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The Becharrie Association of NSW-Australia
organized a special event calling
for the immediate & overdue release
of beloved son of Becharrie Dr Samir
Geagea Head of the Lebanese Forces
on Friday 5th November.
 
Evenings Program
Visual Display depicting scenes from
Lebanon and Becharrie
Introduction
by Mr George Sukkar
Snapshots from the ‘life &
experiences’ of Dr Samir Geagea
presented by Ms Rima Rahme from The
Becharrie Youth Club
& Mr John Khoury from the LF Youth
The Reverend Father Paul Jbeir
Representing the Maronite Catholic
Bishop, his lordship Ad Abi Karam
Mr Joe Arida,
The Becharrie Association of NSW
Mr Fahed Gerges,
The Lebanese Forces
Mr Phillip Rizk,
President of The Australian Lebanese
Association of NSW
Mr Maurice Obeid,
Recitation in Lebanese Poetry
15 minutes Refreshment Break
Mr Stephen Stanton,
International Barrister
& Convenor of ‘Cedarwatch, Human
Rights for Lebanon’
Mr Antoine Kazzi,
Editor in chief, El Telegraph
Newspaper,
representing the Lebanese Media
Mr Andre Kourtbani,
The Australian Lebanese Christian
Federation
Mr Dani Geagea,
The Union of the Joubeh
Associations
Mr Gemanous Germanous,
Recitation in Lebanese Poetry
Mr Antoine Zain Taouk,
‘A poem from the heart’ in Lebanese
The Hon Edward Obeid,
Member of the Legislative Council
of NSW
Mr Elie Fakhri,
President of the Becharrie
Association of NSW
Introduction
by Mr George Sukkar
FREE DR SAMIR GEAGEA
TO FREE LEBANON
The Becharrie Association of NSW
welcomes you all to this here
gathering tonight in a show of
solidarity with the son of Becharrie,
leader the Lebanese Forces, Dr Samir
Geagea, the courageous. This leader
of the Christian people of Lebanon,
land of the Holy Cedars, the last
bastion of Christianity in a sea of
hostility and terror, continues to
defy the oppressors of our fellow
Christian folk in Lebanon, this
despite the barbaric and inhumane
treatment he has been subjected to
by the Syrian installed puppet
Lebanese regime. I will remind you
all, Dr Geagea has been held as a
political prisoner in the cells of
the regime’s Defence Ministry to
uphold the fabrications and false
accusations hurled upon this
innocent person. As we remember the
enormous sacrifices made by Dr Samir
Geagea for his fellow Christians in
Lebanon and beyond, we must not
forget the countless other innocent
Christian political prisoners still
languishing under daily torture in
the prisons of the Lebanese and the
Syrian regimes, namely Gerges Khoury
and not to mention those who have
paid their lives, murdered by
vicious and cowardly secret police
thus and the behest of their
masters.
This evening we shall put together
our voices united in demanding the
unconditioned release of dr Samir
Geagea and all other innocent
Lebanese political prisoners being
held in the prisons of the Lebanese
regime or the prisons of its Syrian
master.
The symbol of freedom and the symbol
of the resistance to the occupation
in today’s Lebanon is embodied by
the stance of Dr Samir Geagea, and
his continued defiance in the face
of impossible adds for the cause of
the Christian existence in the last
remaining Christian enclave in the
Middle East gives us all hope that
one day that final bastion of
Christian will emerge victorious and
rid itself of the yolk of terror.
I feel it is also appropriate to
note that at this point in history,
in the aftermath of Dr Samir
Geagea’s incarceration in 1994, the
tentacles of terror succeeded in
spreading its venom beyond the
borders of Lebanon and the Middle
East into the Western world and
beyond, and today threatens the very
fabric of civilised society world
wide.
Mr Joe Arida
On behalf of Becharrie Association
of NSW, President Mr. Elie Fakhry
and the Executive Committee Members,
it gives me a great pleasure and
honor to welcome you all and thank
you so very sincerely for your
attendance to this very special
event – calling for the immediate
unconditional and overdue release of
our beloved son of Becharrie – Dr.
Samir Geagea, Head of the Lebanon
Forces.
Dear Friends,
A lot has been said and more has
been written about Dr. Samir Geagea
– The Commander in Chief – The
Leader – The Politician – The Family
Man.
But tonight, Ladies and Gentlemen,
let’s focus on the other side of
this man:
-
Samir Geagea – the Human Being
-
Samir Geagea – the Man
-
Samir Geagea – the Prisoner
Distinguished guests, one and all...
-
Dr. Geagea is a prisoner of
conscience who stood tall in the
face of his oppressors
-
He refused to let them break his
spirit and believes despite the
extreme measures they took
against him
-
His crime = is his loyalty to
Lebanon
- His crime = He kept faith and held
on to his dream to see an
independent sovereign and free
Lebanon.
Indeed Dr. Geagea refused to
compromise his principals and reject
all allegations revealed against
him.
