Back to When it All Started
A scene from the series “Sopranos”. Editor used it to depict mafia bosses governing Lebanon. https://uproxx.com/.
In one week, Lebanon will revisit August 4 with nothing more than melancholy as a year had passed by with little to show, investigation-wise. If it weren’t for the assistance of Lebanon’s international partners throughout these dark times, about 300,000 Lebanese would be still without a home or displaced. Meanwhile Lebanese leaders, decision makers, and politicians bask in their ivory towers or swim in their private pools, giggling away at all wealth they had gathered over the years. To add insult to injury, a candidate from the same old guard that has been governing Lebanon over the past 3 decades was named to assume the role of the next Prime Minister. Without handing out accusations, the whole thing seems to be part of an effort to contain the collapse occurring in the country, while preserving the political system and its dirty secrets; one of which is the Beirut Blast case.
The Ministry of Interior and the army have received requests from the judicial investigator in the case to lift the immunity of Prime Minister Hassan Diab and four ex-ministers. But of course, the idea was openly refuted by several politicians seeking to save their hides. Such a move attracted fierce critizism by several groups in the civil society and international community. For instance, Amnesty International blasted such an act, stating that obstruction of justice is unacceptable.
“As long as the current system in Lebanon remains, the hope that we will see justice through the domestic process is incredibly slim,” Human Rights Watch Lebanon researcher Aya Majzoub told Al Jazeera.
So far, at least 50 MPs had initially signed the motion to try the officials at the Supreme Council. However, the support of 61 MPs is required for the motion to pass through a simple majority. One of those MPs who is not in favor of lifing the immunity claimed that he does not trust the local investigation and would rather have an international one. Without being vulgar or ilmannered, this is utter rubbish, nonsense, and another attempt to discredit the topic. However, what this MP forgot was the emotional sentiment attached to the Beirut case. Hence, they can steal all they want from the country, but when it comes to the lives of people’s children, politicians should keep their mouths shut.
Communication and Public Relations Department