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In light of the latest development,
especially the Cabinet's decision to
hold an extraordinary session to
amend the Constitution, and
following the
campaign launched on June 15, 2004
"In Defense of the Republic and the
Constitution," the campaign resulted
in a national petition published on
Aug. 8, 2004, and more signatories
came from different parts of
Lebanon,
only to reaffirm the public's
refusal to tamper with the
Constitution. Any
attempts to change the Constitution
to allow for extension, renewing or
reelecting the sitting president
would mean prolonging the life of
the
current situation and submitting to
foreign powers, the petitioners say.
The new signatories are diverse in
gender and social categories with
more
youths and women. The new groups
decided to set up a website to
receive
more supporters.
The URL is
www.beirutletter.com and
the e-mail address is
destour@beirutletter.com
In addition, the signatories are
looking into setting a date for a
proposed
national conference. In preparation
for this event, contacts are being
made with
all forces and prominent figures who
share the same stance in
protecting the country and are
working for a national political
plan to
safeguard the country and democratic
change.
The petition reads as follows:
The signatories below, we, the men
and women, the citizens of Lebanon,
for
believing in the necessity to defend
the Republic and the Constitution,
for
feeling the urgency of change in
Lebanon to preserve democracy and
respect
the principle of power transfer,
responding to the call for National
Salvation,
We declare:
1 The internal condition is
catastrophic on all levels,
especially
economically, politically, and
socially. This is the direct result
of the
failing administration throughout
the 1990s from all concerned parties
and
contributors. These conditions
demand urgent remedies and a
National
Salvation comprehensive process in
order to foster the internal front
in
the face of outside challenges.
2 Any attempts to change the
Constitution to allow extending,
renewing or
reelecting the sitting president
would mean prolonging the life of
the
current situation and submission to
foreign powers and wasting public
assets and destroying state
institutions.
3 The hope left would be by purusing
democratic change in accordance with
the Constitution and in compliance
with the people's free will.
Otherwise,
the same disastrous violation would
extend to reach the Premiership and
the
legislative organs, the Parliament.
4 In support of the "National
Initiative to Defend the Republic
and the
Constitution," launched on June 15,
2004, we call upon all citizens and
their political forces and civil
social organizations to rally around
the
goal of change. We call upon all to
participate in any initiative that
helps organize a general national
convention with the participation of
all
those who care for Lebanon to
produce a National Salvation Plan
and
Democratic Change.
Signatories:
Abbas Najdy, Architect
Abdallah Mshaimesh, Political
Activist
Abdallah Rizk, University Professor
Abdel Hameed Ahdab, Lawyer
Abdel Hameed Hasheesho, Member of
Lebanon's Doctor's Association
Abdel Kareem Saad, Architect
