Friday, 13 March 2015

March 14 a landmark in Lebanon’s history: Hariri


BEIRUT: The principles of the March 14 “Independence Uprising,” which led to the pullout of the Syrian army from Lebanon 10 years ago, will remain a landmark in the country’s history and the conscience of the Lebanese who have fought for their freedom, sovereignty and national dignity, former Prime Minister Saad Hariri said Friday.


The head of the Future Movement also said Lebanon would not be part of the Iranian empire, warning that Hezbollah’s defense of the “tyrannical” regime in Syria was not the right way to fight terrorism that is threatening to destabilize the country.


Hariri’s remarks came in a statement released by his office on the eve of the 10th anniversary of the massive anti-Syrian regime rally in Downtown Beirut on March 14, 2005, which led to the founding of the March 14 movement.


Named the “Cedar Revolution” or “Independence Uprising,” the rally, which drew more than 1 million Lebanese from various sects and areas to Martyrs’ Square in Downtown Beirut, was sparked by the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri on Feb. 14 of that year. Hariri was killed along with 21 others in a massive bomb blast in Beirut. The March 14 parties have since blamed Syria for Hariri’s killing, but Damascus has denied involvement.


“The link between the 10th anniversary of the Independence Uprising and the 10th commemoration of the martyrdom of [former] Premier Rafik Hariri is a landmark that will always be entrenched in Lebanon’s history and the conscience of the Lebanese who triumphed on March 14 [2005] for their freedom, sovereignty and national dignity,” Hariri said.


“Unfortunately, some among the Lebanese triumphed for subordination and the will of external domination over the country’s resources.”


“Thus, March 14 wasn’t a passing day in the life of the Lebanese, contrary to the day when they [Hezbollah and its March 8 allies] gathered to thank the Syrian regime and try to float the joint security regime,” Hariri said. “March 14 remained over the last 10 years a title of the Lebanese spirit of revolt against injustice.”


He was referring to a Hezbollah-led mass protest in Beirut on March 8, 2005, to thank Syria for its military and political role in Lebanon. The Hezbollah-led March 8 demonstration eventually led to the creation of the rival March 14 Movement currently led by the Future Movement. The March 14 Movement is still struggling for Lebanon’s freedom, sovereignty and independence.


The Syrian army, under massive local and international pressure, was forced to withdraw from Lebanon in April 2005, ending nearly three decades of Syria’s domination of its smaller neighbor.


Declaring that the days of solidarity with the regime of embattled Syrian President Bashar Assad are gone and “buried in the ashes of history,” Hariri said: “The March 14 [movement] represented a remarkable turning point in Lebanon’s history that laid the foundation for the establishment of a national coalition committed to strengthening the state, protecting the democratic system, and adhering to the monopoly of weapons in the hands of the Army and legitimate institutions.” “The March 14 movement has defended these commitments with the lives of its leaders, MPs and intellectuals,” he said, referring to politicians killed in a string of bombings that rocked Beirut following Rafik Hariri’s death.


“Today, on the 10th anniversary of the Independence Uprising ... we reiterate that the March 14 movement is larger than any political party or organization, and that its spirit and values prevail above small policies and gains,” Hariri said. “Our commitment to the spirit that inflamed hope in the resurrection of Lebanon is the basis of our political presence and our national convictions, which will not change under any of the pressures or threats which are well known to the Lebanese.”


Hariri devoted part of his statement to implicitly lashing out at Hezbollah’s intervention in Syria, warning that the party’s support for “tyranny” in Damascus was not the appropriate way to fight Islamist militants who have frequently clashed with the Lebanese Army in areas near the border with Syria.


“We tell those who stood on the opposite side of March 14, that the protection of tyranny is not the right way to fight terrorism and that taking Lebanon to neighboring civil wars is the easiest way to sabotage coexistence among the Lebanese,” he said.


Referring to Iran’s growing roles in Syria, Iraq and Yemen, Hariri said: “The Lebanese will not simply accept to be part of the Iranian empire, or one of Qassem Soleimani’s fronts. The use of all forms of threat and enticement and all kinds of heavy and light weapons will not turn this imperial vanity into a reality in the life of Lebanon and Arab countries.” Gen. Qassem Soleimani is the commander of the powerful Quds Force, the foreign wing of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guard. Soleimani has become the public face of Iran’s support for the Iraqi and Syrian governments against jihadis.


The March 14 coalition will celebrate the 10th anniversary of its founding with a rally at the BIEL complex in Beirut Saturday. During the ceremony, the coalition will announce a set of political principles and declare the formation of a March 14 National Council in an attempt to reemphasize its multi-sectarian nature amid rising extremism in the region.


On the same occasion, MP Walid Jumblatt praised former Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir for his campaign against Syria’s domination of Lebanon. “On the 10th anniversary of the Independence Uprising, I extend my sincere greetings to Patriarch Mar Nasrallah Butros Sfeir, the patriarch of independence,” Jumblatt tweeted.


Meanwhile, Speaker Nabih Berri lauded the dialogue between the Future Movement and Hezbollah, saying its positive results had defused Sunni-Shiite tensions in the country. Berri made the remarks during a meeting with members of the National Audio-Visual Media Council headed by Hadi Mahfouz.



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