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Daily Star, Lebanon
Feb 10 2005
'Aoun trial was delayed because secret talks failed'
Harb says court ruling in absentia would be legal
Batroun MP confirms that the opposition will vote in Parliament
against the division of Beirut into three electoral districts
By Nada Raad
Daily Star staff
BEIRUT: Batroun MP Butros Harb said Wednesday that the trial of
exiled former army commander General Michel Aoun had been postponed
because secret mediations with the authorities failed.
"I think something happened with the negotiations that were ongoing
(between Aoun and the authorities), which obstructed Aoun's return to
Lebanon before the parliamentary elections," Harb said during a news
conference held in Batroun.
However, Harb added that the issue is not yet closed but remains open
for the future.
On Tuesday, the Beirut Criminal Court rescheduled Aoun's trial until
May 5 as the judiciary did not accept to try the former general in
absentia for charges brought against him in 2003 following remarks he
made to the U.S. Congress supporting sanctions on Syria.
But according to Harb, a lawyer by trade, a political settlement of
Aoun's case would have been perfectly legal.
"The court is capable of ruling that there is no criminal offense and
announcing his innocence even if he is absent," he said.
Harb, who is also a member of the Christian opposition Qornet Shehwan
Gathering, said the opposition would remain united during the next
elections.
The opposition aims to hold parliamentary elections under the
umbrella of a neutral government and not the current regime, which
they say is tutored by Syria.
Harb said that the only way for Lebanon to regain its sovereignty and
independence is for its people to vote properly during the
parliamentary elections, apart from personal interests.
"We ( the opposition) call on all citizens to vote away from personal
interests and to support the opposition," he said.
Harb said that the opposition still supports an electoral law based
on qadas as an electoral district.
"We will vote in Parliament against any draft electoral law which
considers an electoral district different than qadas," he said.
The Cabinet already approved last month a draft electoral law based
on small electoral districts (qadas). However, the majority of
ministers who voted for the law proposal changed their direction when
the law was handed to Parliament by supporting an electoral law based
on mohafazats, or large electoral districts.
Harb also said that the opposition would vote in Parliament against
the division of Beirut into three districts along sectarian lines.
The draft electoral law stipulates that Beirut be divided into three
electoral districts with the first including a majority of Shiites
and Armenian voters, the second a majority of Sunni voters and the
third a majority of Christian voters. The division is widely believed
to be aimed at undermining the representation of former Prime
Minister Rafik Hariri in Parliament. However, Harb said that Hariri
is not yet considered as an opposition member.
"I think Hariri's position is still between the opposition and the
government," he said.
Regarding the Ain al-Tineh gathering at Speaker Nabih Berri's
residence, held to show allegiance to Syria and considered a reaction
to the so-called "Bristol meetings," Harb said: "It is now clear to
everyone that the loyalists are frightened, if not terrified, of the
popular gathering around the opposition."
Feb 10 2005
'Aoun trial was delayed because secret talks failed'
Harb says court ruling in absentia would be legal
Batroun MP confirms that the opposition will vote in Parliament
against the division of Beirut into three electoral districts
By Nada Raad
Daily Star staff
BEIRUT: Batroun MP Butros Harb said Wednesday that the trial of
exiled former army commander General Michel Aoun had been postponed
because secret mediations with the authorities failed.
"I think something happened with the negotiations that were ongoing
(between Aoun and the authorities), which obstructed Aoun's return to
Lebanon before the parliamentary elections," Harb said during a news
conference held in Batroun.
However, Harb added that the issue is not yet closed but remains open
for the future.
On Tuesday, the Beirut Criminal Court rescheduled Aoun's trial until
May 5 as the judiciary did not accept to try the former general in
absentia for charges brought against him in 2003 following remarks he
made to the U.S. Congress supporting sanctions on Syria.
But according to Harb, a lawyer by trade, a political settlement of
Aoun's case would have been perfectly legal.
"The court is capable of ruling that there is no criminal offense and
announcing his innocence even if he is absent," he said.
Harb, who is also a member of the Christian opposition Qornet Shehwan
Gathering, said the opposition would remain united during the next
elections.
The opposition aims to hold parliamentary elections under the
umbrella of a neutral government and not the current regime, which
they say is tutored by Syria.
Harb said that the only way for Lebanon to regain its sovereignty and
independence is for its people to vote properly during the
parliamentary elections, apart from personal interests.
"We ( the opposition) call on all citizens to vote away from personal
interests and to support the opposition," he said.
Harb said that the opposition still supports an electoral law based
on qadas as an electoral district.
"We will vote in Parliament against any draft electoral law which
considers an electoral district different than qadas," he said.
The Cabinet already approved last month a draft electoral law based
on small electoral districts (qadas). However, the majority of
ministers who voted for the law proposal changed their direction when
the law was handed to Parliament by supporting an electoral law based
on mohafazats, or large electoral districts.
Harb also said that the opposition would vote in Parliament against
the division of Beirut into three districts along sectarian lines.
The draft electoral law stipulates that Beirut be divided into three
electoral districts with the first including a majority of Shiites
and Armenian voters, the second a majority of Sunni voters and the
third a majority of Christian voters. The division is widely believed
to be aimed at undermining the representation of former Prime
Minister Rafik Hariri in Parliament. However, Harb said that Hariri
is not yet considered as an opposition member.
"I think Hariri's position is still between the opposition and the
government," he said.
Regarding the Ain al-Tineh gathering at Speaker Nabih Berri's
residence, held to show allegiance to Syria and considered a reaction
to the so-called "Bristol meetings," Harb said: "It is now clear to
everyone that the loyalists are frightened, if not terrified, of the
popular gathering around the opposition."