Hariri: They Want Elections, Electoral Laws Subject to Terror of Arms
Former prime minister Saad Hariri on Sunday accused the rival March 8 camp of seeking “elections and electoral laws that are subject to the terror of weapons,” but stressed that the opposition March 14 camp’s “decision is to confront this conspiracy.”
“Elections will take place in Syria under the terror of weapons. And in Lebanon, they also want elections and electoral laws that are subject to the terror of weapons. Our decision is to confront this conspiracy against the democratic regime and the renewed attempts to subject Lebanon to the Syrian regime and its tools,” Hariri said in a speech via video link to a rally held by the Mustaqbal Movement in downtown Beirut to commemorate Martyrs Day and the May 7, 2008 events.
“They want parliamentary elections that suit the armed partisan authorities, and they promote election laws that restore regimes of tutelage and domination but with local tools this time,” Hariri added.
He vowed, however, that “this will not happen.”
“We will not offer those who are manipulating the fundamentals of coexistence the opportunity to undermine the democratic regime,” Hariri pledged.
“One crucial year separates us from the parliamentary elections. In these elections, the Lebanese will clearly say whether they want to continue in the same way, in the deterioration of the economic, security and living conditions, with the lying regime that works for the butcher of Damascus,” he added.
Turning to Syria’s legislative elections which will be held on Monday, Hariri said: “Tomorrow, the Syrian regime’s show is taking place, under the name of legislative elections. They are forged election indeed. They have prepared the results in advance and filled the ballot boxes with the names of the winners and the martyrs’ votes.”
“Elections, that no one knows how they can take place in Homs, Rastan, Hama, Aleppo, Deir Ezzor, Jisr al-Shughour, Daraa, Idlib, Zabadani, Damascus, Reef Damascus, and in the tens or even hundreds of cities and villages encircled by devastation and murder,” the former premier added.
Recalling the infamous May 7, 2008 clashes, Hariri reiterated that “we don’t hold any specific community, group or category responsible of May 7, 2008” events.
Gunmen belonging to Hizbullah and its allies swept through Beirut’s neighborhoods on May 7, 2008 after the government of then PM Fouad Saniora tried to dismantle the group's telecommunications network.
The fighting that left scores dead brought the country to the brink of a new civil war.
“It is not a coincidence that today is also the anniversary of the May 7, which was a moral massacre and a disgraceful rather than a glorious day. Weapons were used as a means to spread disputes,” Hariri told the rally.
“We reject intimidation, hegemony and the terrorization of Beirut and its residents with weapons,” he stressed.
Hariri noted that “in May 2008, the residents of Beirut sacrificed their dignity in order to prevent civil strife and chose peaceful resistance to prevent a return to civil war.”
“The residents of Beirut reject violence and any descending into civil strife and they insist on democracy as a way to express their decisions,” he stressed.
“Our choice is to reject violence and weapons. Our choice is the State that brings everyone together and which is responsible of all its citizens. Our decision is to live together in Lebanon, all religions and sects, in the framework of Taef and the Constitution,” Hariri concluded.
Later on Sunday, Hariri’s press office announced that the former premier arrived in Qatar on a two-day visit during which he will meet with Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani.
Talks will tackled “the Arab and regional situations and the bilateral ties between the two countries,” Hariri’s press office said.
The Qatari premier threw a dinner banquet in Hariri’s honor that was attended by head of Hariri’s office Nader Hariri, advisor Hani Hammoud and Abdullah bin Eid Suleiti, head of the Qatari PM’s office.
A bilateral meeting between Hariri and the Qatari premier was held after the dinner, during which the two men discussed the latest developments in the Arab world, Hariri’s office said.
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://cdn.naharnet.com/stories/en/39339 |