The National Liberal Party
criticized in a statement the way the funding of the Special Tribunal for
Lebanon was conducted.
The party, following its
weekly meeting, said that the funding decision was the result of the “policy of
denial” that the Hezbollah-led government was pursuing.
The statement also
criticized the cabinet’s approval of the 2012 state budget draft law, deeming
the decision “far removed from the science of public finances,” especially with
regard to excluding the ranks and salaries system from the budget.
Prime Minister Najib Mikati said on Wednesday that the cabinet approved the state
budget draft law, and that while the clause for funding the STL was not
included in the budget, it was funded in the same manner as last year.
In 2011, Mikati reportedly ordered the transfer of funds to the STL from the Higher Relief Commission and not from the Justice Ministry after March 8 parties, which dominate Mikati’s government, opposed the continued funding of the tribunal.
The Netherlands-based court has indicted four Hezbollah operatives in connection with the 2005 murder of former Premier Rafik Hariri, but the suspects have not surrendered to the court.
In 2011, Mikati reportedly ordered the transfer of funds to the STL from the Higher Relief Commission and not from the Justice Ministry after March 8 parties, which dominate Mikati’s government, opposed the continued funding of the tribunal.
The Netherlands-based court has indicted four Hezbollah operatives in connection with the 2005 murder of former Premier Rafik Hariri, but the suspects have not surrendered to the court.
The NLP also commented on
the issue of the telecommunication data necessary for investigation efforts
into recent assassination attempts, especially in light of the attempt
against March 14 MP Boutros Harb, and called for the transfer of data to allow
the security agencies to “protect people’s lives and prevent the forces of
darkness from waging terrorist [attacks].”
Harb said he escaped an assassination bid last week. The
attempt on his life follows a bid in April to murder Lebanese Forces leader
Samir Geagea.
Furthermore, the party voiced support for the Lebanese Forces candidate Fadi Karam in the Koura by-elections and called on its supporters to vote in his favor “since it would constitute a victory for the principles of the Cedar Revolution and for Lebanon.”
Furthermore, the party voiced support for the Lebanese Forces candidate Fadi Karam in the Koura by-elections and called on its supporters to vote in his favor “since it would constitute a victory for the principles of the Cedar Revolution and for Lebanon.”
The special election in
Koura is set to kick off Sunday to elect a successor for former LF MP Farid
Habib (1938-2012), who passed away on May 31 after a struggle with an illness.
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