Prime Minister Najib
Mikati’s office issued a statement on Friday lashing out at the “illogical”
criticism waged against his government following the decision to fund the
Special Tribunal for Lebanon, the National News Agency reported.
“Since the moment Mikati
announced the funding of the STL, the organized chorus resumed its campaign
against the PM, with statements that could be at least described as illogical,”
the statement said.
“[This campaign] indicates
the level of hatred that those people conceal to the point that they have lost
all logic and clear thinking,” it added.
The statement also said
that those who criticized the decision did not wish for the truth of the
assassination of former PM Rafik Hariri to be uncovered, but that they rather
want to exploit it “in their political bargains.”
It added that Mikati’s
decision was an expression of his “national and personal convictions and those
of the majority of the Lebanese people.”
On Wednesday, premier said 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 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 Hariri, but the suspects have not surrendered to the court.
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