BEIRUT: Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi vowed Friday to uncover and punish the perpetrators behind the assassination of Brig. Gen. Wissam al-Hasan, the intelligence chief slain in a car bomb a year ago, saying investigations into the killing had made progress.
“On the anniversary of your martyrdom, I have nothing else but to pledge to you that the perpetrators behind your assassination will be uncovered as well as those behind other assassinations until we know the truth,” Rifi said in a statement.
Hasan, 47, was assassinated in a car bomb that ripped through the Beirut neighborhood of Ashrafieh on Oct. 19, 2012. His driver and a woman identified as Georgette Sarkissian were also killed in the explosion, the most serious since 2008.
The March 14 coalition has accused Syrian President Bashar Assad of being behind the assassination while others went so far as blaming Hezbollah for the killing of Hasan, who was the head of the Internal Security Forces’ Information Branch.
“I vow to carry on the path and reach results and the investigation has taken great strides in this terrorism crime, which resembles the killing of Hariri. The criminal is almost pointing to themselves,” Rifi, a staunch critic of Assad and a former chief of the ISF, said.
“The joy of seeing the Special Tribunal for Lebanon begin its work was not complete because of your absence and Wissam Eid's absence. Justice that has kicked off owes you a lot. Because you two are martyrs of justice and sovereignty,” he added, referring to a communications analyst with the Information Branch who was assassinated in 2008.
Many believe Eid was killed because he obtained critical evidence in the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Eid’s work is now the basis of the STL prosecution’s case against five Hezbollah suspects accused of involvement in the Hariri murder.
“Our faith will not be weakened and we will continue on that road until the big criminal is served justice,” Rifi said.
He praised Hasan for heading the Information Branch when the security agency began its investigation into the Hariri assassination.
"The criminal responded by killing Wissam Eid to prevent us for continuing investigation but the Internal Security Forces preserved and continued its mission under Hasan.”
“Every year this month, Lebanon and the Lebanese remember an exceptional man who loved his country to martyrdom and I remember a friend and a colleague. He was a man of courage, patriotism, professionalism and commitment.”
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