DLM accuses Hizbullah of cronyism

BEIRUT - Alternative Staff

January/February 2006

BEIRUT: The Democratic Left Movement DLM has launched one of the major March 14 bloc offensives against Hizbullah accusing it of favoring interests of the Syrian regime over national interests.

In a statement issue in mid December (full text on page 8), the DLM expressed its “concern [over] the surge in aggression against the Lebanese state and its people.” According to the statement, such activity was aimed at “undermining the post-March 14 reality as well as curtailing all attempts made at unveiling the truth behind the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and similar criminal activity that resulted in the killing of leading Lebanese figures.”

The statement added: “The DLM believes that this political sabotage has been based on four major points namely (1) making a fuss out of the issue of internationalization, (2) ignoring national dialogue, (3) obstructing democracy and (4) trying to impose early elections.”

On internationalization the DLM denounced Hizbullah's and Syria's double standard so far employed on this issue. “In so far as the DLM is concerned, Hizbullah's support of UNSC 425 was in itself an act of internationalization. Hizbullah's approval of the April 1996 Understanding Committee along with Syria, France the US and Israel was another act of internationalization.”

As for Syria, the DLM said that Syria has repeatedly accepted international arrangements that served its interests. “Examples include its invasion of Lebanon in 1976 after receiving an American green light for that and again its consolidation of power over the whole of Lebanon in 1990 when it received another go ahead from the US.”

On dialogue the DLM reiterated its stance that the delineation of the Lebanese-Syrian borders – especially in the Shebaa Farms area – will enable the Lebanese to win the UN and the international community to their side.

As for democracy, the movement said that consensus in the cabinet's decision-making, as Hizbullah is currently suggesting, was unconstitutional and that Hizbullah and the Amal Movement should not have threatened to suspend their participation when some ministers protested the Syrian President Bashar Assad's insult against Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.