Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Attending Pierre Gemayel's funeral

The Gemayels and my family go way back. My grandfather and Pierre senior (founder of the Kataeb) were good friends, and I've met Amin many a time. My dad remembers going to play with Amin when he was a kid. Today I went to visit the Gemayels for the first time.
Up we went to the village of Bikfaya, the home of the Gemayels. As soon as we drove past the town centre, Ketaeb flags were everywhere, as were pictures of Pierre. We parked our car and walked to the house. We passed the Kataeb headquarters, where a woman singing melancholily pierced through the speakers. Young Kataeb-supporting prebuscent teens and adolescents stood looking down on us from the balcony, tears welling up in their eyes. We passed by kataeb supporters, one group of many walking to the house.
Many atendees were genuinely sad by the loss. Not only was he their community leader, but this country has been ravaged by too much war. It clouds your brain, all these funerals of rising stars that are lost before they shine.
But many of the young-ones' faces expressed every form of saddness, but it looked like a disattached sorrow.
It hit me: how can these kids be so sad? Have they ever picked up a paper? Many are too young. Knowing how things go in Lebanon--that everyone follows the same political family for decades only because their great grandfathers were once good friends or they were invited to a dinner long ago--I knew that more than anything these children had been told to revere the Gemayels. The Gemayels were a good family and that was enough, no need for discussion. These children only see the Gemayel's as a step below God, the way their families indoctrinated them from such a young age. More than anything, these kids were expressing their sadness because it was socially outlaw to do otherwise, to question "why should I politically support the Gmayels?"
And this is the problem with Lebanon. It doesn't stop with the Gemayels. In fact, they're one of the newest families on the bloc (with the exception of the Hariris). Jumblatt's family has been in power for a hundred and fifty or more years. Are they really there based on merit?
The Gemayels' are smart people. They know that you should think independently and not blindly follow.
But the way politics works here many tend to blindly follow (and this relates to all sects). Many followers tend to be blind in their support, as most members are members as their grandfathers' supported the party and their fathers. How to be the black sheep?
One political issue we need to address is Hezbollah. Hezbollah has about 40% of the nation's support. To continue to avoid them only serves to force the Shi'ites to make a state within a state. After all, the government from Lebanon's independence until today avoided these poor people from the south, catalyzing Hezbollah's state within a state as they were one of the first forces to provide infrastructure to poor Shi'ites. Though I believe armed militas are scary, I think it's better to negotiate than to sweep the problem under the rug. It will eventually accumulate, tripping you as you try to walk past.

And the Gemayel conspiracies set in

As good Lebanese, ever person is now constructing their conspiracy theories around the Pierre Gemayel death. Here are some I've heard:

AMERICA DID IT: The U.S. decided to get rid of Pierre Gemayel to put further pit Lebanon against Syria, forcing Syria into the international spotlight pressuring it to clean up its ways. Benefits: possibly more cooperation in Iraq? This theory, as I heard it, didn't seem to have much of a backbone. (If anyone had a anything to add to this conspiracy, and any others, let me know)

SYRIA DID IT: This is popular with the March 14 forces because it also implies that Hezbollah/Aoun colluded, in the 'guilty by association' sense for the former's support of Syria and the latter's willing to work with Hezbollah. The Kaetaeb has been a traditional Syrian foe and one of the first to unwaveringly call for Syrian withdrawal. Why not get rid of their greatest foe? Also strikes a blow to Christian powers as they were the only faction to demand from the begining of Lebanon's inception to the present-day, that Syria must let Lebanon achieve its full independence (though Syria didn't occupy Lebanon till 1976, they were always meddling in it's business before). See 'Aoun/Hezbollah did it' (below) for another reason why Syria may have done it.

AOUN/HEZBOLLAH DID IT: By assasinating Pierre and attempting to assasinate Michel Pharoun the government would fall. Pharoun is a protestant minister who was also targeted in a failed assasination attempt that day. The government would fall for lack of ministers to legally run it. Due to the 3 hezbollah, 2 Amal and the one Christian minister (a Syrian ally) that resigned, if two more ministers either resigned or are assassinated, the government would not have enough ministers to continue to function (according to the constitution). This would lead to elections and possibly augment Hezbollah and Aoun power in the government.


ISRAEL DID IT: I've heard it said, but I haven't heard why.

