Jumblat Calls for Protection of Refugees Amid Spike of Violence against them
Progressive Socialist Party chief MP Walid Jumblat called on Sunday for the protection of Syrian refugees against violence sparked by the killing of Lebanese soldiers kidnapped by jihadists.
During a visit to the West Bekaa town of Ain Ata, Jumblat urged the Lebanese army to carry out its responsibilities and protect Syrian refugees.
“Some Syrians and some Lebanese have supported terrorism but we should differentiate between a terrorist and a refugee,” said the PSP leader.
Many Syrians have been among the victims of a wave of revenge attacks carried out after Lebanese soldiers captured by militants from Syria in a cross-border raid were killed by jihadists in August and September.
The killing of the soldiers by Sunni extremists has aggravated sectarian tensions in Lebanon, which is bitterly divided over the war in neighboring Syria.
Jumblat called for the quick trial of Islamist prisoners held in Roumieh.
The release of many of the inmates has been on the list of demands made by the jihadists to set free the captives who were kidnapped during the battles between the army and the gunmen in the northeastern border town of Arsal.
Jumblat later visited Rashaya during a tour on villages in West Bekaa.
"We are trying along with the rest of the parties to limit tension to confront terrorism," he said.
He hoped for consensus to elect a new president and pave way for the activation of the constitutional institutions.
Jumblat also called on Prime Minister Tammam Salam and ex-PM Saad Hariri to accept a prisoner swap with the armed groups "under certain conditions" if that can "achieve the higher national interest and foil strife."
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