-
When offered to leave = he stood
his grounds
-
When attempts were made to bribe
him with official positions = he
refused and turned them all down
-
When arrested = he believed that
the judicial system would uphold
the contribution and that his
rights would be protected
Friends….
Most of us wondered what life is
like for Samir Geagea. Indeed words
– sentences - can do no justice to
describe the trauma – the injustice
– the pain Dr. Geagea has gone
through and is going through.
-
For the better part of 10 years
Dr. Geagea has been in
solidarity confinement.
-
He was held in a prison cell
measuring only 6 m2 and located
3 stories under ground in the
Lebanese Ministry of Defense.
-
The cell is poorly ventilated
and deprived of natural
sunlight.
-
He sleeps on a humble flat bed
and has no space to store his
belongings.
-
He is not allowed to talk to the
guards. In reality, except his
lawyers and family, no one can
talk to him.
-
His visitors are under strict
supervision and are monitored
-
He is prohibited from discussing
and political issues with his
visitors, nor allowed to read
the papers, listen to the radio
or watch tv.
-
He is not allowed to converse
with his wife with a language
other than Arabic.
-
He is denied any connections
with the outside world.
-
When his lawyers drafted a
proposed amnesty law, prison
officials refused to allow him
to discuss or review the
proposal for submission.
-
Dr. Geagea said, “I would like
to be living in another Galaxy…
my captor’s want me to forget my
name, but I will not allow that
to happen”.
-
Maronite Patriarch Sfeir said on
the 8th anniversary of Geagea
incarceration:
The detention imposed on Samir
Geagea had denied him the right to
think… Human rights dictate that
prisoners should be allowed to feel
alive, and should not be forbidden
to think, to read and follow upon
what is happening in their own
country.
…Nelson Mandela was able to complete
a doctorate in law while in prison,
whilst Samir Geagea is stripped of
all his basic human rights…
My Friends, one and all…..Dr. Geagea
fits perfectly the definition of
political prisoner.
-
In December 2002 Dr. Geagea
said: “I have been kidnapped and
not legally imprisoned –
prisoners have rights – I have
none”.
-
“A prisoner has the right to
discuss the evidence and legal
matters with his lawyers – I
can’t”.
-
“A prisoner cans end and receive
mail – I can’t”.
-
“A prisoner cannot be totally
isolated from his society – I
am”.
Mr. Edmond Rizk read the following
statement in a press conference:
Dr. Geagea’ situation is a violation
of Lebanese Constitution. He has
been suffering physical and moral
punishment. His situation
contravenes all principals of
punishment and the respects of
criminal law and ethical treatment
of prisoners in addition to their
recognized rights, especially to be
treated with dignity and fairness.
It should be noted that there is no
civilized country in the world that
would keep a prisoner in solitary
confinement for more than 15 days,
or for 45 days in extreme cases.
…What about Samir Geagea?...
Mr. Steve Stanton – Australian
Barrister – President of Cedarwatch
wrote in April 2000 a paper titled
‘Shine like Lights’, and I quote;
“Dr. Geagea’ trial has been marked
by gross breaches of the rule of
law, both the rule against bias and
natural justice which are a
hallmark, or one would have thought,
were a hallmark of the Lebanese
judicial system”.
Mr. Stanton, who volunteered to
defend Dr. Geagea, wrote several
legal papers detailing the
unfairness of the trials.
Consequently, Mr. Stanton was ousted
from the country and later was
denied Visa despite that he is of
Lebanese descent.
French Lawyer Wallerand De
Saint-Just was commissioned to
Geagea’ defense. He said: “For Samir
Geagea to ask me to defend him was
on exceptional grace and a great
honor for me. If we were able to
appeal the verdict of the court in
Lebanon, I would have without doubt
succeeded in quashing. Even the
judicial council should have had
refused to proceed with the trial on
the basis of how it was conducted.
The violations were numerous and
grave to a degree where the
investigation should have been
completely negated”.
Mr. De Saint-Just went on saying:
“In simple terms, the trials of Dr.
Samir Geagea remain the Lebanese
Institutions everlasting disgrace”.
Finally, Dear Friends…
Once more, we welcome you all…we
thank you for your attendance…and we
ask you to please show your true
solidarity with Dr. Samir Geagea by
signing the petition asking for his
immediate and unconditional release
from jail.
Samir Geagea must be free!
Thank you and God Bless you!
كلمة مكتب
القوات اللبنانية - سدني
السيد فهد جرجس
مسا الخير
لقاءنا الليلة، ببيت بشري وبدعوة من رابطة بشري –
سدني، تنرفع الصوت سوا لاخراج أسير من
السجن.
السؤال هو: أي أسير وأي سجن؟
أي سجن؟
الجواب هو إنو أكتر ما يمكن إنو سجن يكون مهمتو سحق
النفوس والاجساد، زنزانة إفرادية
بالطابق التالت تحت الارض نوجدت حتى
يقضي فيها يوم أو يومين سجين ما خالف
قواعد اللعبة. يومين أو 3 بأسوأ
الحالات لأنو ما حدا قادر يبقى فيها
أكتر من هيك. بهالسجن حطو هالأسير حتى
ينفذو بحقو عملية سحق النفس والجسد.
