Tueni Accuses President of Threatening to Exterminate Lebanon


http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/getstory?openform&65A1F578217AC6EEC2257117003CB701
Ghassan Tueni Accuses President of Threatening to Exterminate Lebanon
All the Lebanese must prove that they are ready to fall as martyrs in the
first anniversary of ex-premier Rafik Hariri's assassination, Ghassan Tueni
opined in Monday's front-page editorial.
"This challenge is strengthened when we see how the ruler has plunged the
country into a crisis that is threatening to exterminate the nation," wrote
Tueni.

He criticized Emile Lahoud without mentioning him by name, saying the
president was obstructing the judicial authority's work while the blood of
the martyrs has not dried.

The president, Tueni wrote, has not granted anyone the authority to go ahead
with a judicial investigation to look into the killing of the veteran
journalist's son, Gebran.

The 80-year-old legislator went on to say that the head of state could
always hinder the implementation of laws by refusing to take the adequate
measures enabling these laws to become effective.

Tueni was referring to Lahoud's rejection to sign a law that was adopted by
parliament last month granting the five members of the Higher Judicial
Council the absolute authority to choose and appoint other judges to the
Council.

The Council cannot assign a judicial investigator to look into the killing
of An Nahar General Manager Gebran Tueni unless all Council members are
appointed.

Tueni and Legislator Boutros Harb have repeatedly complained about the delay
in the appointment of the Council members, saying Lahoud was obstructing
Gebran's investigation by refusing to sign a decree for the formation of a
new council. The term of the former council ended in November.

The veteran journalist warned that such uncontrolled situation would make it
impossible for security to prevail.

"It was necessary for the president to resign in order to fortify the nation
by reforming its institutions," Tueni stressed in the editorial that was
published a day before the anniversary of Hariri's assassination.

"Saving the nation deserves that we all work and sacrifice to attain
national sovereignty," he concluded.

Beirut, Updated 16 Feb 06, 13:04


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