Without the implemention of the Taef Accord our state is in danger

Friday, Jan 15 2010

With the passing of more than a month since the national unity government got the vote of confidence from the Cabinet, the Lebanese people have been witnessing a number of reconciliations for which MP Walid Jumblatt is considered to be the instigator. There is some calm in the political arena which is affected every now and again by issues which vary in subject and objective and which remain far from being achieved. The two sides, previously opponents in the political conflict, have agreed to open a new page as represented by the creation of this government and the assignment of the leader of the Future Movement, Saad Hariri, as its leader. And yet, the people are still waiting for the fruits of all this. Indeed, it is their right after the passing of more than a month since its official creation, to ask about the abilities of this government in addressing their economic, financial, social, cultural, security and health issues.

Despite the fact that Lebanon has, in principle, regained its composure and has rearranged its internal issues after the Doha agreement, our country is still suffering from the breakdown of political, economic and social life. This has been the case since the assassination of Mr. Rafic Hariri, indeed since the divisive UN resolution 1559. And so what has changed since the creation of this government?

Lebanon is suffering from a variety of problems including the decline in the standard of living, the deterioration of economic and social conditions, and the various political crises. However, it is clear that the delay by the current government in dealing with the people's issues points to preparations being made for the 2010 budget. Is this behavior based on an implicit consensus regarding the reciprocity of factional, sectarian and confessional interests, which only further breaks down political, social and economic life in Lebanon, a matter which is very damaging to the interests of the Lebanese people, and also constitutes a sign of the worsening failure of the economic policies? This is what we are afraid of and what the Lebanese people have been dealing over the past 5 years.

We at the National Dialogue Party believe in strict adherence to the various articles of the Taef accord. We feel that suggesting the cancellation of political sectarianism and the creation of a national body for this must not be seasonal, but is rather at the heart of the Taef accord and the Lebanese constitution. Hence, we are surprised at the political atmosphere and the controversies related to this issue, as there needs to be serious work to achieve a kind of political stability based on the principle of implementing the constitution and not violating it.

This also raises the question of the conflict over the administrative appointments to fill the vacancies in the senior posts in various sectors to administer the affairs of the country and the people, including the security sector and the military. There is no doubt that this issue is one of the thorny issues which has long plagued the Lebanese people. The story is simple even if it seems complicated to the Lebanese people. The issue is related to the administration of the state institutions which requires people with the skills, knowledge, experience, strength of character, integrity, honesty, wide acceptance and above all, loyalty to the nation, to do the job effectively. Is not the commitment by the leaders of the institutions to their sects, denominations and confessions the basis of the problem facing the Lebanese administration, if not its failure? With the outbreak of each civil conflict, these leaders seek refuge with their sects leaving the nation vulnerable.
As we express these opinions regarding the internal situation, we feel great concern for the increased disregard of the law and the constitution. Though the danger to Lebanon lies the immediate military threat posed by Israel, it also goes beyond this and includes a threat to the vital interests of the state which can come about not only as the result of war but also by the imposition of an unjust settlement to the conflict with Israel. Lebanon will pay the price of the cancellation of the right of return and the nationalization of the Palestinians living within its territories. This possibility must certainly raise the concerns and fears of the Lebanese people regarding the nationalization of the Palestinians who have resided in the camps for close to 60 years, with more to come should Israel fulfil its threats to expel the Palestinians of 1948 from their land. This project is now uncertain following the meetings by the Arab Foreign Ministries in Washington which underlined the importance of resuming Palestinian-Israeli negotiations without conditions and reiterated the assertion that Israel is a Jewish state through the United Nations. This alone is enough to ignite sectarian and factional strife worse than what Lebanon has seen since 1975 under the pretext of rejecting nationalization.

The true test of the national unity government lies in protecting national unity and internal cohesion in light of the the persistent Israeli aggression. This unity and cohesion call for addressing the economic, social, health and education concerns as well as the various living needs of the people, in addition to filling the vacancies in the administrative and security appointments, all of which needs to take place under the umbrella of the constitution.

In conclusion, what is currently required is the activation of the work of the government and the constitutional institutions, and for everyone to work seriously on returning our country to its origins of peaceful coexistence on the basis of the Taef accord which guarantees the rights of the Lebanese people, foremost amongst which is the rights of citizenship. For without this, Lebanon will simply be an arena for chaos and federations of sects, confessions and denominations. The only winner will be Israel, a hostile state which will not be happy with less than our country being a mosaic of warring factions with our state in total breakdown!