Deliberate Depression

Photo credit: https://www.alquds.co.uk/.

Lebanon is currently at its lowest point in history. Even when taking into account the 15-year civil war, which had inflicted countless deaths and economic and material damage, the country currently has one of the worst economies in the world. The Beirut Blast and it becoming one of the most destructive explosions on planet Earth, made it clear that something is really wrong with the country. Consequently, the term “Deliberate Depression” was then used to describe the Lebanese situation: Someone is definitely doing this on purpose.

Lots of conspiracy theories have floated since August 4, but neither of the them have been proven to be true or falsified. The Lebanese are awaiting the results of the official investigation which is soon to announce its “shocking discovery”. Nevertheless, the Lebanese know better than to pin their hopes on a government-driven investigation. That’s why many citizens as well as a long list of international organizations are calling for an impartial investigation conducted by the UN. So far, nothing has materialized for some reason; the internal investigation, for now, is Lebanon’s best shot.

Hopefully in the coming two months, we will have the answers we need it. If that is not the case, then the noose around everyone’s neck, including those responsible for the blast, will tighten even further, resulting in further social, economic and security destabilizations.

A Restless Father: Part 2

Ahead of the vote, Mr Naggear called on members to back his list, saying “vote for my colleagues in the ‘Order Rebels' alliance, ...the only real list of candidates of the revolution against the criminal and incompetent ruling class." June 28, 2021, photo credit: https://www.thenationalnews.com/.

Paul Naggear, the father of a 3-year-old girl who died in the massive blast, was among candidates who secured a landslide victory against an alliance of Lebanon's traditional political parties in the first round of elections of the Order of Engineers and Architects. Dubbed “The Order of Rebels” , the coalition managed to secure 221 of the 283 seats with a record turnout of 8,000 voters. Such a win gives us hope that people are beginning to strip themselves of political affiliations and embrace a new mindset; something which is of paramout importance to rebuild a new Lebanon. It is anticipated that on 18 th of July, the second round of elections will be held to elect the Order's head and council members. The new alliance’s anticipated victory, could infact demonstrate that the seed of change in the country has begun, and the parliamentary election will be next stop for this movement.

Assassination Gone Wrong?

Al-Hashem, who was in the office at the time with his two sons, described the explosion as “very huge”. No injuries were reported, but there was severe material damage. June 29, 2021,  https://www.the961.com/.

A bomb went off in Beirut in one of the law offices in the city, causing some material damage. Luckily, no one got hurt as lawyer Sakher Al-Hashem and his two sons were not in the same room the bomb detonated. The incident however, did raise some eyebrows as lawyer Al-Hashem is related to the Beirut blast investigation. He represents the defendants Hassan Koraytem, who is the head of the interim committee for the management and investment of the Beirut port, and Mohammad Ziad Al-Awf, the head of the security and safety department in the port.

Al Hashem is well-known for taking on difficult and impossible cases and winning them; a fact that made him a possible target. At the present moment security forces are working to uncover the truth. They will try to determine whether it was an accident or if Al-Hashem was indeed targeted. In a country where multiple assassinations have been carried out and especially after the Beirut Blast, one doesn’t need an investigation to know the obvious conclusion. As such, this incident demonstrates how scared the crime syndicate running this country is from the investigation and what damage it can do to them.

Communication and Public Relations Department