Moawad: The defendants object to the judge... We will not give up until the truth is revealed

October 14, 2021

(See Translation in Arabic Section)

Lebanon -  The head of the "Independence Movement", resigned MP Michel Moawad, confirmed that "whoever today objects to the judicial investigator in the Beirut port explosion, Judge Tariq al-Bitar and attacks him, is an "accused" through some of his symbols, and here I am talking about "Hezbollah", "Marada" or "Amal movement or others who threaten, intimidate and use weapons". Pointing out that "the position of the Secretary-General of "Hezbollah", Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, is a position "after insolence" and provokes the families of the victims and every Lebanese seeks to live in dignity on his land under the roof of truth, justice, the state and institutions."

Moawad, in an intervention on Al-Hadath channel, said: “The attempt to abolish justice and truth will not pass again, and we will not be satisfied until we know who brought the nitrate ship to Lebanon in 2014, and who transported the nitrate to hangar No. 12, who protected it for 6 years, who smuggled a large amount and how did the nitrate explosion happen?  He added: "The crime of the port explosion summarizes the crisis and tragedy of the Lebanese and the process of kidnapping their will and the state. The ship's voyage would not have taken place if there was no clear alliance between the arms and the power of arms and the militia, and between corruption and the ruling mafia controlling the neck of the Lebanese," pointing out that the truth and justice in the crime of the port is not only for the sake of a homeland and for the sake of humanity, but it is practically a trial of an integrated system with both its armed and corrupt sides, and it is natural for Hezbollah to fear truth and justice.

He added: "Meetings are open with our partners in the opposition and in the revolution, and our position is clear not to retreat, and we will not be afraid and will not be satisfied and we will use all available and popular peaceful tools, and here I call on all the Lebanese to confront the attempt to abolish Lebanon by abolishing its borders through Iranian diesel and canceling its institutions." Today, we live under the control of arms, the weapon of domination over the freedom, dignity, and livelihood of the Lebanese and the destruction of constitutional institutions on the one hand, and the weapon of the Doha.

Agreement on the other hand, which gave the right of veto to the two parties, Hezbollah - hope and digression to the sectarian parties under the slogan of the Charter with the aim of enabling "Hezbollah" to control the State institutions and the possibility of disrupting them with the logic of a strong militia and a weak state.

Moawad stressed that "there is no possibility to change the reality in Lebanon and restore the livelihood of the Lebanese people and live in dignity except by fighting the battle of sovereignty, the battle of political and economic reform, and a return to the constitution, and thus to a modern, decentralized civil state that allows everyone to participate in it."

In response to Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s position, Moawad said: “Mikati’s position is a detailed one, and we basically said that the slogan “a government of specialists” is an operation of a “mask.” Today this mask has fallen permanently and it has become clear that this government was formed through contact between the French president and the president. Iran is under the control of Hezbollah, for this reason, we had called for an independent government that in turn would form a transitional government for the parliamentary elections, but unfortunately, Hezbollah’s use of the Charter’s sword to disrupt the government has proven that it is a government that is incapable of decision and is fragile and will not be able to carry out reforms.

As he asserted that the government has no constitutional authority to dismiss Judge Bitar or to stop his hand, Moawad called on the Supreme Judicial Council not to succumb to threats and intimidation. The path and not being afraid, all the Lebanese are behind you."

On the Lebanese Forces leader, Dr. Samir Geagea’s proposal for the resignation of the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister in the event that Judge Bitar’s hand is stopped and his call for general, comprehensive and peaceful sit-ins and closures. Moawad said: “I agree with Geagea in his demand for the resignation of Aoun and Mikati and for peaceful movements to be undertaken, I also call on him to resign, in turn, from the Parliament, in which the General Secretariat issued a statement that constitutes a blatant interference with the independence of the judiciary, and to join the ranks of the popular opposition that calls for the battle of sovereignty, political reform and economic reform. He added: "The opposition from within this system under the roof of the Doha institutions is not a solution."

In conclusion, Moawad reiterated the demand for the formation of the broadest opposition front on a tripartite and indivisible basis, i.e. sovereignty, political reform and economic reform, pointing out that "coordination and contacts are continuing with opposition and revolutionary forces to carry out peaceful popular confrontations."