Judicial Heroism or Another Public Stunt?

German delegation members unveiling spectacular multi-billion-dollar project to rebuild Beirut port and its surroundings but admitted it was contingent on far-reaching government reforms. (AFP).

Lead investigator Judge Tarek Bitar ordered on 15 April, the release of six people detained in connection to the devastating Beirut Blast. However, the judge rejected the release of 19 other people.  This is certainly a sign of our judicial system is working by weeding out those that are deemed innocent from those who are to-be caught. This may be deemed as heroic endeavor to break through the political red tape and finally save answers, or another media stunt judges use to save face with the population. Either ways, the cogs of the judicial system appear to be rotating though a few budges at a time.

 Foreign Firms and Taking Sides

Eight months after a massive blast ripped through Beirut port and nearby districts of the Lebanese capital, a host of foreign companies with different national interests are competing to rebuild it. April 9, 2021. (Vox News).

Several months after August 4, foreign companies, from America, German, Russia, Turkey, and China have started declaring their intent about the reconstruction of the Beirut port. However, the situation is not as encouraging as it sounds, as nations are competing to secure deals for their respective companies, by using geopolitical influence. For instance, the former US envoy for Near Eastern affairs, David Schenker, warned against China winning the bid, putting Lebanon at odds with the US. As such, Lebanon is put in a dilemma; it will have to weigh its options very carefully, so as to not to risk any political confrontation which may jeopardize its economic resilience- what’s left of it.

Communication and Public Relations Department