March 14: Al-Jadeed Attack Aimed at Diverting National Dialogue Talks Away from Hizbullah Arms

The March 14 General Secretariat slammed on Wednesday the recent attack against al-Jadeed television, saying it is part of a long list of assaults by the Syrian regime against freedom of expression in Lebanon.

It said in a statement: “The attack is aimed at diverting national dialogue talks away from tackling a national defense strategy that would incorporate Hizbullah’s arms.”

In addition, the attack is also aimed at “overshadowing the achievements of the Syrian revolt,” it said.

The March 14 General Secretariat held an extraordinary meeting with a number of journalists to condemn Monday’s attack against the television station.

The Syrian regime’s “blatant” attack “placed the incompetent government before its incompetence and presents it with an opportunity to at least attempt to escape the clutches of the de facto forces,” said the March 14 forces.

They listed the attacks committed by the Syrian regime against Lebanese journalists, such as the attempted assassination against MP Marwan Hamadeh and journalist May Chidiac, the assassination of journalist Samir Qassir and MP Gebran Tueni, the closure of MTV in 2002, and the attack against Future Television in 2008.

The general secretariat said that the attacks against “Lebanese media freedom came at a time of historic changes in the world media, especially in the Arab world.”

It called on journalists to show solidarity with each other seeing as their unity will fortify them.

Unknown gunmen on Monday attacked al-Jadeed television’s headquarters in the Beirut neighborhood of Wata el-Msaytbeh, opening fire on the building, hurling Molotov bombs and setting fire to tires.

The Internal Security Forces’ Intelligence Bureau managed to arrest one of the attackers, identifying him as Wissam Alaeddine.

The General Secretariat later condemned the various security incidents that took place in Beirut on Wednesday afternoon that witnessed the blocking of various roads in the city by angry youths protesting the Alaeddine's arrest.

It noted in a statement that “rioters acting under the name of the Resistance Brigades” have sought to block roads in order to pressure authorities to release Alaeddine.

It also added that these developments coincided with Interior Minister Marwan Charbel’s launching of a one-month security plan.

It said: “We reject any attempt to return Lebanon to the age of strife and civil war and we hold the government responsible for any development in that direction.”

“Hizbullah must assume its responsibilities in containing the activity of the youths seeing as they are acting under the name of the Resistance Brigades, which is affiliated with the party,” it continued

The March 14 forces urged citizens to exercise restraint, allow the security forces to perform their duties, and avoid getting dragged into any dispute with the rioters “in order to thwart their plan to set the country on fire.”

Angry youths took to the streets of Beirut on Wednesday by blocking various streets in the city with burning tires in protest against Alaeddine’s arrest.