Abdel Lateef Karim , Writer
Abdel Rasol Nassar, Doctor
Abdo Wazen, Poet and Journalist
Adel Abdelsamad, Unionist
Adel Abou Jawdeh, Architect
Adel Al-Ali, Architect
Adel Al-Sabah, Politician
Adib Abou Habeeb, Former President
of the National Confederation of
Unions of
Workers and Laborers
Adnan Hamdan, Journalist
Ahmad Albim, Writer
Ahmad Baalbaki ,Researcher
Ahmad Badreddein ,Teacher Ahmad
Ismael, Freed Detainee from Israeli
Prisons
Ahmad Jaber, Political Activist
Ahmad Mchawrab, Doctor
Edgar Alam Doctor
Ahmad Qbaisi, High School Teacher
Aida Jawhary, University Professor
Akab Saqr, Journalist
Akel Al-Aweet, Poet and Journalist
Albert Karam, Doctor
Ali Al-Ameen, Journalist
Ali Badran, Clerk at the Shiite
Court
Ali Hajj Ali, Doctor and Pharmacist
Ali Hmadeh, Municipality Council
Member
Ali Qasir, Citizen
Ali Trabolsi, Political Activist
Aline Prince, Lawyer
Amal Fakhreddein, Lawyer
Amal Makarem, Researcher
Amenah Daher, Architect
Amine Wehbeh, Doctor
Andreh Sokhn, Citizen
Antoine Haddad, University Professor
Aref Yassine, Architect
Asaad Chamas , Academic
Asaad Rizk,Doctor and Former
Minister
Asad Ghandour, Mayor of the southern
village of Nabatieh Fawqa
Assem Salam, Former President of the
Order of Engineers and Architects
Atta Jabbour Former, President of
the North's Order of Engineers and
Architects
Aziz Karam Political, Activist
Bachar Abdel Samad, Architect
Bahzad Jaber, High School Teacher
Bassam Abdo, Architect
Bassam Badreddein, University
Professor
Bassam Mokdad, University Professor
Bassam Qantar, Journalist and
brother of Lebanese detainee in
Israeli
Prisons Samir Qantar
Bassam Saleh, Architect
Berri Asaad, Doctor
Bouchra Abdel Samad, Journalist
Chamel Basbel, Lawyer
Charbel Fares, Plastic Artist
Charbel Rahal, Accountant
Charles Salameh, Juristic
Chawky Azoury, Doctor
Chawky Nohra, Doctor
Chebly Mallat, Lawyer
Chokry Rahal, Teacher
Clair Bchara, Lawyer
Daniel Malha, Lawyer
Dawood Hadad, Doctor
Deema Saber, Academic
Defina Abou Jawdeh, Constructor
Diana Mkaled, Journalist
Elias Attalah , Politician
Elias Ghosn, Doctor
Elias Habr, Former President of the
National Confederation of Unions of
Workers and Laborers
Elias Khoury, Writer and Journalist
Elie Ferzli, Journalist
Elie Mawakdieh, Doctor
Elie Salem, Merchant
Elie Shammas, Doctor
Emile Najm, Doctor
Emile Tobia, Businessman
Fadi Antoine Farah, Architect
Fadi Chahine, Writer, Journalist
Fadi Saad, Doctor
Fadi Sarhan, Architect
Faek Youness, Former President of
the Doctor's Association
Fares Soueid, Member of the
Parliament
Farid Khazen, University Professor
Farook Jabr, Businessman
Fawaz Trabolsi, University Professor
Fouad Bostani, Former president of
the Doctor's Association
Fouad Mokadam, Writer and Politician
Gabrielle Murr, Politician and
Journalist
George Horani, Journalist
George Mansour, Architect
George Murad, Lebanese University
George Nassif, Journalist
George Saad, University Teacher
George Tawk, Architect
George Zwein, University Professor
Ghada Eid, Journalist
Ghassan Issa, Doctor
Ghassan Jawad, Journalist and Poet
Habeeb Sadek, Former Member of
Parliament
Hadi Abi Akl, Engineer
Haidar Kdaih, Member of the Cultural
Council for Southern Lebanon
Hanna Zoughaib, Journalist
Hareth Suleiman, University
Professor
Hasan Ali Daher, Architect
