Friday, October 16, 2015. Lebanon’s Elites or corrupted feudal riches ?

http://www.lebanese-transparent-democracy.org/en/15en/en-actu-151016.htm

Friday, October 16, 2015. Lebanon’s Elites or corrupted feudal riches ?

In the name of sectarian politics, politicians have managed to enrich themselves and their colleagues at the expense of the population.

How this system has generated major income inequality whereby 0.3% of the population owns half of the country’s wealth.

It is not surprising that both political and economic elites fight any talk about accountability ferociously.

The judiciary has been largely subservient to political demands, including the recent Constitutional Council decision to rubber stamp the illegal extension of the parliament’s mandate.

In brief, politicians have shielded the political system from any hint of accountability.

The time is now to make a decision.

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NEWS FROM MEDIAS :

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Accountability: A “National Security Threat” to Lebanon’s Elites

Two months into protests over Lebanon’s garbage crisis, the government has taken a hard stance: It will not be held accountable by the people. It has unleashed state institutions against protesters, which used unnecessary violence against them, arrested some of them while leaving armed party thugs to go free, and more recently, sent protesters to be prosecuted in military courts. The Lebanese state, which often is absent when needed most, is flexing its muscles against peaceful citizens whose crime is to demand better services, starting with waste management. Little did we know that such demands represent a threat to ‘national security’. The government and political elite are not the only culprits; business organizations and some media outlets have joined their chorus in defending the failed political system.

In fact, in the name of sectarian politics, politicians have managed to enrich themselves and their colleagues at the expense of the population. To them, citizens are only useful in that they cast votes during election season.

The judiciary has been largely subservient to political demands, including the recent Constitutional Council decision to rubber stamp the illegal extension of the parliament’s mandate.

In brief, politicians have shielded the political system from any hint of accountability.

Rather, demonstrators have disturbed the system of distribution of state resources among the political elite.

The other accusation against protesters is that they are damaging public and private property. However, it is important to remember that the political elite and their friends have usurped public and coastal properties, used legal gimmicks to acquire key locations like Dalieh, and privatized public lands in Zeitouneh Bay at a faction of the market price, all while lining politicians’ pockets.

 It is them who have overseen the mismanagement of public property on a grand scale, leading to theft and grand corruption.

It should be reminded that our tax system is highly regressive, favoring the rich at the expense of the poor; how our economic organization is controlled by the few rich and powerful through exclusivity licenses; and how this system has generated major income inequality whereby 0.3% of the population owns half of the country’s wealth.

It is not surprising that any talk about accountability is fought ferociously by both political and economic elites.

It is about a political system that uses sectarian discourse to benefit political leaders and the economic elite at the expense of the majority of the population vs. a new social contract where the state serves its citizens, political parties represent the people, and accountability is its foundational pillar.

Otherwise, people will remain clients, subservient to politicians and their sectarian tools, leave the country, or mourn its demise. The time is now to make a decision.

Sami Atallah, LCPS executive director

http://www.lcps-lebanon.org/featuredArticle.php?id=54

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