Saturday 11-04-2009.

Vote for 14-March  candidates
despite our criticisms against them!
 

I - Why are we against pro Syrian 8 March political Group?

1
The hope for an independent, democratic, pluralistic, neutral, peaceful, secular Lebanon, with republican parliamentary power, and prosperous economy, will disappear because of fanatic armed militias indoctrinated by totalitarian ideologies and racist religious fanatics, subject to the manipulation by totalitarian and hegemonic neighboring countries.

2
The history of pro Syrian Lebanese political groups, which are close to the Syrian totalitarian regime who have tried several times the annexation of Lebanon by Syria since the middle of last century, is a major reason to prevent them from participating in the power of the Lebanese state.

3
The rights of security and prosperity of all citizens in Lebanon, including Palestinian militants and pro Syrian and pro Iranian fanatics, will be better protected when the Lebanon state arrives to disarm all militias and to enforce the pluralistic democratic laws.

4
Most mini dictators or heads of pro Syrian 8 March Mafia group are believed to have sponsored or participated in or benefited from the actions of killing or terrorism in Lebanon since 1967, and are the main cause of civil war, of the Lebanese State disintegration and of Lebanese impoverishment.

5
Most mini dictators or heads of the pro Syrian 8 March Mafia group have anti democratic ideologies, culture of submission to chief glory or to religious feudalism, or to rich families. They are opportunists. They are an obstacle to democratic and peaceful Lebanon.

6
The presentation of political and social program, from 8 March Mafiosi group with promises to meet the needs of Lebanese citizens, cannot be trusted, given their betrayal past and mafia attitudes. Since the departure of the Syrian army from Lebanon, they continued to paralyze the democratic functioning of the Lebanese State by using threats of armed militias and the “right of veto” formula against the parliamentary majority. M. Nabih BERRI, speaker of parliament, has used his power to block the parliament for two years. The Opposition Group has blocked Government decisions. Acts of political terrorism have taken place. Actions of war have been made within the country and with Israel, resulting in deaths, injuries, destruction and Lebanese displacements. The parliamentary majority could not act effectively in the interests of the people and Lebanon State.

II - Why we can not stay in a third way, away from the two groups of 8 and 14 March?

1
The road to a Lebanese Strong Transparent Democracy seems the solution to the great suffering in Lebanon. The solutions offered by our Association cannot be implemented after obtaining a parliamentary majority, which could reform the Lebanese political system into the desired direction.

2
To date, the LSTDO has not the financial and logistical means to diffuse his ideas sufficiently to the Lebanese view. In addition, we chose the discretion of our activists to continue to express freely our complaints and ideas that go against the interests of the various heads of Lebanese mafias, which are responsible for terrorism and political assassinations.

3
In the current state of ‘balance of terror’ in the struggle for power in Lebanon, support of any group of deputies to the current president, Michel SLEIMAN, would not solve the current problems of the Lebanese State. Indeed, everything is linked to threats of terrorism and civil war that the pro-Syrian group of 8 March, displays to impose his policy. Blackmailing paralyzes the country's democratic functioning. The President Michel SLEIMAN has possibly not the will or the means to disarm the armed militias on Lebanese soil. He had the courage of the case of Nahr El Bared. But he is not committed against other armed mafias’ policies in Lebanon. The prosecution against small thieves is not enough to improve security and prosperity in Lebanon.

4
Democratic rule in a free and modern country requires different groups to come together to form a parliamentary majority even if there are differences between them on some issues. The LSTDO currently makes a synthesis of what is feasible to advise our compatriots to act with minimal damage to their future.

5
The Group of 14 March, after the Cedar Revolution, which is fighting for democracy and independence of Lebanon, is seen as the backbone of a future parliamentary majority that is required to support the interests of poor and medium-sized Lebanese classes, of course, despite all the criticisms we may make against several between their leaders.


III - What are the positive actions of the 14 March Group since 2005?

1
They prevented the militia leaders and pro Syrian mafias to take the Lebanese State Power after the withdrawal of the Syrian army from Lebanon.

2
They slowed the pro Syrian group’s hegemony, which was preparing a civil war in Lebanon. They obtain support from United Nations and the UNIFIL military presence in South Lebanon, what is a factor of stability.

3
They avoided the division of Lebanon by accepting constraints in the Doha Agreement after the military pressure of Hezbollah in West Beirut and the Chouf district. The 14 March Group seemed not to have the military resources of its policy and had been forced to yield.

4
In total, they should have postponed the resolution of the main problems of Lebanon in order not to sink into civil war, since they had not enough military and financial means in order to disarm pro Syrian militias. It is good avoiding civil war, but nothing is resolved!

IV - What are the disadvantages of the 14 March Group ?

1
They have failed to integrate in their group several components of the movements for Lebanese independence. They isolated the Free Patriotic Movement of General Michel AOUN. The latter responded with a mistake by opportunistic conversion against them. He has teamed up with his own former pro Syrian enemies!

2
They did not prepare the military to suit their policies. They agreed to talk with armed militias groups and to yield on some issues, violating the State Laws. Then no democratic reforms could be done. The State rights are not working.

