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PART 20  (Translated freely: By Elias Bejjani) In his famous speech on Lebanon's Independence Day in 1988, General Michel Aoun said: "We believe in one Lebanon, that has complete sovereignty and independent. A Lebanon that has no partners on its own land, no custodians for its national decision-making process or its freedoms. We believe in a sovereign Lebanon that deals with others on equal basis and refuses to allow them interfere in its own interests, decisions or land. We believe in a Lebanon that affiliates historically and shares a similar fate with others in the Arab world. A Lebanon that is a messenger of civilization between its milieu and the whole world. After Aoun went into exile, he settled temporarily In Marseillaise (Gabby Vila) France. Few weeks later, I went there to visit him. My self, General Aoun and Colonel Habib Faris started recalling certain events during the General's reign in Lebanon. Colonel Habib Faris, is a patriotic knight who chose to endure the pain of exile far from his beloved family and country, sacrificed his military status and income to be with the leader. Faris began listing the names of those who were close to the General when he was in office and stated where they stand now, some could not hold on to their stances, others boldly changed sides, and yet many others are still loyal. Aoun intercepted Faris to say: "Habib, my friend, why you are going through this headache, every opportunist would have left us even if we had to tie him by chains, and only patriots with self-respect will be with us, that is, those who actually count". After Aoun had moved to the Haut La Maison, France, a Lebanese journalist during an interview impudently queried the General: " Don't you think that you should have been more flexible in your political stances". Aoun responded: " If I had taken my stances in an ordinary time, I would have been considered a criminal, but my stances under the given circumstances emerged from the fact that we were and still are struggling for survival. We are not pursuing power, positions or personal gains. Our cause revolves around existence, identity, sovereignty, freedom, dignity and independence, my stances are not transient political ones". In 1994, I wondered why a Frenchman of almost 100 years of age would visit Aoun. I was told later that this centenarian visits the General on regularly to commend him on his stances. His name was Aujol, the famous French lawyer who trained Syria's late Prime Minister Marouf Al- Dawalieby in his law office. Aujol was King Faysal's lawyer and he also participated in putting together the Lebanese constitution with Edmond Rabaat, Michel Chiha and others. Aujol during one of his friendly meetings with Aoun, declared: " General you are the symbol for a free Lebanon and the symbol for the free Lebanese. What is unique about you is that your legacy was great while you were still young, As a rule, such reputations are only afforded to those who have experienced a lifetime of years. General Aoun has consistently refused to meet with any of the "Taef Agreement" installed Lebanese puppets, despite the numerous attempts in this regard. He believed they are only robots devoid of autonomous action. Aoun has always offered: " I am ready to meet with their masters the Syrians provided they first withdraw all their troops from all Lebanon. Negotiations with them will then take place later on. Aoun was and still is open to dialogue with any party, or individual, provided sovereignty and independence are not placed on the negotiation table…They are holy and should never be compromised by any means or under any circumstances. By the end of January 1994, I left France to settle as a refugee in Australia. Aoun spoke with great admiration about the Lebanese-Australian Community. He asked me to convey his heart-felt wishes and greetings to each and every Free National Current supporter and to convey that what they are doing is great and highly admired. He said "the Lebanese- Australian community is an ideal example for all the Lebanese in Diaspora. I am sure the efforts invested in Australia will yield fruitful crops". Aoun. Further, he asked me to convey his hope to soon meet with every Lebanese in a free, liberated and sovereign Lebanon. With the end of this series of articles (twenty) I will quote what Shiek Farid Nadder said in the a meeting held in Saint Paulo, Brazil to establish a chapter for the International Lebanese Liberation Front. In fact what he said speaks for the majority of the Lebanese: "Almighty God has given us numerous leaders in the past, but this is the first time He gives us a leader able to gain the confidence of all the Lebanese, Muslims, Christians and Druz. He is our hope to save Lebanon and unite the Lebanese to be able to overcome the current ordeal…. General Aoun is addressing all the Lebanese and talks about all Lebanon and on behalf of us all." To be continued next week. Long Live Free Lebanon |