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A HEROIC COMMEMORATION  On the 13th of October in 1990, the Syrian invading army waged a vicious attack against the legitimate government of free Lebanon and conquered the whole country. That day will be remembered in history as "the day of the heinous crime". Local collaborators, traitors, leftist and rightist militias, drug traffickers, mercenaries, thieves, Mafias and imposters, all put their differences aside and joined forces with the Syrian invading troops, marching towards the presidential palace in Baaba to assassinate Lebanon's independence and democracy. They slaughtered Lebanon's free decision making process, destroyed its sovereignty and murdered freedom. They occupied the country by force while the whole world watching silently. Lebanon was handed over to Syria on a silver platter as booty for its participation in the Gulf war under the Western allies umbrella. The West scarified Lebanon and betrayed its ethical principles to appease Syria. The West willingly agreed on the murder and gave Syria full control over the country. Hundreds of Lebanese soldiers as well as hundreds of civilians were arrested, tortured and brutally mutilated and/or murdered. Thousands others were transferred to the notorious Syrian detention centers in Syria, including priests and high-ranking army officers. Most of those detainees are still in Syrian jails, languishing without trials or charges or even family knowledge of their whereabouts. The Lebanese army supported by the people stood up to the invaders and tried heroically to stop the aggressors. Unfortunately they were outnumbered. The confrontation was imposed on the people of Lebanon, they fought to defend the country and their honor but lost the battle...lost with dignity and honor. The honor of the attempt preserved Lebanon's rights and the whole silent world witnessed the people of Lebanon bravely refusing to accept the Syrian piracy, occupation and hegemony. Hundreds of innocent martyrs offered themselves happily on Lebanon's altar to save its honor and dignity. Thousands of others were persecuted, arrested, humiliated, assaulted, displaced or forced into exile. In spite of all the oppressions and transgressions inflicted on the people of great Lebanon, they kept their heads up, never bowed and refused to lose hope or give in to helplessness. The Leader General Michel Aoun rose with the slogan, "We shall by God's will continue with those who remain" and the people followed in his step. Eight years have passed and the massacre still lives vividly in our memories. The majority of the people of Lebanon still refuse to recognize the Taif Accord ...the humiliation and shame accord. They are now, more than ever, convinced the accord was a poisonous recipe prepared by Lebanon's enemies in a bid to destroy its unique multiculturalism, coexistence freedoms, democracy, sovergnity and independence. We the people of free Lebanon lost a battle, yes we did, but who said outcomes of national wars and patriotic struggle for liberation are determined by one battle? Yes we lost, but with dignity and honor and we remain proud to fight for our legitimate rights even if we lose. We did not betray our country, or falsely pursue an official post, on the account of our ethical principles; We maintained Lebanon's dignity and refused to sell our honor or conscience to strangers or foreigners; We loudly and courageously said: "NO" to the occupiers and no to their local installed puppets, and still we refuse to recognize their illegal 'legitimacy; We rejected and still reject the imposed status quo of occupation and humiliation; We extended our hands in peace to all parts of Lebanon and to every Lebanese; We requested a national dialogue among all Lebanese; We endeavored to make every Lebanese a free person, but they muffled our voices and tried to drown us into a shameful slavery; We spoke with logic, justice and rationality for Lebanon's future, and they smashed us to erect a state of outlaws, subserviency, collaboration, poverty, humiliation and crime. All we did and still do is refuse the "Taif Accord" because we refuse subservience and collaboration. We endeavor to preserve the prosperity and dignity of the great people of Lebanon and its 6000-year deep-rooted history and civilization. All they did under the disguise of the "Taif accord" and still do, is destroy the country and turn it into a wheeling and dealing outlaw state for embezzlement, robberies, drug trafficking and kidnapping. They mortgaged the next generation's future through foreign debts, destroyed every ethical and moral code, betrayed the distinguished Lebanese identity and displaced the people of Lebanon to substitute them with foreigners. To those who sold the country and still do under the "Taif Accord" camouflage: Don't be too happy with the riches, power and positions you stole from the people. Always remember that you rose on the accounts of innocent and decent citizen's lives, martyrs sacrifices and at the expense of the poor. You are where you are because of the occupant's rifle and cannon. Your stolen public status is fake and transient, as well as your riches and fortunes. Your punishment for your crimes is within you, for there is no humanity in your soul, you have no conscience, no remorse and genuine feeling. Your greatest punishment is that you are void of everything that is righteous and ethical. All you have stolen will be lost once the occupation is over. You will answer to the people and the people shall have no mercy on you …traitors. The free and decent people of Lebanon, although having lost a battle, been displaced, oppressed, ill treated, imprisoned and alienated from official positions, are proud, hopeful and maintain their dignity and self respect. They did not betray Lebanon or its people. Judgment day is imminent and you shall pay for your crimes and Lebanon shall be again an oasis for freedom, an asylum for the persecuted. Long Live Free Lebanon. |