Hasan Ataya, Architect
Hasan Ayoub, Doctor
Hasan Mneimneh, University Professor
Hasan Qanso Political, Activist
Hasan Youness, Architect
Haseeb Zaher, Lawyer
Hassan Baydoun, Architect
Hassan Hamoud, Dentist
Hassan Kazma, Architect
Hazem Ali, Journalist
Hazem Amine, Journalist
Henry Edde, Engineer and Former
Minister
Hikmat Al-Eid, Lawyer
Hikmat Deeb, Architect
Hisham Chehab, Journalist
Huda Hamed, Doctor
Hussein Merhi, Doctor
Hussein Qasem, Architect
Hussein Saleh, Lawyer
Ibrahim Al Arees, Writer and
Journalist
Ibrahim Haidar, Journalist
Ibrahim Jokhadar, Former President
of the North Lebanon Order of
hysicians
Ibrahim Shams, Plastic Artist
Ibrahim Srour, High school Teacher
Imad Kawtharani, Architect
Imad Moussa, Journalist
Ismael Badran, Unionist
Issam Khalife, University Professor
Issam Nakri, President of the
Printing Houses Syndicate in Beirut
and mount
Lebanon
Jabour Dwaihi, Writer and University
Professor
Jad Tabet, Constructor
Jamal Bleik, Doctor
Jamal Kara, Doctor
Jamal Mehfara, Doctor
Jamil Sheikh Hassan, Architect
Janine Jalkh, Journalist
Jean Badih Harb, Lawyer
Jean Elia, Journalist
Jean Sfeir, Lawyer
Jihad Sadek, Architect
Jizelle Khoury, Journalist
Joseph Bahout, Political Researcher
Joseph Husheimi, Economist
Joseph Khoury, Architect
Joseph Yammin, Doctor
Josephine Saber, Lawyer
Kaied Bender, Freed Detainee from
Israeli Prisons
Kamal Mezher, Doctor
Kamal Wehbeh, University Professor
Kamel Jaber, Journalist
Kamil Ziade, Lawyer and Former MP
Kareem Mroueh, Writer
Khairallah Khairallah, Journalist
Khairieh Kadoh, University Professor
Khaled Hashem, Architect
Khalil Batlooni, Doctor
Khalil Rihan, Political Activist
Khalil Tfaili, Teacher
Khalil Zahreddein, Architect
Lina Youness, Lawyer
Lorr Tahtoh, Citizen
Maha Khairallah, Administrator
Maher Hajj, High School Teacher
Mahmoud Haidar, Researcher and
Journalist
Mahmoud Hamza, Architect
Mahmoud Soeid, Researcher
Majed Fayed, Lawyer
Malek Mroueh, Businessman
Marcelle Hawee, Doctor
Marcelle Hneineh, Activist
Mariam Mcheimesh, Teacher and
Cultural Activist
Mark Mourani,Theater Actor
Marwan Amine, Academic
Mary Rahal, Citizen
Mary-Jose Chmali, Lawyer
Maya Rahal, Journalist
Mayad Haidar, Lawyer
Mazen Ibrahim, Journalist
Mazen Khateeb, Architect
Melhem Jaber, Engineer
Melhem Shawool, University Professor
Mereille Richa, Lawyer
Michel Akl, Engineer
Michel Atallah, Administrator
Michel Giorgio, Journalist
Michel Kanaan, Doctor
Michel Khoury, Lawyer
Michel Lyan, Former President of
Beirut Bar Association
Michel Tahtooh, Administrator
Mikhael Samaan, Lawyer and former
Chief of Staff of Internal Security
Forces
Mirna Achkar, Lawyer
Mohammed Abou Samra, Journalist
Mohammed Abou Zeid, Political
Activist
Mohammed Ali Daher, Teacher
Mohammed Amine, Architect
Mohammed Farran, Political Activist
Mohammed Haidar, Lawyer
Mohammed Halal, High School Teacher
Mohammed Hamdan, Dentist
Mohammed Hudeib, Lawyer
Mohammed Husny Hajj, Architect
Mohammed Hussein, Shamseddein Writer
Mohammed Makhzoum, University
Professor
Mohammed Matar, Lawyer
Mohammed Mostafa, Doctor
Mohammed Qassem, Doctor
Mohammed Salam,University Teacher
Mohammed Zbeeb, Journalist
Mona Amyuni, University Professor
Mona Fayad, University Professor
Mona Khalaf, University Professor
