The March 8 coalition’s campaign against the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) is “completely unacceptable,” Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said in a statement issued Tuesday.
It has become obvious that March 8 does not have an issue with specific aspects of the tribunal’s process, but simply opposes the entire STL in principle, he added.
Geagea also said that March 14 is ready if March 8 wants to hold a cabinet vote on the “false witnesses” issue.
However, he added that debating the issue in the cabinet is a waste of time since “either the government abides by its ministerial statement and international resolutions, or it breaks its promises.”
There is no legal basis to the “false witnesses” issue and it cannot currently be transferred to any judicial authority, he said, adding that legal action will have to wait until the STL issues its indictment or possibly its final verdict.
It is better to hold Thursday’s national dialogue session even if it is not very important, Geagea added, saying that its agenda includes only the issues of the defense strategy and illegitimate weapons.
Tension is high in Lebanon after unconfirmed reports that the STL will soon issue its indictment for former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s 2005 assassination. There are fears that should the court indict Hezbollah members, it could lead to clashes similar to those of the 2008 May Events – when gunmen led by the party took over half of Beirut.
Last week, Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah called on all Lebanese to boycott the STL and to end cooperation with its investigators.
March 8 politicians have called for the cabinet to task the Justice Council with investigating the issue of witnesses who gave unreliable testimonies to the international investigation into the Rafik Hariri assassination, while March 14 figures have called for the regular judiciary to handle the issue.
It has become obvious that March 8 does not have an issue with specific aspects of the tribunal’s process, but simply opposes the entire STL in principle, he added.
Geagea also said that March 14 is ready if March 8 wants to hold a cabinet vote on the “false witnesses” issue.
However, he added that debating the issue in the cabinet is a waste of time since “either the government abides by its ministerial statement and international resolutions, or it breaks its promises.”
There is no legal basis to the “false witnesses” issue and it cannot currently be transferred to any judicial authority, he said, adding that legal action will have to wait until the STL issues its indictment or possibly its final verdict.
It is better to hold Thursday’s national dialogue session even if it is not very important, Geagea added, saying that its agenda includes only the issues of the defense strategy and illegitimate weapons.
Tension is high in Lebanon after unconfirmed reports that the STL will soon issue its indictment for former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s 2005 assassination. There are fears that should the court indict Hezbollah members, it could lead to clashes similar to those of the 2008 May Events – when gunmen led by the party took over half of Beirut.
Last week, Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah called on all Lebanese to boycott the STL and to end cooperation with its investigators.
March 8 politicians have called for the cabinet to task the Justice Council with investigating the issue of witnesses who gave unreliable testimonies to the international investigation into the Rafik Hariri assassination, while March 14 figures have called for the regular judiciary to handle the issue.
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