أي أسير؟
الجواب: جبار من جبابرة الأرز، اسمو سمير جعجع. جبار
مصنوع أولاً من روح بتحلق بتواصل دايم
مع يسوع، بتشوف كل الأرض، لا بل الكون
كلو سجن، وبتتطلع للإنعتاق منو حتى
تلاقي خالقها بلحظة عناق أبدي. فكيف
ممكن إنو هالروح للي بتستمد
استمراريتا من حالقها إنا تسحق على يد
بشر بواسطة ظلم أو قهر أو أسر.
هالأسير مصنوع تانياً من جسد اقتطع من صخر بشري، صلب
تعود محاربة الزمان، متمرس بالصعاب،
ما بخاف الخطر ولا بترهبو شدة. لا
الزمان ولا الصعاب ولا الشدة بتقدر
تغير ذرة من مبادؤو وقناعاتو. هالأسير
هو هالمزيج النادر بين هالروح والجسد،
نموذج لانسان التاريخ ما عطي إلا
القليل متلو.
والنتيجة إنو بالرغم من فظاعة هالزنزانة، بقي هالأسير
أقوى من هالسجن.
نعم أقوى من السجن، ولكنو لازم يكون خارج السجن.
بغفلة من الزمن تجمعت العوامل وإجت الفرصة لَيلي سعيو
دايماً لضرب الوجود المسيحي المميز
بلبنان وللقضاء على لبنان الوطن
التعددي الحر السيد والمستقل، ولأنو
القوات اللبنانية هي الدرع الأساسي
للدفاع عن المجتمع المسيحي وعن لبنان
اعتقدوا إنن إذا استغلوا هالفرصة اللي
كانت نتيجة ظروف محلية، إقليمية
ودولية وأسروا قائد القوات اللبنانية
-للي رفض إنو يكون شاهد زور ورفض إنو
يترك لبنان – اعتقدوا إنن بأسرو
للدكتور سمير جعجع رح يئسروا القوات
اللبنانية، والمسيحيين ولبنان
وبالتالي رح يطوعوا سمير جعجع ويطوعوا
القوات اللبنانية والمسيحيين ولبنان.
ومرة جديدة كانت رهاناتن خطأ وأثبتت
الوقائع إنن ما بيعرفوا الشخص القائد
ومين بيكون ولا بيعرفوا القوات
اللبنانية للي مع سمير جعجع تحولت
لمؤسسة بحجم المقاومة المسيحية
التاريخية ومين بتكون ولا بيعرفوا
ضيعنا ولا بيعرفوا الأرز وبشري
وقنوبين ولا بيعرفوا المسيحيين بلبنان
ومين بيكونوا.
الشخص القائد هو هالجبار للي أقوى من السجن، والمؤسسة
للي بناها هي من ذات المعدن، متجذرة
بمجتمها وشعبا، بتحتقر المناصب
والمراكز وإن كان سقط منا القليل
القليل بمطامع المراكز، دخل عليا
بالمقابل أعداد كبيري من الاجيال اللي
عم توعا على المعاناة وعم تكبر وتنضج
وتعرف إنو هالمؤسسة ملتزمة قضية
المسيحيين بلبنان وعم تناضل وعم تدفع
تمن غالي بزمن اللاحرب متل ما دفعت
تمن غالي بزمن الحرب للحفاظ على لبنان
الوطن ولبناء دولة ديمقراطية،
متوازنة، سيدة قرارا، بتحفظ حرية
وكرامة أبناءا.
للي عم يستهدفوا وجود مجتمعنا الحر ما قريوا التاريخ
حتى يعرفوا إنو هالقطيع الزغير ما
بيخاف لأنو إيد خالقو معو والعلامات
كتيرة، من عجائب القديسين شربل
والحرديني والقديسي رفقا مروراً
بالعلامة للي انطبعت على زند ابن
هالمؤسسة ريمون ناضر وصولا لظهورات
سيدة بشوات للي عم نشوفا كل يوم.
كيف ممكن يحطموا إرادة هالمجتمع وعزيمتو، خصوصاً إنو
الله أنعم علينا ببطرك عظيم سليل
بطاركة عظام بينحني قدامن الشرق حتى
يتبارك.
سيخرج الحكيم من السجن. ليش؟
لأنن فشلوا بتتطويعوا وعرفوا إنو ما بيتطوع.
لأنو هالمؤسسة للي بناها عم تكبر وتكبر وحلمن بالقضاء
عليها انقضى عليه.
لأنو ما في قيامة لوطن سليم سياسياً واقتصادياً
واجتماعياً بدون وفاق وطني صحيح، وما
في وفاق وطني بدون القوات اللبنانية
بقيادة الحكيم، وكل المشاريع الفاشلة
للي حاولوا تحقيقا خلال العشر سنين
ونص منا إلا خير دليل.
