BEIRUT: Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt warned
Sunday against a break out of sectarian strife in Lebanon in light of domestic
and regional events, particularly those in Syria.
“What is happening in Lebanon and around us and especially in
Syria might make the issue of the international tribunal but a minor detail, if
sectarian strife broke out and [hopefully] it won’t. But we should bear
responsibility for every word we say,” Jumblatt said in a news conference in
Mukhtara in the Chouf Mountains on the birthday of his father Kamal Jumblatt.
He also criticized the row between former Prime Minister Saad
Hariri and Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah over the issue of the Special
Tribunal for Lebanon.
“The debate over the international tribunal and the issue of
false witnesses between Hezbollah's Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah
and former Prime Minister Saad Hariri is unnecessary,” he said.
“At the same time, we understand Hezbollah's reservations.”
Nasrallah has accused Future Movement of inciting sectarian
strife by using provocative language against the resistance.
Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced last week that he had
funded the international court probing the 2005 assassination of former
statesman Rafik Hariri, despite opposition from the majority represented in
Hezbollah and its allies.
The PSP leader also touched upon the speech given by Sheikh
Ahmad Al-Asir in Sidon Friday, in which Assir attacked the Shiite community,
raising fear of sectarian clashes within the city’s multi-religious
communities.
All officials should harshly condemn such statements to preserve
stability, Jumblatt said.
“The matter could wound the Lebanese community and relations
between Muslims. There must be a bigger reaction over what happened and [we
must] consequently stand in solidarity to face such provocative words,” he
added.
Jumblatt, who identifies himself as a centrist politician, said
Hezbollah’s arms, which the March 14 coalition opposes, should only be used to
defend Lebanon.
“Hezbollah will not get involved in any domestic disputes and we
need it [the resistance] and are in need of arms to defend Lebanon, no more no
less ,” he said.
Jumblatt spoke extensively about the situation in Syria, where
President Bashar Assad is facing growing isolation from the Arab and
international community.
“Syria's salvation is through the Arab League initiative and
there is no magical solution that would see the collapse of the regime and the
transfer of power to another government,” Jumblatt said.
Jumblatt, who has repeatedly called for dialogue between
opposition groups and the Syrian government, said that undisciplined armed
groups, primarily Shabiha, are damaging to the Syrian army and government.
The Syrian government has been facing growing opposition since
mid March with demonstrators calling for the resignation of Assad and the
ruling Baath party. Protests have been met with a violent crackdown which has
prompted the international community to take strict measures against the
government.
The troubled country has become increasingly isolated as the
Arab and international community have imposed punitive economic sanctions in a
bid to force Assad to agree to an Arab peace plan designed to end the crisis in
that country.
Jumblatt repeated his calls for the Druze community in Syria
living in Jabal Arab not to join the armed groups in their fight against protesters.
“My call for you is not to be dragged into [sectarian] strife,”
he added.
U.N. High
Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay said Thursday that Syria has entered
a state of civil war with more than 4,000 dead since the start of the uprising
coupled with an increased number of army defectors.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2011/Dec-04/155976-jumblatt-warns-of-danger-of-sectarian-strife-in-lebanon.ashx#axzz1ffjZuLhc
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