Head of the Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc, ex-PM Fouad Saniora, on Sunday called on Premier Najib Miqati to “implement what the people are demanding” and pay Lebanon’s 49 percent annual share of funds to the U.N.-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon.
Delivering a speech on behalf of ex-PM Saad Hariri at a mass rally organized by the Mustaqbal Movement in the northern city of Tripoli, Miqati’s hometown, Saniora said financing the STL was a duty and not some kind of generosity.
“Our adherence to the tribunal is not for the sake of vengeance, but rather justice ... The choice is clear: you either side with the martyrs or with the criminals. The people want to know the truth and try the killers,” Saniora said to a round of applause from tens of thousands of supporters present at the rally.
“People want the tribunal, justice and the handing over of the accused. People want to support the aggrieved, so implement what the people are demanding you to do,” Saniora said, addressing Miqati, on behalf of Hariri.
“The Lebanese people have decided to leave fear behind and not to bow to the killing machine. The people have decided to say enough with the killing. We did not accept that our dignity and the dignity of our people be stepped on, that’s the reason behind the March 14 uprising, which has yielded the Arab Spring,” he added.
Addressing the crowd, the former premier said: “You have proved that the Lebanese people want freedom, independence and dignity. The young Arab men and women have heard the call of freedom that had echoed in Beirut’s heart. You were the example and role model and your sacrifices infected the Arab states.”
Saniora declared that “the moment of truth has come in the Arab world and Lebanon will not remain the only democratic country,” in reference to the pro-democracy uprisings sweeping the Arab world.
“The hand of justice will reach the murderers and the accomplices will be held responsible,” he said of those behind the 2005 assassination of former premier Rafik Hariri.
The STL, which is probing the murder, has accused four Hizbullah operatives of involvement in the killing of Lebanon’s powerful former premier. The party has refused to hand over the four members and has dismissed the court as an “American-Israeli plot.”
“We will preserve our independence and defend our country and coexistence and the epoch of democratic, tolerant Arabism has started,” Saniora pledged, in the name of Hariri.
Addressing the crisis in neighboring Syria, Saniora stressed that “the Syrian people are the ones to lead the change in Syria and they don’t need anyone to show them the way.”
“But we tell them that our hearts are with them and that we are watching them as they make history,” he added.
Later on Sunday, Hariri issued a statement in which he lauded the “massive participation” in the rally.
“You demonstrated through your massive participation that you will never be negligent regarding the attempts to target the path of freedom, sovereignty and independence, as well as the attempts to thwart the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, once by trying to stop the funding, and once by hiding those accused of committing this terrorist crime or showing an organized negligence to hide them and prevent their prosecution,” Hariri said.
“Your celebration of the anniversary of the independence is an occasion to assert that no weapon prevails over the authority of the state. It is also an occasion to affirm the support for the Syrian people and the Arab spring movements, and to raise the roaring voice of Lebanon against all kinds of repression and tyranny,” Hariri added.
He said the demonstrators presented a “dignified picture that expresses the Lebanese stance against injustice.”
“You also sent a message of solidarity and affection to the brotherly Syrian people who are struggling for their freedom and for the establishment of their democratic system,” he noted.
Hariri expressed sadness for not being able to be with his supporters “on this glorious national day.”
“My pledge is to always be with you and to be loyal to the principles and values in which we all believe. My heart will always be with Tripoli, the North and all of Lebanon. I hope that we will meet soon to renew the pledge to establish a just state and to provide the basis of stability to our dear nation,” the ex-PM added.
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