Mosbah Ahdab, Member of Parliament
Mostafa Ismael, High School Teacher
Muneer Abou Sleiman, Doctor
Nabeeha Awada, Former Detainee In
Israeli Prisons
Nabil Ismael, Engineer
Nabil Kharrat, Member of Doctor's
Order
Nada Abdel-Samad, Journalist
Nada Adhamee, Lawyer
Nada Akl, University Professor
Nada Soki, Doctor
Nada Tian, Lawyer
Nadim Abdel-Samad, Politician
Nadim Salem, Former Member of
Parliament
Najah Adaiki, Citizen
Naji Baydoun, Lawyer
Naji Jammal, University Professor
Najla Hmadeh, University Professor
Naseer Amer, Lawyer
Naseer Asaad, Journalist
Naseer Hasan, Engineer
Naser Nazal, Unionist
Nassib Lahoud, Member of Parliament
Nawaf Salam, Lawyer
Nawal Abdel-Samad, Environmental
Activist
Nazih Darweech, Journalis
Nicole Asaad, Translator
Nisrine Hamoud, Journalist
Noha Rida, High School Teacher
Nohad Janadry,Doctor
Noureldine Houhou, Legal Accountant
Omar Harkoss, Journalist
Omar Mokadam, Doctor
Pamella Kesrouani, Academic
Paul Shawool, Poet and Journalist
Paulet Salameh, Administrative
Philip Saeid, Dentist
Pierre Khalifeh, Architect
Pierre Kharat, Doctor
Pierre Moawad, Environmental
Activist
Pierre Shammas, High School Teacher
Qaisar Abi-Lameh, Architect
Rabih Tabbara, Lawyer
Rafi Madayan, Politician
Rafic Badoora, Doctor
Rafic Bdeir, University Teacher
Rafic El-Hajj, Journalist
Raja Abou Alwan, Lawyer
Ramzi Awad, Architect
Ramzi Haikal, Lawyer
Ramzi Jreij, Bar Member
Randa Kasir, Dentist
Randa Khairallah, Administrator
Randa Tabaja, Pharmacist
Rasha Kabli, Dentist
Raymond Aoun, Merchant
Raymond Maalof, Architect
Rima Rahal, Teacher
Rita Zoghaib, School Director
Riyad Mansour, Doctor
Rola Mawakdieh, Doctor
Rola Smaha, Doctor
Sader Youness, University Professor
Sahar Baasiri, Journalist
Salah Maatouk, Unionist
Salam Khodr, Journalist
Salameh Husheimeh, Architect
Saleem Al-Azar, Former Member of
Constitutional Council
Salwa Saad, Unionist
Sami Jalkh, Industrial
Sami Lahaf, Municipality Council
Member
Samir Abdelmalak, Lawyer
Samir Fayad, Lawyer
Samir Franjieh, Politician
Samir Ghantous, Doctor
Samir Kasir, Writer and Journalist
Sani Jamal, Constructor
Sarar Hani, University Professor
Shakib Qortbawi, Former President of
the Beirut Bar Association
Sinan Barraj, Lawyer
Sobhy Antonio, Doctor
Sobhy Jermanos, Doctor
Suleiman Khattar, Architect
Suleiman Suleiman, Architect and a
Sculptor
Tanios Abi Raad, Doctor
Tarek Chouman, Agriculture
Tarek Hashem, Academic
Tarif Ghraibeh, Dentist
Tawfic Baaklini, Economist
Tony Francis, Journalist
Touma Arida, Lawyer
Wafaa Sarhan, Dentist
Wafic Zantout, Businessman
Waleed Shouairy, Lawyer
Yehya Badreddein, Veterinarian
Youssef Bou Karam, Engineer
Youssef Hajj, University Professor
Youssef Hamzeh, University Professor
Youssef Tabosh, Lawyer
Youssef Zoghaib, University
Professor
Zahi Hakeem, Doctor
Ziad Barou, Lawyer
Ziad Hmadeh, Journalist
Ziad Majed, Researcher
Ziad Makhoul, Journalist
Zuheir Jaffal, Secretary of the
Printing Houses Syndicate
Zuheir Karaki, Journalist
Fouad Saad, Member of Parliament
Atef Majdalani, Member of Parliament
Antoine Ghanem, Member of Parliament
August Bakhos, Former Member of
Parliament
Edmond Naim, Former Central Bank
Governor
Ahmad Fatfat, Member of Parliament
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