Lebanon MPs ask U.N. to move on Hariri court

[ohio2007]

Source: Washington Post

not much action at the UN level concerning the secret war in Lebanon

BEIRUT (Reuters) - The anti-Syrian majority in Lebanon's parliament handed a petition to the United Nations on Tuesday asking for steps towards an international court to try suspects in the killing of a former prime minister, majority sources said.

Seventy majority deputies signed the petition asking U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for moves to set up the court, which is at the heart of Lebanon's worst political crisis since the country's 1975-1990 civil war.


The majority accuse the opposition, including groups allied to Damascus, of trying to thwart the tribunal's establishment to protect its allies in the Syrian government.

<snip>





Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/03/AR2007040301388.html

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I wonder if Nancy Pelosi touched on this subject during her Syrian road trip ?



Pelosi Rebuffs Criticism of Syria Visit
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8O98BJG0&show_article=1

[ohio2007]

1. May not be the most reliable source

but it is a closely related article few care to ponder;


UN Secy-Gen. Ban Ki-moon’s Lebanon report prompts belated Security Council move on arms smuggling from Syria to Hizballah

France has circulated a draft statement expressing serious concern at mounting reports of illegal arms transfers from Syria to Lebanon. The draft proposes authorizing an independent mission to assess if the border is being monitored.

Such arms transfers were expressly banned by N resolution 1701 under the ceasefire which ended last summer’s war between Israel and Hizballah. When the incoming UN secretary visited Lebanon two weeks ago, he was armed with evidence garnered by Israel, including maps, of banned arms transition across the border for the last six months. Israeli security officials report that by now Hizballah has almost finished restocking its pre-war arsenal. But better late than never.

http://www.debka.com/headline.php?hid=4043

This could lead to another summer border skirmish. I'm sure Nancy had to been aware of these accusations.

[bemildred]

2. Who do they want to try, and on what evidence?

It's been some years now since the Hariri killing, and I have seen nothing that rises to the level of evidence you could use to convict someone in court. I don't really see how the UN can remedy that, and I don't really see why Lebanon could not try the perps themselves, if they had evidence. Suspicions are one thing, and legal process is quite another.

[ohio2007]

6. The UN has already collected all the evidence.

The findings are known for years but the UN sits on the report and its original draft.
Certain people behind closed doors understand the phrase;
"Knowledge is power"
People do not want to share such information so freely and treat them like political carrots. Or dangle it like swords over certain peoples heads.

http://www.lgic.org/en/history_lebanon1990.php

[bemildred]

7. What evidence?

I do remember the investigations, and the controversies over that. I don't remember any of the investigators concluding they had enough to go to court with. It was always we need to do more work but we suspect Syria, etc. etc. And I don't see why the UN would be reluctant. Is this a Security Council thing, or the General Assembly, or what? Do they need some sort of resolution to start the court, and from whom? Could they take it to the Hague? Or do they need to form some sort of special court?

[Amused Musings]

3. I was actually wondering at the time

when Syria came out to say it had helped the hostage situation if this was a move to get a powerful ally on the Security Council. I would normally tend to agree with your line of thinking Bemildred but apparently many in Lebanon want Syria to pay for the death of their beloved Hariri. Syria, in the intervening years, seems seriously worried about this International court. As in much more worried than you would expect a regime such as the one in Damascus to be worried about. Damascus' response has really confused me in the sense that it is sort of surprising.

[bemildred]

4. I must say I find it confusing too.

I suspect various of the parties involved, including perhaps the Syrians, but not only them, like it confusing. Lebanon is very divided politically, and this seems to be used as a sort of political football in the struggle for power. Which does not mean that you are not right in saying that there are a lot of people in Lebanon that want someone held accountable for Hariri's death.

[Amused Musings]

5. I see what you are saying,

leverage against Hezbollah and the Shi'a south. Any sort of allegations or future conviction would be a serious (mortal?) blow toHezbollah's popularity. Just as Syria and Iran support Hezbollah, the US and Saudi Arabia support (I think) all other opposing factions.

[bemildred]

8. It would be a blow to Hizbullah, I think.

I don't know that it would be mortal, they were riding pretty high after the war last year. What it would do, I think, is raise the internal political temperature in Lebanon a lot, it would be very divisive, might even bring the government down or start a renewed civil war.