Bassil Says Zahrani Plant Shutdown a ‘Dangerous Precedent’
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Energy Minister Jebran Bassil said the shutdown of the Zahrani power plant was a “dangerous precedent,” adding it was a violation similar to the funding of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.
In remarks to al-Jadeed television, Bassil said: “What’s happening at this plant is a violation in addition to other violations carried out (in the country), including the funding of the tribunal.”
The minister was referring to Premier Najib Miqati’s announcement that he had transferred the funds to the STL that has indicted four Hizbullah members in the Feb. 2005 assassination of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri and 21 others.
“What is happening today didn’t even take place during the Lebanese (civil) war,” Bassil said. “The citizen shouldn’t be held responsible for the political bickering.”
But former Energy Minister Mohammed Abdul Hamid Baidoun told An Nahar newspaper that Bassil should clarify the reasons that led to the shutdown of the plant on Friday.
He should also announce the measures taken by his ministry to resolve the crisis, Baidoun said.
Electricite du Liban has said the shutdown came in protest at the transportation of a 40 MVA power transformer in the plant from Tyre to Sidon.
But media reports have said that the workers of the plant were avenging the payment of Lebanon’s funds to the STL.
The parliamentary energy committee should hold an emergency meeting “to investigate the case that destroys the economy and public life,” Baidoun said.
He wondered why the general prosecutor’s office hasn’t taken any action yet. “Why hasn’t it issued an arrest warrant yet?”
04 December 2011, 09:15
09
it would be nice if these so called citizens pay their electricity bill first :)
04 December 2011, 09:59
07
March 8 parties are their own worst enemies. Their bad judgment is getting worse. If shutting down the Zahrani plant is sending the Lebanese populace a message, it is loud & clear, but it's the wrong one. What will the Lebanese population retain from this message?
- That Hezbollah, Amal and Co. are out of control and that they are taking the population as hostage to further their political agendas.
- That, in Lebanon, there are two types of citizens: those who get away with murder and those who have to bear the burden of illegitimate actions.
- That if Aoun cannot even convince his own allies to turn the power back on, he's no more than a wind-up toy that can be turned on and off at will.
It is time for the "old opposition" to understand that it's no longer the opposition and that actions against the government will affect it more than anyone else... since it is the government. The majority of the people will, in the end, blame it for its lack of capacity to adapt to a new reality.
04 December 2011, 12:33
01
جميل لا كهرباء و لا ماء و لا طرقات و لا وظائف ولا بلد من الاساس !!
04 December 2011, 21:09
01
just keep on talking little minister... if the hezb wants to shut the plant as a threat to the country you can t do anything!
funny how as as minister of the gvt led by his party and his allies he doesn t do anything but keep on saying that his friends violates the laws! he is part of the same gvt but accuses his allies! aslan the FPM always accuse the others even now their friends!
so just resign like you said in front of all these "violations"! instead of crying like an offensed virgin....
but you don t have the guts to, as syria told you to shut up....
