Gemayel Slams Hizbullah's Actions at USJ: We Won't Remain Silent against Those Who Provoke us
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Phalange Party MP Sami Gemayel slammed on Monday the actions of Hizbullah supporters at Universite Saint Jospeh, questioning the purpose of the party's provocations at the campus.
He declared: “The identity of USJ will not be altered and we will not remain silent against those who provoke us.”
He made his remarks during a press conference to address recent developments at the university's Huvelin campus in Beirut on Monday morning.
He revealed that Hizbullah supporters had written graffiti on the walls of the university hailing Habib al-Shartouni, who was convicted with the assassination of former President Bashir Gemayel in 1982.
“The graffiti provoked all students at USJ regardless of their affiliations,” added Gemayel.
Moreover, he said that the Hizbullah supporters continued on provoking the students for several hours until the security forces and army intervened.
He criticized the security forces' late response in containing the tensions, warning that the situation could have gotten out of hand.
“A major problem was averted in Ashrafiyeh today,” he stated.
“The situation could have been contained as soon as the tensions began, but for some reason the security forces took at least four hours to intervene,” remarked the MP.
“The army only intervened when it seemed that a clash was going to take place, which demonstrates that the state does not take immediate action to contain any tensions. Why do we leave matters to reach such a tense stage?” he wondered.
“We thank the army and security forces for containing the situation, but they could have been faster in doing so,” he noted.
Addressing Hizbullah, Gemayel asked angrily: “Why are you creating hate among the people against you? What do you have to do with Habib al-Shartouni? What are the purposes of your provocations? What is the reason for this spite?”
“Do you seek to separate yourselves from the rest of the state? You must state your intentions openly,” he demanded.
“Do we provoke you when it comes to your resistance and martyrs?” he added.
“Why are you provoking and challenging us?” he wondered.
“I do not understand how Hizbullah is allowing its supporters to create such divisions among the people, instead of working on uniting them,” he said.
“USJ is a symbol of civility and Lebanon and we will not allow anyone to alter its identity. We urge the administration to also preserve its identity,” urged Gemayel.
“We will no longer remain silent over any provocation,” he warned.
Later on Monday, the Army Command issued a statement clarifying that "the dispute that erupted at one of the universities over student elections did not involve any violation of security that requires the intervention of army units," noting that "the army's entry into any university requires a prior request from its administration or from the security forces tasked with protecting it.
“Although this did not happen, an army force arrived on the scene to prevent any escalation,” the statement added.
Earlier on Monday, media reports said that the tensions at USJ were a result of Hizbullah students' protests against recent student elections.
They said that the students had surrounded the USJ campus at Huvelin neighborhood, resulting in a standoff with rival March 14 students that could have escalated into a clash had it not been for the intervention of security forces and the army.
The student elections were held at USJ last week.
An alliance between the Lebanese Forces and March 14 forces won the majority of seats at three of the campus' four faculties, while independent students swept the last faculty.
25 November 2013, 17:26
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He revealed that Hizbullah supporters had written graffiti on the walls of the university hailing Habib al-Shartouni, who was convicted with the assassination of former President Bashir Gemayel in 1982.
Absolutely a bad show. This sort of thing shouldn't be tolerated in the slightest.
“The graffiti provoked all students at USJ regardless of their affiliations,” added Gemayel."
This is a good sign, however.
Good on Sami for speaking out. While they have the right to protest, they do not have the right to stencil such disgusting phrases on the university's wall, or anywhere else for that matter.
26 November 2013, 11:27
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“Do we provoke you when it comes to your resistance and martyrs?” he added.
uuuh lol? yes, everyday.
besides that, the grafiti is bad taste, agreed. but i wonder who wrote it.
26 November 2013, 11:37
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no matter who wrote it, and whether or not it was a hezbollah supporter, it does not implicate hezbollah as a party.
it's like saying if a kataeb supporter writes a hateful sectarian comment, the kataeb party is guilty for it.
26 November 2013, 11:43
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lol, that's the most ridiculous comment. a few hundred students in a specific university does not represent the country.
there are so many bias factors that make the sample unrepresentative of the entire population, the limited age bracket, the fact that it is a jesuite university, the administration and the selection process, the geographical placemement, etc etc etc
25 November 2013, 17:30
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We are all with you ya sheikh Sami. You represent a healthy middle path between Geagea's obstructiveness, HA's thugness, Berri's thievery, and Aoun's lack of diplomacy...
25 November 2013, 17:48
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Sami talks and sounds like a coward,
its true when you hear the only true men
of Lebanon come from the South, if anyone was
to try this in the South we wouldnt need the army
or the police to handle it, fa Zalim ou fa Zalim,
Sami one more thing maybe you should call your friends the
Isralies to help you since your so proud of your alliance with them,
you COWARD.
25 November 2013, 21:39
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I'm a true southerner, a Sidonian. Life was much better until may 2000... ask anyone. there used to be israeli air raids every now and then, but the whole south was safer to people walking in streets.
26 November 2013, 11:45
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yay, benzona rooting for israeli occupation. now i know you're a fake for sure. not only is it a complete lie, but no real lebanese could say that without dying from shame.
26 November 2013, 08:56
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FT. The mustakbal talks are the initiative of FPM's Ibrahim kanaan, GMA accepted.
GMA and phalange should do a stronger role of mediators between HA and mustakbal instead of splitting and strenghtening jumby.
