BEIRUT: Lebanon’s General Security
defended Friday its deportation of 14 Syrians, saying that it has frozen the
expulsion of several Syrians whose lives would be endangered in their home
country.
“General Security has frozen the
deportation of detainees involved in the ‘Lutfallah II’ ship case as well as
arms smugglers who are still in the custody of the Lebanese judiciary, after
they claimed to be from the Syrian opposition,” General Security said in a
statement.
It added that the security apparatus
did not deport individuals whom international humanitarian organizations
claimed would be in danger in their country, and that those who have
voluntarily returned signed papers announcing their desire to return home.
The news of the expulsion of 14
Syrians has caused local and international alarm. Both the U.S. and the EU
voiced Thursday concern regarding the news of the deportations via their envoys
to Lebanon.
In a statement released Friday,
General Security reiterated that the Syrians who were deported had committed
violations and criminal acts on Lebanese territory ranging from theft to
forgery, attempted rape and assault, adding that the Syrian government had
nothing to do with their deportation.
“The Directorate General of General
Security is not concerned with political or party issues or statements that aim
to alter facts and divert the path of an institution that until now has not
deported a Syrian in Lebanon detained on charges of killing ten Syrians in his
country because, during investigations, he announced that he was with the
Syrian opposition. The Directorate General of General Security froze the
decision to deport him given the political dimension of his case," the
statement said.
“General Security communicates and
coordinates with international humanitarian organizations and the International
Committee of the Red Cross over foreign and Arab nationals, and these
organizations are always informed [of our decisions] in the spirit of the
partnership and communication procedures between the organizations and General
Security,” it added.
Future Movement MP Fouad Siniora
said Friday that the government will be held accountable for deporting the 14
Syrians to their home country, asking the international community to take a
firm stance vis-a-vis the expulsion.
“This is the Lebanese government’s
responsibility and we ... hold it accountable for what it did,” Siniora told
reporters at his office after meeting with U.N. and EU officials.
Siniora, the head of the Future
Movement parliamentary bloc, met Friday with U.N. Special Coordinator for
Lebanon Derek Plumbly along with the EU Ambassador Angelina Eichhorst. He was
accompanied by other Future Movement and March 14 parliamentarians.
“We ask officials in the European
Union and United Nations to direct a strong message to the Lebanese
government,” said Siniora.
He also accused the Lebanese
government of acting under the orders or pressure of Syria.
“Information in our possession
indicates the [deportation] came as a result of a request made by the Syrian
authorities to the head of General Security, and we also heard that [Lebanese
political] authorities were unaware of that,” he added.
For his part, the U.N. Plumbly said that the
international organization’s position regarding such practices was clear. He
said that nobody should be returned to a place where his or her life could be
in danger and that this is a basic principle of the international community.http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2012/Aug-03/183303-lebanons-general-security-defends-deportation-of-14-syrians.ashx#axzz22YJb8TYo
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