سيخرج الحكيم من السجن لأنو محلو مش بالسجن، لا بل
بين مجتمعو ورفاقو وأهلو وما حدا غيرو
قادر يصلح اللي أفسدوا يللي رهنو
أنفسن للشر والشرير كرمال مراكز فارغة
وآنية للي رح تزول مع زوال الطامعين.
وانت يا بشري، افرحي وتهللي، لأنك انعطيتي ابن، قلال
الأمهات للي نعطوا متلو. ومتل ما الله
عطاك ياه، قدمتيه لخدمة شعبو. نشالله
هالمبادرة اللي قمتي فيا، تكون حافز
لكل ضيعة من ضيعنا وكل مؤسسة من
مؤسسات هالمجتمع حتى ترفع الصوت عالي
للمطالبة بحقوق الشعب المسيحي بلبنان.
وبالنهاية،
إلك منا ومنو الشكر، وهوي وانتي ونحنا منرفع الشكر
لالله دايماً.
Mr Phillip Rizk,
President of
The Australian Lebanese Association
of NSW
Distinguished guests, Ladies and
Gentlemen.
I will make clear at the start that
this organisation has never called
for the removal of any Member of
Parliament, minister or leader.
Nor has it named any alternative in
their place therefore to label us a
political party is totally
incorrect. As for addressing human
rights issues in Lebanon or any
other part of the world our
constitution binds us to do so. A
few examples:
1) In
the early 1900’s the Lebanese were
the first to demonstrate against the
treatment of the Native South
Africans
2) During
those times it was the Lebanese that
spoke out against the treatment of
the Aborigines in Australia
3) And
as recent as the early 70’s the
Lebanese around the world protested
against the treatment of the
Palestinians in Palestine and that
was before it was clear that their
intention of some Palestinians was
to make Lebanon a Palestinian state.
The beginning of the defence of the
Holy Land Lebanon.
Ladies and Gentlemen…
Becharee was not attacked in 1975
Becharee was not encircled in 1975
Becharee was not forced to defend
the very existence of Lebanon.
But Becharee –Saw the danger lights
flashing early
The conversion of Lebanon into a
dictatorship was very much on the
cards.
Been over run by foreigners seemed
even more of a reality.
Did Becharee sit back and watch or
just try to keep Becharee safe. No!
Ladies and Gentlemen…
As the guardians of the holy
cedars the young men and women of
Becharee packed a few belongings and
headed to face the intruders at the
very heart of Lebanon, Beirut and
eventually many parts of Lebanon.
They went in their thousands, the
majority never to return.
The heroics of their deeds cover
many pages of Lebanese modern
history.
The names of their fallen hero’s
cover the walls on the cathedral in
Becharee, over 700 names that I
counted just ten days ago.
For those that have left the shores
of their beloved Lebanon, they dwell
in those foreign lands with high
distinction at heart.
As for the Dr. Samir Geagea… A young
man still on his honeymoon he had a
choice.
One hand:
Any of 2 high Profile ministers OR
Leave your homeland with enough
money
And all you have to do is:
a) dismantle the plans for
reconciliation, sovereignty and
unity in Lebanon
b) Turn a blind eye as the majority
eventually did
Reply holds very clear: No!
For that Ladies and Gentlemen he
became the Political Prisoner. You
see the legal system in Lebanon
could only return an innocent
as charged verdict on all
accounts.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
One could understand that after more
than 10 years in prison underground
a man could have a different opinion
in life.
Let me tell you this is very far
from the truth and reality.
On my recent visit to Lebanon Mrs S
Geagea was on of the people this
branch wanted a meeting with and at
that meeting the topic was the
doctor’s health. She stated that:
While his physical health is not as
good as it was ten years back when
you consider the treatment he has
faced, it’s quite good.
As for the master plan that will
lead Lebanon to total sovereignty
that is more alive today than it was
ten years ago.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
What seems a very sad scenario at
first glance that is the departure
of his men and women from Lebanon to
the four corners of the world, has
converted the realistic vision to an
international agenda, that expert
authorities around the world
identify as playing an
integral role with other
organisations in turning the world
focus onto Lebanon’s lack of
sovereignty and the non existence of
basic human needs and rights for its
people.
I will take this opportunity to put
you in the picture in regards to
this organisations “mission
statement”
Year 2001 between March & May
People, Michael Douiehi
Sheik Joe Arida
Joe Baini
Tony Saad
Myself
Many meetings and drafts that ended
in a mission statement that would be
presented for acceptance at the
world AGM in Mexico. For the whole
organisation
-
3 people attended that AGM from
Australia
-
Regional President at the time
Mr Michael Douiehi
-
Mr Antoine Ghanem President of
the ALA Queensland
-
Myself President of the ALA NSW
-
After the elections were
completed time was right for
presentation.
Michael Douiehi read the motion in
Arabic.
Then I read it in English followed
for it to be seconded before a vote
was to take place. Next to me a
gentleman by the name of Dr Rashid
Rahme seconded the motion and the
voting was unanimous
-
Resulting in Australia writing
the FIRST MISSION STATEMENT for
the whole organisation.