MARCH 14 FORCES DID IT: Why eliminate one of their own? This one gets complicated and needs some major explanation. Gemayel was 'the weakest link' and the Kaetaeb is the weakest party of the major three Christian factions (which go, in order of most support: Aoun, Geagea and Gemayels. Aoun for the Free Patriotic Movement, Geagea, the Lebanese Forces and Gemayel's the Kaetaeb party). The incentive to kill Pierre is:
a) Hezbollah was going to go out and demonstrate in the streets on Thursday, to demand a third of parliament's cabinet seats, which would give them veto power. The March 14 forces said, "no, let's have the vote on the international tribunal first, then you'll get your third.' The international tribunal refers to the Hariri killings-- Syria is most suspect in the slaying of the former prime minister. The March 14 feared that if Hezbollah recieved veto power through their seat number boost, they'd veto the tribunal. Hezbollah refused this deal, and their three ministers resigned, then the Amal party, with two seats, followed suit. This left no representation of Shi'ites in cabinet, which makes it constitutionaly illegal to vote on legislation without all sects being represented. As March 14 only voted to approve the international tribunal after the Shi'ite ministers resigned, the decision is legally nixed. Now that Hezbollah cannot protest on Thursday (for respect for the Gemayel family and they'd be accused of inciting sectarian violence) they've affectively been neutralized. Hezbollah's ability to mobilize its population is feared, as they are the biggest party in Lebanon (though due to gerrymandering and not having a national consensus since the 1930's, it makes it seem otherwise). If Hezbollah mobilized on Thursday, the weak government (which is March 14 party) would have had to kowtow to such great pressure. This would be one reason to do away with Pierre, to stop the protests and ensure that Hezbollah doesn't get veto power.

b) Another reason is to push the international tribunal forward. The momentum for the international tribunal was dying. March 14 were the only ones vehmently pushing it. Pierre's death is a reason to start a renewed push to implement the tribunal. March 14 may use it by saying something like, "If we don't push for this tribunal, Hariri's killers will not be held accountable, which gives a greater incentive to slay other politicians. Pierre's death attests to this fact. A tribunal is needed to put an end to these deaths."

c) The Kataeb is a weak party. Aforementioned, it's the weakest of the big 3 christians factions. Pierre was also a weak politician, who was young and not a mover and a shaker. So March 14 decided to assassinate him because he was dispensable. Whomever assumes the reins of the kataeb party will not break with the March 14 party, so effectively, the party isn't losing much due to his death. This assertion is interesting because it does make you ask: why was Pierre, who was really one of the weakest of the March 14, assassinated? If someone, a country or a party, wanted to strike a blow to the March 14 forces, they would have targeted a bigger figure. If you don't agree with the assertion that Pierre was weak, ask yourself: why was he in a flimsy Kia car that had no bullet-proof glass and he only had two body guards? Other March 14 figures like Walid Jumblatt, Saad Hariri and Geagea all have sturdy cars that have bullet-proof glass and have an entourage of body guards. When they move around the city, a security convoy follows them. Why wasn't the same protection awarded to Pierre?

That's all the conspiracy theories I've heard. Want to add one? Write a comment. Either way, don't chew my head off--I'm not supporting any of these, I'm reporting what I've heard.

Pierre Gemayel's death

Today the industry minister, Pierre Gemayel, was gunned-down mid-afternoon in new Jdeideh, a Christian Beirut suburb. Gemayel's death marks the first time that a sitting minister was targeted (mps were targeted in the past). Also, Gemayel's death marks the first time since the Syrian forces withdrew in May 2005, that a Christian politican was targeted. Gebran Tueni, Samir Kassir and May Chedac were the only Christians targeted since independence. All were journalists (though Tueni was also a politician).
The streets were surprisingly calm though there were some boys with Kataeb flags tied around their necks like capes. Amine Gemayel, Pierre's father and President between 1982-88, beeseched the angry throngs of supporters to remain calm and light candles instead of malatovs (well, not literally, but symbolically, yes).
Tomorrow is independence day and Pierre's funeral. The procession will start in Beirut, at the Kataeb headquarters in downtown Beirut. It will end at the Gemayel home town of Bikfaya. Many suspect that protests will take place in Marytrs' Square, located in downtown Beirut.
The situation is still volatile. Tensions mounted last week as three Hezbollah and two Amal ministers resigned their posts, leaving the parliament void of any Shi'ite representation. One Christian minister, a pro-Syrian, pro-Emile Lahoud (Lebanon's pro-Syrian president) also resigned. The Shi'ite ministers' walk out was catalyzed by Hezbollah which demanded a third of all parliamentary seats which would give them veto power. Shi'ites are under-represented in the cabinet fwhich follows a confessional-based structure. The resignations came before the parliament voted on whether to adopt the Rafik Hariri tribunal. As the Shi'ite representatives stormed out, parliament voted onthe draft tribunal resolution and agreed to adopt it. However, Hezbollah ministers claimed the vote illegal as the constitution stipulates that all sect mujst be represented when voting on legistlation occurs.
Hariri was assasinated Feb. 2005. Many accuse Syria of the crime. From his death spawned a multi-religious, anti-Syrian coalition called the March 14 forces or the 'opposition.' Many are critical how much of an opposition they can be as they are pro-America can tend to pander the American design for the region.
Lebanese wait for another day that many don't believe will bring renewed violence. When politics reaches a stalemate in Lebanon, assassination attempts often occur to stir up the pot, which is quickly brought to a simmer. The Civil War (1975-1990) was an exception to that, but since, many successful and attempted assasinations have occured that made people fearful of renewed sectarian strive, with little signs of another full out civil war. One example is the past summer's war between Hezbollah and Israel, which would have been an ideal time for the country to further factionalize.