26 November 2013, 16:48
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lebanon_first... True, aoun is not very diplomatic... but i think that the kataeb and fpm are coming closer together, which is a very good thing for lebanon. the only difference is the position on hezbollah and this will eventually be agreed. FT is right that it is the FPM that talks to all sides regardless of political differences and this is something that needs more recognition. The fpm MOD with hezballah was a good thing that mad hezbollah recognize the lebanese republic and for the first time made hezbollah officially reject the islamic lebanese idea!
If it were not for the stupid aggressive and and outright disrespectful USJ protest from hezballah supporters than we could have come together much easier. Don't know why these shameful graffiti was done but it is surly regretful and an apology would be a good step forward.
26 November 2013, 17:45
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ado. agree to most what u said. But how come u follow Lebanese news so closely while living in australia?
25 November 2013, 17:39
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this filthy extremist terrorist Iranian militia has been protecting all the convicted murderers of politicians in this country!
until when?
25 November 2013, 18:20
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imad moghnie must enjoy this. bite for bite. got it ? because he was blown to pieces haha
25 November 2013, 19:39
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So this other Gemayel loser claims that the USJ is that of Bashir Gemayel! Now that's a first considering that the USJ is older than Bashir's grandpappi! These younger generation of Gemayels seem to be brighter than their ancestors.
25 November 2013, 20:10
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USJ shouldn't let shia enroll unless they sign in day 1 they will not support terror and should they do, they'd get fired on the spot.
25 November 2013, 20:49
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how many more reasons do the people of Lebanon need to recognize that a militia should not be stronger than the state? I am anxious to see how they will spin this to make themselves look like the victim now (HA that is).
25 November 2013, 21:42
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This is the equivalent of blaming Saad or Geagea for his supporters' ghetto actions. M14 are getting desperate hahahah
25 November 2013, 22:38
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I am so happy that I don't live in Lebanon with you low life bums both M14 and M8 are a huge disgrace to the country.
26 November 2013, 00:15
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Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country. Not all those living in Lebanon are low life. Many are here because they do not have another choice and others are here holding the fort and raising the cedar flag high against the low life ones.
25 November 2013, 23:02
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I have been visiting naharnet for years now, sometimes reading the comments. I decided to join now, to add a voice of reason to the sea of so many unreasonable people. I have some opinions I would like to express.
Is this how Lebanese people want to live forever? Sunni this, Shiite that, Maronite this, Druze that. It's so backwards and ignorant, I'm embarrassed when I see people speaking like this and then claiming to be Lebanese. Lebanon was historically a haven for all religious groups, but we seem to have forgotten that.
Where is your national pride? Why does Lebanon have to rely on foreign financial and military support to survive? Why do we remain silent when a foreign country bombs inside our territory (regardless of which country)? Why can't we have electricity 24 hours, 1 electric and water bill, safety and security and an economy to speak of? Why do we have to leave the country to get a good job, unless our connections are good (or bad if you know what I mean)?
25 November 2013, 23:02
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Why are people fighting in Syria, or fighting for Palestine, or for Saudi or Iran or Zimbabwe... Who cares about these countries??? Care about yours, love it because it is the most important thing you have.
Please people, ma 3am nazzir, it isn't important anymore who started this or that, what matters is what we can do now. Don't let another generation grow up like ours and our parents' did. Break the cycle.
26 November 2013, 00:23
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No true Lebanese would disagree with what you said lebanesenationalist. The problem starts when you try to do something about it. Once HA reacts to Syrian agression and turn away Iranian money and influence, and when future turn away KSA money and influence, and when we support each other against ANY external aggression, and when the LAF are propped up and weapons collected from all armed groups, and when politicans are held accountable to follow the law and the constitution, and when the Lebanese ID trumps the secterian and fuedal identity .... that is when we become the nation you advocate in your comment.
26 November 2013, 00:20
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My friend, when I address the "Lebanese", this includes Hezbollah supporters as well as all others, my message is for everyone.
It may be a dream, but all I can do is express it in the hopes that at least some people will listen. Change has to start somewhere.
26 November 2013, 02:48
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Really sheykhna?
Tearing up the country for a Habib shartooni graffiti?
We have the f uped youth we deserve #papezz
26 November 2013, 03:07
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Remember the accord betwee Aoun and Ghiz-Ebola? Where are these people?
26 November 2013, 07:48
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you LF and kataeb why dont you learn from us !?? those people (hezeb ma bya3ref allah ) doesnt understand by words badkoun teferkoulon dayneton kil 3 or 4 months mara like what we do bel jabbal . geir haik ma byemshi el 7al
26 November 2013, 09:00
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Ishtiraki. True. Except that usj is 500 m from 7ayy el Lejah while the mountain is a fortress.
26 November 2013, 09:14
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sadiki lebanon first CHUIFATE is less then 100 meter away from hay el seloum , but any way those thugs are crossing the red lines and their motive is so obvious nwo they want t o cause war and control lebanon , thats their khamen2i orders .
26 November 2013, 09:32
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if you are not a wolf you will be eaten by dogs , education and class doesnt work or do any good when dealing with such thugs .
26 November 2013, 11:29
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The same fascist family and fascist militia that brought misery to Lebanon and mainly the Christians of Lebanon in the mid 70s is at it again. Arrest these heads of fitna and hang them now. After all, we did not see wonderboy get up in arms when wondercriminal told Achrafieh residents that the takfiris who invaded it are his minnohou.
26 November 2013, 12:13
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i started to realize that ounists want from hezbullah to control lebanon because its the only way that Aoun the puppet will see the presidency chair so don't count much on them .if there where some good people there they will leave his party .