For those that were not at the
Independence Day 2002 in parliament
house where the Regional
President Sheik Joe Arida reinforced
the mission statement for the
organisation
-
Let me tell you in short it
reads as does UN Resolution
1559 with a few extras
1) The ability for all Lebanese
Living outside Lebanon to vote
in
elections in Lebanon from the
countries they reside in.
2) We name Syria as the foreign
occupier of Lebanon
3) The unconditional return of
General Michael Aoan to Lebanon
4) The immediate release of Dr Samir
Geagea to continue in his quest for
the sovereignty of Lebanon and the
people.
I will conclude with a message from
Mrs Setrida Geagea the great woman
behind a great man carrying the
torch higher and brighter than
ever.
She said and I quote “The first
visit outside Lebanon for her and
the Doctor will be Sydney
Australia”
Thank you.
Cedarwatch
Human Rights for Lebanon
STEPHEN J. STANTON
DR SAMIR
GEAGEA
A MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE WAITING TO
BE FREED
Introductory
The Becharrie Association of New
South Wales had kindly hosted this
evening's discussion panel under the
banner "Free Dr Samir Geagea to free
Lebanon". I am feted and feel
extremely privileged to speak to you
tonight concerning the call for the
immediate and overdue release of
Becharrie's beloved son.
It has been my singular honour and a
most humbling experience to have
undertaken the task as part of a
team of human rights observers and
lawyers who have voiced the concern
with respect to Dr Samir Geagea and
his co-accused who were tried and
falsely convicted. Their trials and
their sentences of imprisonment are
indeed a blot on the judicial
administration of the Lebanese
Republic and a damning indictment of
all judges and prosecutors who
assisted in this gross miscarriage
of justice that has perpetrated the
imprisonment of innocent men for
crimes that they surely have been
shown to have been unable to have
committed yet were still convicted
in the face of objective evidence to
the contrary.
The theme of what I would like to
talk to you about tonight is to
highlight what is and has been well
known for many years, namely the
monstrous misfeasance undertaken by
people who have persistently
perverted the course of justice in
Lebanon and the need for all those
who are concerned with Lebanon's
future to understand that until the
wrongs are righted and the
miscarriages of justice are
overturned, then there will be no
justice and no salvation for the
Lebanese people.
Dr Samir Geagea - Leader
Much has been said of Dr Samir
Geagea in the past and whilst I do
not claim to be the author, there is
certainly vivid in my memory that in
June 1995 I proclaimed Geagea to be
the Mandela of the Middle East and
in particular Lebanon when
Cedarwatch was formed in Montreal.
I recall vividly that it was the day
after Geagea had been convicted of
the bombing of the church of Our
Lady of Salvation and, along with
his co-accused, had been sentenced
to death, commuted to life
imprisonment and in addition fined
and imprisoned on the subsidiary
charges that were also brought
within the same indictment.
Geagea's position at that time was
one of determined defiance in the
face of inevitable incarceration and
it has remained so as he is
determined to maintain his stand by
not co-operating with the
collaborators and the conspirators
who had effectively delivered
Lebanon into the hands of the Syrian
invaders.
Year after year, Geagea has sat in
solitary confinement in the Yarize
prison and until recently was, as I
have remarked and noted with litanic
consistency, three floors below
ground level in what could only be
described as stark and dank
conditions of the most sophisticated
brutality, in terms of mental and
physical deprivation known to man.
It is a testament to Syrian genius
and their propensity for cruelty
that the imprisonment imposed upon
Geagea was done with a penchant for
ensuring that the was subjected to a
most cruel and unusual punishment.
It was an imprisonment that he
literally subjected himself to and
inevitably invited when he refused
to take part in the government,
given the option that he could
either have self-imposed exile, a
position in the regime or face the
consequences.
That he embraced his fate so
willingly and so determinedly is a
remarkable testament and one might
say less than a responsible reflex
of a person who was with full
faculty. That he left his wife, the
comfort of his home and the
companionship of his colleagues and
most importantly that he willingly
subjugated himself to a series of
trials that have become milestones
in the jurisprudence of the Lebanese
criminal law, whereby his fate has
been sealed subject to a
Presidential pardon or international
intervention is indeed a sobering
statement of the man's courage. In
fact, some might say he was
foolhardy, if not utterly mad to
have sacrificed the prime years of
his life, both his married life and
his professional life, to sit in
solitary confinement in his squalid
cell.
The parallels with Mandela are not
far-fetched. Geagea's struggle and
his commitment to the struggle for a
free and open Lebanon is regrettably
something that is not publicised or
made aware to many of the foreign
press commentators and the
politicians. There is no doubt that
the committed few, and many of you
are here gathered tonight, have been
steadfast in the dissemination of
what Geagea and the Lebanese Forces
stand for.
