who incites hatred against the Jewish people and
of Israelis should be permitted to enter," the letter said. Moussawi says he has
never made anti-Semitic remarks, pointing out that Islam is premised on an
acceptance of both Judaism and Christianity, and insists accusations that he
referred to Jews as "a lesion on the forehead of history" are false.
But the center's director, Douglas Murray, said that the organization had "prima
facie" evidence that Moussawi was in breach of genocide conventions and would be
eligible for arrest in Britain under international law. There is a legal
precedent in Britain for a private group to seeking the arrest of a foreign
national visiting the country. In 2004 Palestinian rights groups applied for the
arrest of former Israeli defense minister Shaul Mofaz while he was in London.
The warrant was not issued because Mofaz was visiting in his capacity as defense
minister and was subject to state immunity. Moussawi would be visiting in a
private capacity and would not have the same protections.
Moussawi, who held a variety of positions in media organizations sympathetic to
Hizbullah before being made the group's spokesman, has been granted entry visas
to Britain before in order to keep speaking engagements. The School of Oriental
and African Studies in London has invited him to speak at a seminar on political
Islam on March 25th. Senior British civil servants and police officers are
believed to be paying up to $2,600 to attend the event. Moussawi told The Daily
Star that he intended to press ahead with his visit regardless of opposition. "I
care for the concept of justice," he said. "This is an attack and an aggression
against me based on things that I never said. People are being misled and I want
to clear my name."Moussawi has enlisted the help of respected academics to
support his application for a visa. The American University of Beirut's Chair of
Political Science, Professor Hilal Khashan, has written to the UK government to
say that Moussawi should be allowed into the country. "I have known Mr Moussawi
as a pacifist and a humane individual. This man has an unfailing moral character
that was polished by his deep faith," the letter said. "I have always held in
great esteem the transparent institutions of the UK. I have every confidence
that the finest democratic system will not succumb to witch-hunting." The
British government last week announced that it had established low-level contact
with the political wing of Hizbullah. The decision was criticized by Israel,
which said that there was no distinction between the group's political and
military branches.
25 inmates injured in Lebanese prison riot
Daily Star staff/Wednesday, March 11, 2009
BEIRUT: Security Forces succeed at around 8:45 p.m. Tuesday in containing riots
inside Lebanon's largest prison. Around 100 inmates rioted in Building Three of
the Roumieh prison to demanded reduced sentences, a security source told The
Daily Star. "A number of inmates at Roumieh prison began rioting this evening,
burning mattresses and other items to press their demands for reduced
sentences," the source said. According to the source, around 25 inmates were
wounded during the riots. Eight prisoners who sustained third-degree burns were
rushed to a nearby hospital, while seven others suffered from smoke inhalation.
The source said inmates involved in the riots were likely to be subject to
"strict sanctions," adding that security reinforcements had been sent to the
prison 8 kilometers northeast of the capital Beirut. The same prison was the
scene of a mutiny in April last year in which seven guards were held hostage
before a peaceful resolution was negotiated. The prison compound houses four
high-profile detainees - former generals held in connection with the 2005
assassination of former Lebanese Premier Rafik Hariri, as well as members of the
Al-Qaeda-inspired Fatah al-Islam militant group. A riot also broke out at the
Qubbah prison in the main northern coastal city of Tripoli in January with
inmates holding two guards hostage overnight. - The Daily Star
The current softening of stances can only be good for
Lebanon
By The Daily Star /Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Editorial
Today's mini-summit in Riyadh comes as the latest sign of a thaw in relations
between Saudi Arabia and Egypt on the one hand and Syria on the other, and marks
a welcome attempt to repair dangerous rifts within the ranks of the Arab League.
The meeting, which will group Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, Egyptian President
Hosni Mubarak and Syrian President Bashar Assad, also represents just one front
in a growing US-led movement away from hostility and warmongering and toward
engagement, diplomacy and negotiations.
The worldwide softening of stances - whether these occur between the US and
Russia, Tehran and Washington, or Riyadh and Damascus - can only be advantageous
for a country like Lebanon, which has long suffered from shocks created by
regional and international tensions. Just as Lebanon has had to endure the
consequences of animosity among rival powers operating in the region, the
country stands to benefit from any sort of rapprochement among these same
states. These developments therefore bode well as Lebanon prepares to hold its
parliamentary elections in what will hopefully be a less tense regional
environment.
One way in which Lebanon stands to benefit the most from the
Saudi-Egyptian-Syrian talks is that the negotiations are likely to be partly
aimed at solidifying a common stance on the Arab-Israeli peace process. As key
stakeholders in the region, the close cooperation of all three parties is a
prerequisite to any successful regional peace initiative, and the exclusion of
any party will only provoke a spoiler's mentality. The current round of talks
among the three countries - as well as future negotiations - can help give new
life to the Saudi-sponsored Arab peace initiative. They could also see the
introduction of new strategies - such as a deadline - aimed at pressuring Israel
into swiftly accepting the accord.
Any Arab cooperation on these issues would dovetail nicely with Washington's
current efforts to get the peace process rolling again and to encourage the
involvement of other parties such as Turkey. The Obama administration has made
clear that it wants to draw as many parties into the process as possible in
order to better guarantee a sustainable peace outcome. Any unifying of stances
that the Arabs can achieve ahead of time would go a long way toward ensuring a
fair and sustainable conclusion to the process.
Repairing the rift between Riyadh, Cairo and Damascus will not be easy, but it
is well worth whatever investment the parties can afford to make. And pursuing a
peace process with Israel will be all the easier once the Arabs have reached
peace among themselves