|
TELL IT ALL  (Translated freely: By Elias Bejjani) To tell you the truth, I was not at all touched last week when televisions in Lebanon showed an ex - Lebanese Minister, dressed in jail attire, with both his wrists cuffed, arrested and led to prison for charges of embezzlement and bribery. The reason behind such reaction is very simple. The ex-Minister-arrested ranks at the bottom of the public corruption circle scale. This organized corruption has grossly grown with the Second Lebanese Republic (since 1990), and comprised mercenary influential politicians, their relatives and those hungry and thirsty for power, collaboration and thievery. My cold feelings were not attributed to thievery, nepotism, bribery or public corruption, widespread at all levels, and with all successive governments. Those imposed by occupiers, since 1990, including the current mockery puppet one. My reaction had also nothing to do with the fact, that these big public and private thieves are currently granted special and significant privileges from both the legislative and the executive authorities. Also the way I felt was not related to judicial cases that are opened merely in accordance with political stances based on the you wash my back and I will wash yours principle. The actual reason for my somewhat indifferent reaction was due to the fact that thievery is less damaging and less destructive than treason crimes. It seems that the time has come to make thieves and those corrupted accountable for their deeds, but time has not come to sentence traitors. Codes, regulations, traditions and significant characteristics create nations; While sacrifices, patriotic courageous stances and martyrehood give them life. No nation can survive without full respect to its constitution; No constitution could prevail without respect of laws; No laws can be erected without neutrality and justice; While justice can not be enforced with discrimination, selectivity or proportionalism. What in fact touched me profoundly, was the image of our heroic students and the inspiring news of their patriotic civilized activities. Tons of students from the youth generation affiliated to the Free Patriotic Current were arrested for the crime of distributing the Lebanese Internet bulletin, what a serious crime!! They were arrested, intimidated, beaten, humiliated and forced to sign affidavits, indicating they would refrain from future political activities in support of the Free Patriotic Current. To make things worse, the Lebanese regime issued anonymous statements, attributed to security source, that no body knows their names, positions, and level of knowledge or their line of responsibility. These mockery shameful statements denied boldly all atrocities inflicted on the heroic youth. The regime’s stance made our heroic students more perseverant, more decisive, more determined, and has cemented and fortified their patriotic faith. It made them more convinced then any time before, that their patriotic stances are righteous, and that the Lebanese will inherit and adopt these stances, generation after generation. The regime imposed puppet officials ought to realize the following facts: In case their threats succeeds to scare a particular citizen or certain citizens; In case their intimidation forces few or many to back off; The Lebanese people, shall remain always heroic in their stances, and shall continue the struggle strive till victory and liberation are fully achieved. The Lebanese people yearn for a courageous leadership that confronts with no fear. For a brave elite, determined to save the country and its people; For daring men ready to walk the track of liberation with no hesitation; For those whose are willing to sacrifice themselves on the Lebanese alter with joy and happiness. By the same token, the Lebanese disguise and humiliate collaborators, appeasers, opportunists and mercenary politicians and officials whose loyalty is solely for their individual interests, and not for Lebanon. History teaches us that there is always an end for every tyrant, no matter how powerful he might be, and an end for every occupation no matter how much time it takes. Accordingly the imposed current status in Lebanon will come to an end sooner or later. Judgment day shall then prevail, and the future shall tell it all. Long Live our students Long Live Free Lebanon. France. March 5/1999 |