What we tonight must realise and
seek to put forward is a concerted
campaign that will enable the
proliferation of what Geagea stands
for and why his incarceration must
be brought to a halt and more
importantly why it is that the
freedom to be accorded to leaders
like Geagea in Lebanon, currently
labouring under a constitutional
crisis and riddled with a
constitutional cancer require his
release. The recent amendments to
Article 49 of the Lebanese
Constitution effectively entrenching
the continued tenure of Emile Lahoud
in office require this intervention
post-haste.
Demonstrations of Popular Support
Why is it that recently, with the
celebration of the Mass at Harissa
in September, that 32,000 people
were minded to march and pray? Why
is it so remarkable that at that
Mass, His Beatitude Patriarch Sfeir
spoke to the assembled masses and
urged the government to release
Geagea? How is that that Satrida
Geagea was able to muster and
effectively exhort the masses thus
assembled to pray for and to
petition them for the release of her
husband and why is it that she has
constantly and courageously
maintained the rage against the
system that has so steadfastly
imprisoned her husband? Quite
simply, the answer is that when one
looks for leadership in Lebanon one
does not go to the Presidential
palace. There, all you will find is
a lackey with a team of brigands who
are nothing more than constitutional
criminals assembled under the banner
of democracy. In truth and in
substance, they have for some time
brokered the Syrian hegemony,
ensuring its continuation and have
actively, as accessories before and
after the fact, continued the
constitutional crimes against
humanity and more importantly the
populace of Lebanon - its people.
It is not common for church leaders
to speak out against what has been a
usurpation of democracy. Such a
consistent and at times unrestrained
stream of criticism from church
leaders, in particular the Maronite
Patriarch, must surely stir the
hearts of all concerned Lebanese and
more importantly citizens who
embrace democracy and the
fundamental freedoms that are part
and parcel of such a system of
government.
In the forefront, Geagea stands as
the symbolic citadel who has stood
defiant and will stand defiant as
the past ten years have ably shown.
Miscarriages of Justice
It is not the time, nor is it the
place tonight to recite each and
every miscarriage of justice in the
trials of Samir Geagea. In all six
trials that he has endured, there
have been constant abuses of the
judicial system which can be
summarised as follows:
(a) Fabricated evidence.
(b) Pressure brought upon people to
turn informer as a result of which
perjured evidence has been obtained
from them and produced and relied
upon in ensuring the guilt of Geagea
and his co-accused.
(c) A failure to undertake proper
forensic examination, thereby
removing the need to present
evidence which is both soundly based
and the subject of investigation
which has the hallmark of
integrity.
(d) Corrupt, inept prosecutors who
are not performing the function of a
prosecutor, which is to present the
case objectively and fairly.
(e) Tragically, but nevertheless
ultimately, the principal reason why
Geagea is in prison is the corrupt
judiciary that has sat on each end
every trial and has failed miserably
in the undertaking of their judicial
oath to try him impartially and
fairly. For this, each and every
judge who has participated in
Geagea's convictions stands damned
and as a lawyer I am thoroughly
disgusted with their performance,
that they could participate in the
imprisonment of innocent civilians.
There are no Neuremburg parallels
here. Even if a Neuremberg defence
was available to those members of
the legal profession and the police
force, as well as the judiciary.
Their singular lack of courage, in
fact their cowardly commitment to
carrying out the aims of the regime,
and in this regard it is Syria at
the forefront, is both implausible
and utterly bereft of logic. In
short, they have become conspirators
and are criminals in the system that
has imprisoned Geagea.
Lebanon, as a signatory to the
International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights, has effectively
breached that Covenant in the trial
of Geagea in the following areas:
(a) Articles 7 and 10 - freedom for
torture and a right to humane
treatment.
(b) Article 9 - freedom from
arbitrary detention.
(c) Article 14 - right to a fair
trial.
(d) Article 15 - prohibition of
retroactive criminal laws.
Ultimately, when one stands back to
test the fairness of Geagea's
trials, it can be seen that apart
from trying him in what is known as
the Judicial Council, which is at
the apex of the Lebanese judicial
system and from which there is no
appeal, this in itself shows how
hell bent the Lebanese
administration was determined to
carry out Syria's wishes to ensure
that Geagea was made a political
scapegoat.
As I have said, it is not the
purpose of tonight to lament what is
notoriously well known. Rather, we
are here tonight to consider what is
to be proactively put forward to
ensure that Geagea's release is not
a faint hope but a soon to be
realised reality.
Many of you will ask "But what can
we do?". Inevitably, I will
respond, as I have in the past, "How
many of you have bothered to urge
our political leaders and our local
parliamentarians at State and
Federal levels to do what they can
to raise these matters with the
appropriate ministerial
departments?"
I am not seeking to belabour any of
you but rather what I am seeking to
do is to beseech you that if you are
serious, then the time to act is
now, as it always has been. The
might of the pen, the power of the
tongue and the hope that comes from
every heartbeat which is pursued in
the determined realisation that
Geagea and his release will be
achieved, is the very least I ask of
you.