The e-mail that started the blog

I wrote this mass email to my friends two days ago. Many wrote back, saying I should start a blog. These are bits and pieces of the e-mail, parts spruced up.

I got back three weeks ago and it's been 'go' ever since. I went down to the south the day after I got back, to help a friend shoot a movie. We went to Srifa, a destroyed village. We stood in what seemed to be the rubble of what once was a store. We brought out the camera and began shooitng. A Hezbollah guy drove up on his vespa (only they aren't so nice here but
look like they went throug 'Nam). He thought we were spies, though he didn't say it. But it was obvious because he kept cruising past us, surveilling us. Then we saw a clust bomb. Well, after much debating whether it was a cluster bomb, we decided, 3 against 1, that it was. The UN is constantly driving through the south on its missions. So we waited until some UN troops drove past. We tried to flag them down. They thought we were waiving and waived back. That's all we got. So while I think I prayed to God in the first time in ten years or more, we climbed off the rubble and went back to the car.

I've been working on some articles that have taken me to places completely destroyed or completely filled with oil when the Israelis hit a government fuel-storage tank. About 65,000 tons of oil burnt, evaporating to remain in our atmosphere causing major health hazards. About 20,000 tons spilt into the sea. Three months after the spill, the waves have a nice sheen to them and tar litters the sand and rocky beaches. I travelled the coast with this group called Greenline who are coordinating the clean up.
Last Monday I went with a UN demining team to write a story on cluster bombs. We went to this village called Ayt al Shaab where one of the most intense battles between Hezbollah and Israel occured. there are maybe 10 houses left out of 100. It is really nuts and so heart breaking. I was travelling with a Japanese journalist, an ABC correspondent and Liam, a Montreal photojournalist. The village kids were so excited to see a 'nice' car and foreign faces. They chased after us, while we went to this little girl, Marwa's house. On the way there, One building pretty gutted from shelling had grafitti on it. It was an Israeli flag on the wall, a nice 'fuck you' from Israeli soldiers.
We arrived to Marwa's house. Her family, like many in south lebanon, subsist on their olive grove harvest. She and two friends walked to her grandparents house and her friend stepped on a cluster bomb. He has shrapnel in his lungs and heart. Her cousin has shrapnel in her head and intestine. Marwa was lucky--she got it in her knees and left arm. None of the villagers pick olives anymore and what little money they hoped for is gone. No one, since the three months fighting has stopped-- not the UN or Lebanese Army-- has come to diffuse cluster bombs. Poor people don't know how to lobby very well I guess.
Every Hezbollah stronghold I went, the people gave us the shirts off their backs. Their attitude wasn't Bush's description of 'Islamo-fascism' at all. An Islamo-fascist wouldn't communicate to non-Muslims. Yet these 'Islamo-fascists' didn't care I wasn't covered. They didn't care Liam was Canadian or Lina, the ABC correspondent from England, two country's that turned their backs on these people as they suffered. All they wanted us to see is: what kind of life is this? This is not a life and this is why we are gladly martyred while fighting both the Israel and our own Lebanese government in the hope that one day, in the future, our efforts will be fruitful.
The Lebanese government barely acknowledges the poor south, populated mostly bu Shi'ites that form Hezbollah's base. The government barely built any infrastrcuture or schools and hospitals for the area. Then Hezbollah came in to fill the void.
The reason why Shi'ites feel they must fight Israel is two-fold: about 60,000 land mines Israel left in southern lebanon that continue to maim and kill villagers, and many villagers afraid to use their land for agriculture or grazing flocks because of the mines. So what little means of survivial and income they have is lost. Israel planted the mines during its occupation of Southern Lebanon that ended in May 2000. In 2004 Israeli Superior courts ruled that the Jewish state must return a complete land mine map to Lebanon (so you can't say it was an anti-semtic ruling since it was their own courts). Israel blighted the ruling and never gave back the maps. Which was one of the pretexts that Hezbollah used to launch this past summer's war (that and the issue of three detainees that are held by Israel and that Israel Superior courts ruled should be returned to Lebanon). So Israel is not just violated international laws but also their own national laws.
Well, that's all.