"The 14th of March"
By: Elias Bejjani
(Translated by: Elias Bejjani)
13 March 1998

The 14th of March is a commemoration of both occupation and liberation, and while the occupation continues, the liberation battle goes on. The Lebanese people fully perceive the reality of the occupation and the totality of the liberation battle. They are yearning for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from their soil in compliance with the UN resolution 425.

Actions of the installed regime puppets are hindering the liberation battle efforts. This regime has lost all legitimacy in representing the state, instead it is covering up for the Syrian occupation by using the country as a buffer zone in the Syrian-Israeli conflict. It has again turned Lebanon into an open arena, free for all feuding parties in the area to nurture their conflicts and political influence.

Brotherhood obliges Lebanon to support Syria in the process of reclaiming its lost rights, similarly Syria should refrain from using Lebanon as a buffer zone for its conflicts with others. If not based on equality and mutuality, the Syrian-Lebanese relationship would cease. Accordingly, the relationship has to be cleared of recent past infringements and transgressions, as well from present vicious hegemonic designs.

The occupation of a country by a brother or an enemy makes no difference, because occupation is occupation no matter who is the occupant. We hold the current Lebanese regime responsible for the continuation of the occupation. Any civil or religious leader who differentiates between occupants (Syrians and Israelis) is in fact deceiving only himself by denying the bitter state of affairs in Lebanon. It is also a means of self deception for failing to witness for the truth and using meaningless terms of rhetoric. This path benefits no one, on the contrary it escalates and prolongs the misery.

Lebanon needs a competent, patriotic political leadership to rescue the country from the Syrian-installed collaborators; a leadership qualified and capable of renewing the life cycle of the statesı institutions by pumping fresh blood into them.

Liberating the country and protecting its national cause is a patriotic dream to which all Lebanese unanimously aspire. Fulfilling this dream necessitates freeing the countryıs political sectarian and tribal system from collaborators and officials installed by the occupant to serve his own agenda.

The Lebanese struggle is two-sided--the struggle within and the struggle against the occupier. We will be victorious in both.
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