A petition is available for your
signature here tonight, to be
addressed to the Foreign Affairs
Minister, calling on the Lebanese
Government to free Geagea and all
political prisoners. I am reminded,
as I speak tonight, of the young man
whom I met when I visited Lebanon
with Dr Geagea. His forlorn face
will always stay with me as I saw
him in the dock alongside Dr Geagea.
His name is Georges El Khoury. His
family reside in Australia and I do
not want to name any of his siblings
deliberately, but nevertheless I
refer to him as one of many
co-accused with Dr Geagea, both
within and outside of Lebanon, who
were tried and convicted. It has
always been in my memory, indelibly
implanted, that the tragedy of
seeing these men in the dock in
Lebanon has made me determined and
heightened my vigilance to ensure
that whatever I could do to procure
their release would be done.
Politicians are parasites and
pariahs in the main. Their lack of
fidelity and their expedient
enthusiasm is regrettably a hallmark
of their hubris. Nevertheless, they
perform a function and in that
regard must be utilised to whatever
end is available for them to bring
to bear upon the tasks at hand.
For my part, I have found that many
politicians are sincere, but
nevertheless there is, within our
ranks an element that will
inevitably seek to play both sides
off against each other. We must be
wary at all times that such
political power play will only
inevitably result in the continued
failure to achieve Dr Geagea's
release.
I am not asking you, nor would it be
an honest request on my part, to
support one political entity against
another but nevertheless one must be
judicious and careful in the choice
of who is approached in this
regard.
I would recommend not only the
signatures to this petition but also
that each and every one of you write
to your local Members. I am sure
that there are many Labor and
Liberal members of parliament who
would become increasingly sick and
tired of receiving letters
concerning Dr Samir Geagea to be
concerned enough to ask "Just who is
Dr Samir Geagea?" Once that has
occurred and they have been
informed, then there is the need to
persist in proliferating the
publicity concerning his
incarceration and seeking his
release.
Our young people are becoming
increasingly disillusioned of the
old guard who are responsible for
the political strategising and
publicity of Lebanon's demise.
I say to all young people, do not
give up hope and do not become
disillusioned in the dinosaurs.
There is life after death.
Evolution didn't stop with the age
of the dinosaur. It continued and
so it is that the Lebanese
Government will eventually come to a
grinding halt and their demise is
assured.
The United Nations and other human
rights organisation are also
available but nevertheless their
availability without the need or
without the resort to communicate
with them is of little, if any,
utility to the achievement of Dr
Geagea's freedom.
It can even be a daunting task for
the Secretary-General of the United
Nations to correct the wrongs that
are represented in human rights
violations within the State. I
remember fondly reading what U Thant
wrote in his introduction to his
1971 report on the work of the
United Nations, as
Secretary-General, he said:
"I feel more strongly than ever that
the work of the individual human
being is the most unique and
precious of all our assets. It must
be the beginning and the end of all
our efforts ...
In this connection I feel obliged to
mention a problem which has been
almost daily in my mind during my
time as Secretary-General. I refer
to the violation of human rights
within the frontiers of a State.
Theoretically, the United Nations
has little standing in such
situations - and they are all too
common. Legally, the membership of
the United Nations has done an
admirable job on human rights. The
necessary texts exist. But
practically where does an individual
or a group of individuals find
recourse against oppression within
his own country? World public
opinion has become an increasingly
important factor in such problems.
I myself have privately done the
best I could in many such
situations, knowing full well the
weakness of my own position, and I
know that many national leaders have
done the same. But this can never
be enough, and the time has surely
come when governments in the United
Nations must make a determined
effort to give justice a world-wide
dimension."
The former Secretary-General was
writing as long ago as 1971, but how
relevant are his comments in the
current contemporary climate and in
particular Lebanon's malaise.
If I could conclude I would do so by
citing what I think is an apt
reflection of how I see Dr Geagea's
stand and why I urge you, if not
beseech you, and even more so am
impulsively irate enough to implore
you that in the words of de
Tocqueville, who so long ago wrote
the following, which I ask you to
apply to your conscience and to
Geagea's imprisonment when he said
as follows:
"If each citizen did not learn, in
proportion as he individually
becomes more feeble and consequently
more incapable of preserving his
freedom single-handed, to combine
with his fellow citizens for the
purpose of defending it, it is clear
that tyranny would unavoidably
increase together with equality."
I commend the words of the great
libertarian and the renowned
revolutionary that he was.
Let us now make a stand, from this
day forward, to be steadfastly
determined and to be courageously
vocal in the denunciation of the
Lebanese regime and to call for the
freeing of Dr Geagea, which in turn
will ensure that not only in his
freedom but the freedom of all
Lebanese in our beloved homeland,
the realisation of the aspirations
of our forefathers will be renewed
and restored.
كلمة إتحاد جمعيات جبة بشري
السيد داني جعجع
فليحرر الدكتور سمير جعجع ليحرر
لبنان
قضية المسيحيين
في لبنان اجتازت مراحل صعبة جداً خلال
فترات عدة في القرون الماضية.
