Re: Geagea calls for a code of honor that bans street riots in Lebanon


<BasilRathbone2010@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:ab9d98fb-d570-4bd9-a09c-f10a15465208@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Geagea calls for a code of honor that bans street riots in Lebanon

It is not a bad idea to ban all riots since Lebanon is like a powder keg.
The Lebanese majority is getting tired of being threatenned and the Syrian
intelligence is all over trying to instigate trouble.

Tuesday, 29 January, 2008 @ 2:34 AM


Beirut - Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said Monday the army
should not be held responsible for what happened the day before
because its assignment is not to stand idly by and watch.


"The army acted yesterday with a full sense of responsibility. The
army's behavior was honorable and no one could hold the army
responsible for what has happened," Geagea told a news conference.

"Would it be acceptable for the army not to intervene? Is hurling
stones at the army acceptable?" Geagea asked.

Noting that he is not for opening fire on protesters, Geagea asked:
"Would it be acceptable for Lebanon to become anew an arena for
chaos?"

What Lebanon is going through, according to Geagea, is an attempt to
take the situation back to what it used to be before the 2005 Cedar
Revolution.

"Had the army been late in certain areas, things would have reached
dangerous turns," Geagea said.

He accused the Hezbollah-led opposition of trying to "paralyze the
army after they placed the presidency in vacuum and paralyzed the
government."

He recalled that street lights were on in Beirut's southern suburbs on
Sunday evening as rioters claimed they were protesting against power
failure.

"Would attacking residential districts in Ein Rummaneh bring power
back to their districts, that is if power was off in the first place?"
Geagea asked.

In an attempt to counter claims by the opposition that the protest was
spontaneous, Geagea said: "There were no women, elderly men or
children taking part in what has happened. Spontaneous protests
usually group people from different ages and sects, not just the young
people we saw."

In answering a question regarding charges that LF partisans opened
fire at the protesters from sniping nests, Geagea said: "Had their
been snipers from the Lebanese Forces the Army would have arrested
them."

He expressed regret because a "Christian side" that he did not further
identify, is "covering up another side that is harming both the
Christians and the homeland." This was according to observers in
reference to General Michel Aoun who has aligned himself with
Hezbollah . Many blame Aoun for all Lebanon troubles as a result of
the cover his agreement gave Hezbollah.

Lebanon, according to Geagea, is facing a "major conspiracy. They are
trying to lead us to despair."

However, he noted: "The domestic, Arab and international balance of
powers is good and they would not manage to achieve their schemes."

He called for a "code of honor" that bans resorting to "chaos and
street (rioting)."

Geagea said "one of the targets that the March 8 forces seek is to
maintain presidential void."

Nevertheless, he stressed: "All our efforts would be made to support
the election of a president."

He criticized the statement issued by Arab foreign ministers on Sunday
saying that it failed to "mention things as they are."

He expressed condolences to families of victims who fell Sunday,
urging them to "prevent anyone from exploiting your children's issue."

Picture: Dr. Samir Geagea, Lebanese Forces' leader during his Monday
press conference

Sources: Naharnet, Ya Libnan



Tags: aoun, army, geagea, hezbollah, Lebanese, lebanon



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