3
Faced with successive blockages of the State functioning made by the pro Syrian armed groups, acts of blackmail and terrorism, they have chosen to postpone any effective decisions to secure the country. Until now, no one feels in security in Lebanon.

4
They yielded to Syria pressure into accepting an anti democratic attitude by electing a president acceptable to Hezbollah and Syria. They have created an obstacle to the policy of the parliamentary majority about real Lebanon independence. The President Michel SLEIMAN's hands are linked, and He will not have the means to disarm the pro Syrian’ militias in Lebanon.

5
After 4 years of ineffective parliamentary life, how can we expect a radical change of policy with the same members who have not created the means of their policy? We have our doubts.

6
The lack of security of persons and property in Lebanon is a key element of the continuing impoverishment and the exodus of Lebanese abroad. The government did nothing to reverse this tendency.

7
The only prosperous economic sector in Lebanon is banking sector. In fact, banks are looting the poor people of Lebanon by high interest rates that ruin companies and are confiscating property of people unable to repay their debts. If there are jobs, corporate leaders are taking foreign workers at low salaries, leaving the Lebanese unemployed and compelled to leave his family in Lebanon and go abroad to find work. The Government is cliques of rich feudal who do not speak about poor people except during election campaigns. We do not have any illusions about the economic and social problems. The majority is still concerned about the interests of the rich rather than issues of social problems.

8
We are fighting against the leader cult, the feudal, the father’ son privileges, and the power of rich families. There is a huge gap between the theories presented by some leaders of the majority and current reality. It is not normal to pretend to be social democrat and resume power of the party entrusted by heredity posting the principal members of his family. It is not normal to take advantage of the killing of his son or his father to have priority to become political leader of his group. It is not normal to inherit his son the leadership of his party, like the royalist, after insisting for decades about democratically functioning of his party. The struggle for power in this state of mind has nothing to do with true transparent democracy. This is not useful for poor and middle classes. The mafia leaders are capable of betraying the electorate and to ally with their former enemies to preserve their share in power. This problem is a key element, delaying the peaceful and democratic reforms.

9
Any electoral law adopted by Heads of mafias in the parliament may not be ideal for poor and medium classes. We had called for parliamentary elections in smaller districts with only one place for every district. The deputy should be elected by public competition in three selection rounds. The aim is to enable people to choose the best candidate in total liberty in the interests of citizens and the district without any interference of the heads of rich families, or feudal clans, or any foreign hegemonic countries, or religious sects.

Admittedly, the current electoral law is an improvement over previous laws that promoted the hegemony of the Syrian regime, which occupied Lebanon. However, there are flaws in the electoral law based on the current districts distribution. Candidates are forced to bargain with the heads of political clans to be admitted into the candidates’ lists. These Mafiosi of the struggle for power sharing in Lebanon compete on all Lebanese territory and they choose their representatives who will be their first servants into the parliament. This totally distorts the modern democratic spirit, which we, in LSTDO, are striving to. We prefer the selection of candidates, individually by citizens. It is not the clan leaders to impose on us to choose between their local servants. In the current electoral law, Samir GEAGEA, Amine GEMAYEL, Saad HARIRI and Walid JUMBLATT are clan leaders who impose their choices in the group of 14 March. We would have preferred to see them elected by the basis legitimately rather than as leaders imposed. Prospective parliamentary members would rather be at the service of those heads of clans rather than accountable to their electorates! It is the same in the ranks of groups of pro Syrian 8 March, in the current Opposition. There will be no 128 independent deputies in the future parliament of Lebanon to help the people in the socio-economic reforms. There will be servants to take the power sharing between the heads of clans. So, if they agree among themselves to plunder discretely the State, the people will not suffer from civil war or terrorism, but it remains in poverty. And, if they do not agree between themselves, we will have in addition the war of these clans. What is really far different from a real people revolution for  modernization and reforms!

Worse, among the leaders of the current majority, some people wish to make a new electoral law based on proportional voting to strengthen their influence in the sharing of State Power. Proportional representation in Lebanon is very special because the party leaders are owners of their parties from father to son. Proportional voting gives them a guaranteed portion in the State Power regardless of the number of deputies elected by their electorates. The leaders will choose the candidates, which restricts the freedom of choice of voters. Prospective members would be more subject to the authority of the chiefs who put them on their electoral lists. This is not democracy. It will be the consecration of backlog feudalism.

10
We are sad to note that the above-mentioned realities go against 14 March Group and can swing voters to support the Group of 8 March, despite the danger the latter represents for national peace and economy in Lebanon.


V - Our current findings for the vote of 7 June 2009 (conclusions).

1
We are forced to conclude that we must choose between two evils. We will choose the least bad. We will vote for the March 14 Group that fights for independence and peaceful democracy in Lebanon.

2
The way of the 14 March group is a step that gives us the hope to change the Lebanese society and work towards our ideal which is the LSTDO Goals.

3
We have no confidence in the promises of the Group of 8 March. It represents a clear risk to the security in Lebanon and its independence. It can lead to civil war, with massacres of minorities and the establishment of a backward and fanatical dictatorship. It will use the Lebanese as a fuel in the traditional confessional burning conflicts in the Middle East.

LSTDO / 11-04-2009.Vote for March 14 candidates
despite our criticisms against them!