وكانت جبة بشري،
تلك المنطقة المعلقة بين أرز الرب
ووادي قنوبين المقدس والمتعلقة
بالحرية والكرامة والإيمان الصحيح،
الملاذ الآمن للمضطهدين والحصن المنيع
في وجه الحملات التي استهدفت ولم تزل
الوجود المسيحي الحر والمميز في منطقة
من العالم طغت عليها عقلية آحادية لا
تعترف بوجود الآخر المتمايز.
في قنوبين تحصن
البطاركة، لا خوفاً على حياتهم وإنما
للحفاظ على الوجود المسيحي الحر في
لبنان. خاض المسيحيون المواجهة تلو
المواجهة، فمن البطريرك يوحنا مارون
إلى البطريرك دانيال الحدشيتي إلى
البطريرك انطون عريضة وصولاً إلى
البطريرك الكاردينال مار نصرالله بطرس
صفير قصص بطولات وقداسة خطها أصحاب
قضية حقة لكي تبقى لنا الحرية.
جبة بشري،
الوادي المقدس، جبل لبنان، ليست
بأسماء نرددها لتردد صدى تاريخياً
وحسب، إنما هي مواقع عصت على المعتدين
واستحال تطويعها فبقيت عنوان الشهادة
للحق والبطولة والاستشهاد في سبيل
حرية وكرامة الانسان.
من هذا الوادي وتلك الجبال أخذ الدكتور سمير جعجع قوة
الإيمان والمعتقد، فعمق قنوبين أعطى
هذا القائد عمقاً وبعداً تاريخياً،
وشموخ جبل أرز الرب أعطاه كبراً
وترفعاً وعزة نفس وتوقاً ماورائياً،
وصلابة طبيعة بشري وثباتها في هذا
الجبل زاده صلابة وثقة بالنفس وجبة
بشري بالتفافها الدائري حول قاديشا
عمقت عند الدكتور سمير جعجع فكراً
شمولياً تخطى كل ما يمكن أن يقيد
الانسان.
فكما حملت هذه
المنطقة هم هذا المجتمع عبر التاريخ،
حمل قائد القوات اللبنانية الدكتور
سمير جعجع هم المجتمع المسيحي وهم
لبنان الوطن والتزم مشروع بناء دولة
عادلة يعيش فيها جميع اللبنانيين
بحرية وكرامة وأمان، فكانت المواجهة
الصعبة مع المتربصين شراً بمسيحي
لبنان وبلبنان.
الدكتور سمير
جعجع لم يساوم ولم يتهرب من خوض
المواجهة بالنيابة عن الكثيرين، فبذل
نفسه من أجل إيمانه وخلاص شعبه مضحياً
بأثمن ما لدى الانسان ألا وهي الحرية.
لقد رفض الدكتور سمير جعجع المراكز
على حساب شعبه، فكان الضحية!!!
ضحية؟ لا. إنه
البطل والقدوة وزارع الأمل في قيام
لبنان من بين أنقاض الاحتلالات ورواسب
التزلف والتزلم والمحسوبيات.
فوفاء منا
للرمز الذي يدفع الثمن عن شعبه نطالب
بإحقاق العدل والمساواة بإطلاق سراح
السجين البريء الدكتور سمير جعجع دون
قيد أوشرط لا بل كشرط أساسي لتحقيق
الوفاق الوطني وبدأ ورشة إعادة بناء
لبنان الدولة الديمقراطية الحرة
السيدة والمستقلة.
كما ندعو إلى
انسحاب الجيش السوري من لبنان تنفيذاً
لاتفاق الطائف وقرار مجبس الأمن
الدولي الرقم 1559 وحل كل الميليشيات
اللبنانية وغير اللبنانية وبسط سلطة
الدولة بواسطة قواها الذاتية على كامل
التراب اللبنانية.
إننا في اتحاد
جمعيات جبة بشري ملتزمون مواقف غبطة
أبينا البطريرك مار نصرالله بطرس صفير
ونداءات مجلس المطارنة خصوصاً النداء
الأخير.
إننا ندعو إلى
إقرار قانون انتخابي عادل يؤمن صحة
تمثيل اللبنانيين بجميع شرائحهم ينتج
برلماناً يتمثل فيه الشعب اللبناني
تمثيلاً حقيقياً لا برلماناً على قياس
صانعي القرار في لبنان.
إننا نطالب
بوضع حد فوري للملاحقات والاعتقالات
والاحكام البربرية التي تمارسها
الأجهزة الأمنية بحق أهلنا في لبنان،
كما نطالب بعودة جميع المسيحيين، من
مسؤولين سياسيين أو ناشطين في مجالات
حقوق الانسان في الاغتراب الذين
ابعدوا عن لبنان والذين حرموا حق
العودة إلى وطنهم بسبب معارضتهم
للسلطات القائمة في لبنان.
صرخة نطلقها
إلى الضمير العالمي:
أطلقوا الدكتور
سمير جعجع إلى الحرية، لأنها حق له
وليست منة من أحد.
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