February 25, 2010 - The Daily Star - Committee demands boycott of Arab League summit in Libya

BEIRUT: Lebanon should boycott the Arab League summit in Libya and should assume its responsibilities, demanded the Higher National Committee to follow up on the case of Imam Musa Sadr on Wednesday.
The committee held a meeting presided over by vice president of the Higher Shiite Council, Sheikh Abdel-Amir Qabalan, after which it concluded that Lebanon should not participate in the summit that will be held in Libya next month.
Sadr, an Iranian Lebanese religious leader who founded the Movement of the Deprived (Amal), went missing along with two of his companions after departing from Tripoli, Libya, in 1978, to meet with government officials. Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi was indicted in August 2008 by the Lebanese government for the Imam’s disappearance but has constantly denied any involvement in the case. Six other Libyans were also indicted.
Former MP Karim Pakradouni spoke in the name of the committee at the end of the gathering and stressed that every Lebanese should assume his national responsibility and work toward freeing the disappeared men. He added that Lebanon should boycott the summit in accordance with its policy statement and its judicial decisions, especially the August 2008 indictment.
He went on to request an emergency hearing at the Judicial Council to prosecute the suspects and issue arrest warrants against international factions involved.
He also called on Arab heads to pressure Gadhafi into liberating Sadr and his companions. “This is a national, Arab, Islamic and humanitarian case and everyone is responsible for freeing Sadr, revealing the truth and punishing the culprits,” he said.
He then condemned Gadhafi’s refusal to discuss the subject, saying it was aimed at “escaping justice and accountability.” “There is no doubt that Gadhafi is responsible,” he added. – The Daily Star