JUNE 19, 2021
International Donors Pledge Aid to LAF
EU Representative in Lebanon Warns of Sanctions
Human Rights Watch Calls for Investigative Mission
Shops, Government Offices, and Banks Go on Strike
International Donors Pledge Emergency Aid to Lebanese Armed Forces
At a virtual meeting hosted by France and Italy on Thursday, international donors pledged tens of millions of dollars in emergency aid for the Lebanese Armed Forces. The aid will be put toward human and basic maintenance needs, through France said that this is not a substitute for much-needed reforms in Lebanon. [VOA]
ANALYSIS
“Aid to the Lebanese Armed Forces couldn’t come at a more timely moment, as their troops are unable to feed their families. Such emergency aid will stabilize one of Lebanon’s few institutions that remains above the country’s sectarian divides. LAF chief General Joseph Aoun, who visited Paris recently said the military was ‘forced to turn to allies to survive.’ The humanitarian needs of the army and the extreme poor in Lebanon should be the United States’ top priority.”
-ATFL President Edward M. Gabriel
EU Representative in Lebanon Warns of Sanctions
European Union High Representative Josep Borrell is in Lebanon this week to meet with political leaders and urge the formation of a government. He told Lebanese leaders today that those who obstruct steps to form a government and implement reform will face sanctions. [Reuters]
ANALYSIS
“Observing the maxim, ‘follow the money,’ considering sanctions against individuals who are corrupt, human rights abusers, or who support terrorist activities is an important step forward for the EU, France, UK, and other European countries. Following the lead of the United States, these new European sanctions will add to the pressure to remove obstacles to the formation of a reform government capable of addressing the needs of the Lebanese people.”
-ATFL President Edward M. Gabriel
Human Rights Watch Calls for Investigative Mission into Beirut Explosion
This week the Human Rights Watch submitted a joint letter to the UN Human Rights Council that was signed by 53 Lebanese, regional, and international groups and 62 survivors and families of victims of the August 4 Beirut explosion. The letter called for an international investigative mission into the port blast and said the domestic investigation has been riddled with flaws including political interference and violations of due process. [AP]
ANALYSIS
“August 4 should be a solemn remembrance of the horrific explosions at the Port of Beirut as a result of government mismanagement and refusal to take responsibility for even its most basic safety functions. Instead, the people of Lebanon and the international community are waiting and waiting for a transparent, cohesive, and comprehensive accounting of what happened last year and who is responsible. The oligarchy is circling the wagons and ignoring the reality that the people are watching and waiting for answers.”
-ATFL Policy Director Jean AbiNader
Shops, Government Offices, and Banks Go on Strike
This week Lebanon’s General Labor Union called for a strike in protest of the country’s dire conditions and delayed cabinet formation. The union called on “economic bodies, merchant organizations, and the Association of Banks in Lebanon” to allow employees to participate in the strike. [Naharnet] Shops, government offices, and banks followed the request and closed their doors today to accommodate the protest. Several roadblocks were set up around Beirut and other cities. Ironically, the political parties that are blamed for delayed government formation showed their support for the protest, drawing criticism from activists. [Washington Post]
ANALYSIS
“Whatever the political repercussions of the general strike, the most important fact is that it once again will be multi-confessional, country-wide, and intergenerational. The Diab (non) government can take steps even with its limited mandate to take reform measures to bring some relief to the people. Instead, subsidies will soon end without a viable, sustainable system in its place. Will the peoples’ voices continue to be ignored? It seems that the dark tunnel that is Lebanon’s future is only getting deeper and more opaque.”
-ATFL Policy Director Jean AbiNader
Lawyers on Strike Announce the ‘Great Lawyers’ Uprising’
Last week, Lebanese lawyers announced they will continue a strike called the “Great Lawyers’ Uprising” that demands the adoption of a law on judicial independence within 20 days. The group has already continued their strike for over ten days. The announcement was shared by the head of the Beirut Bar Association outside the Justice Palace in Beirut in commemoration of four martyred judges. [The 961]
ANALYSIS
“For generations, the need for an independent judiciary has been one of the priority reforms in Lebanon. In fact, Parliament has already had a bill which has been sitting for years that would finally begin that process. Under Lebanon’s constitution, “judges are independent in the exercise of their duties and their decisions and judgements shall be rendered in the name of the Lebanese people.’ However, this is not the reality as political interference, sectarian pressures, and wasta all interfere with the functioning of the judiciary. A transparent and independent judiciary are essential to Lebanon’s renaissance.”
-ATFL Policy Director Jean AbiNader
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the American Task Force on Lebanon, a non-profit, nonpartisan leadership organization of Lebanese-Americans.