Now Lebanon - Aoun: STL funding sanctions would be ‘military move’ against Lebanon, October 11, 2011

Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun on Tuesday warned that the imposition of sanctions on Beirut if it does not provide its share of funding to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) “would be considered a military operation against Lebanon.”
“We have no deal with the STL concerning the payment,” he told the press following his bloc’s weekly meeting.
The Hezbollah-led March 8 parties – which currently dominate Lebanon’s cabinet – have opposed a clause in the Lebanese annual state budget pertaining to the funding of the tribunal.
Four Hezbollah members have been indicted by the UN-backed STL. However, the Shia group strongly denies the charges and refuses to cooperate with the court.
Aoun addressed a number of socio-economic issues, voicing his rejection of any increases to gas taxes or the VAT.
“The tax system should be changed. People with [capital] gains should pay the most taxes, while the [productive classes] should pay the least amount of taxes.”
The Change and Reform bloc leader also supported the right of the workers to go on strike, in reference to the General Workers Union’s strike scheduled for Wednesday.
Last month, the GWU announced a general strike to begin on October 12 and demanded the minimum wage - which is currently 500,000 LL per month - be raised to 1,250,000 LL.
Aoun also defended the Energy Ministry’s plans to erect high-voltage electrical towers in the Metn town of Ain Saadeh, where residents have protested against the move.
“The previous cabinet, which had 3 ministers from the Kataeb and the Lebanese Forces, approved the plan [to erect electrical towers]. Now we see the Kataeb and LF inciting residents against the plan.”
Aoun added that the electrical towers do not cause cancer.
Ain Saadeh residents have repeatedly called for re-locating the frequency transmission line, adding that it has “unhealthy” effects on the population