Jumblat Blasts Iran over Prisoner Swap, Warns of 'Disastrous Results' of 'Sectarian Electoral' Law
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat criticized Iran on Monday for failing to seek the release of nine Lebanese pilgrims held hostage by rebels in Syria since last May.
He said in his editorial in the PSP-affiliated al-Anbaa that Tehran could have included the Lebanese abductees in the negotiation process that led to the release of 48 Iranians last week.
The Iranians held hostage by rebels for more than five months in Syria were freed in a prisoner exchange after the rebels agreed to swap them for more than 2,000 detainees held by the Syrian regime.
The swap was arranged through mediation by Turkey and Qatar, according to several sources.
Eleven Lebanese pilgrims were seized by rebels in the northern province of Aleppo on their way back home from pilgrimage in Iran last May. Two have so far been released but the other nine remain kidnapped in the Aleppo town of Aaazaz.
“This incident is proof to the Lebanese parties that states only care for their direct interests,” Jumblat said.
He advised the major political parties in Lebanon “not to fall in the trap of commitment with foreign sides because they simply care about their private plans even if they come at the expense of the Lebanese and their freedom.”
Turning to the latest controversy on an electoral draft-law ahead of this year's parliamentary polls, Jumblat reiterated his call for the adoption of a law that unites the Lebanese rather than causes more sectarian divisions among them.
“Why don't we create a positive shock and make a leap towards a unique Lebanese Electoral Spring that liberates the parliament from sectarian representation?” the PSP chief asked.
He called for the formation of a senate that would have the authority to deal with major national issues.
“It is about time for the Lebanese to have an electoral law that unites them and finds common ground among them rather than adopting suggestions that cause sectarian divisions and take them centuries backwards,” he wrote.
Jumblat believed that the “Lebanese are capable of overcoming fake confessional barriers if they had the right political and electoral foundations.”
“Any proposal that comes outside this framework would only lead to dangerous and disastrous consequences in the short and long term,” he warned.
His remarks were a clear hint of his rejection of the so-called Orthodox Gathering proposal which has also been criticized by President Michel Suleiman, al-Mustaqbal movement and several March 14 independent Christian officials.
The proposal divides Lebanon into a single district and allows each sect to elect its own MPs based on a proportional representation system.
14 January 2013, 16:49
35
I am sure that Shia will do better than Nassralla and Berri and Christians than Geagea and Aoun, etc... These politicians will lead us to hell. They consider their followers as sheep. Lebanon has not progressed in years, in fact the situation is getting worse. It does not matter who rules , 14 or 8. Think about it.
15 January 2013, 17:48
00
the filthy zionist is "sure"
you were sure that would end war in 3 days in 2006...and than it turned out that after day 33 only sure thing was that you're going down..
so when you are "sure" it's an evidence of the opposite.
14 January 2013, 16:12
20
shame on you. We are all Lebanese and brothers. This law is a sectarian law and will further take this country into the sewers of segregation and turmoil.
14 January 2013, 16:13
10
Iran isn't your daddy. You have interests in common with each other. But they are not there to deal with every single issue you have. Take some responsibility and get things done in your own. What efforts have you made so far to release your 9 prisoners? I see you casting blame, but hear nothing of any efforts on your part.
14 January 2013, 16:16
10
By the way this law will not go through. If you understood Lebanese politics this is just a hot air ballon to get amateurs busy with it until a lost minute law is approved.
14 January 2013, 16:21
10
Well Christians are now less than 40 % and they are over presented with the orthodox law. So who told you druze are 5%, if we do the polls again well see who's true size is.
14 January 2013, 16:27
37
you too.. another idiot. when are you guna learn to stop taking sides against each other over politics.. seriously man. there is a country called lebanon.. not states for sruze w sinni w sh3i w masi7i w ballout. side up together against all the theives thats robbing your lives.. not against one another
14 January 2013, 17:48
22
@jabalamel
There is more to the world than Zionism. You should look it up.
14 January 2013, 16:36
10
I a dure Shi'a can do better than Nasralla. For sure. Man all those politicians are corrupt. Jumblat puts forward a good question " why didn't Iran negotiate the release of the Lebanese hostages. They go 44 iranians back while they gave them 2000 prisoners. They could have negotiated the release of 10 Lebanese. Think about it.
14 January 2013, 16:36
10
christians are screwed soon. terror terror everywhere...but nowhere to escape ....muahahahah...you can get whatever electoral law you want but you will not escape the rule of Allah. the sword is coming.
14 January 2013, 16:47
38
That is a sectarian remark. Not nice. We are all Lebanese and should look upon each others as brothers. This law is a disaster to Lebanon and will keep us in this sectarian system that will lead us all to oblivion.
14 January 2013, 16:53
93
the filthy zionist scum took another nickname and now is preaching to patriotic lebanese about sectarianism
14 January 2013, 16:56
35
What about his comment on Iran. All but ignored that comment. The poor Lebanese pilgrims are in captivity and Iran swaps 44 of its nationals for 2000 Syrian prisoners. They for some reason did not include the Lebanese in the deal. What a Shame. Tells you that Lebanese should look out for each other and do not rely on the outside for support.
14 January 2013, 17:56
32
gcb1 your dealing with an uneducated group who were brought up by families that are frozen in time and see things black or white with no deviation whatsoever. They can't rationalize nor use more then 1% of their brain - it's forbidden! AKA perfect HA candidates for conditioning and recruiting.
14 January 2013, 17:46
34
This Orthodox law will only divide us. Political partiies would only have the incentive to serve citizens of their own sect, and it would increase sectarianism. Those that support this law are sectarian-minded individuals that are bringing Lebanon back to the mentality of the civil war. It is shameful and a disgrace.
Why don't we create a law that would give rise to the politics of ideas, rather than the politics of sect?
14 January 2013, 17:54
10
whatever is the reason behind what jumblat said....this is the right way to go forward,bravo walid beik well said but continue to say the same.
14 January 2013, 18:46
13
Look we have to all understand one fact. To become a secular country we all have to be united under one cultural hegemony. We unfortunately in Lebanon have different cultural hegemonies realated to our respective religions and that will always be the case. The turbulence stems from the fact that we as a nation are a mix of different cultures with different values. Remove all sunnis and christians from Lebanon and you will have another Iran. Remove all Christians and Shiaas from Lebanon and you will have another Saudi Arabia. Remove all Shiaas and Sunnis from Lebanon and you will have another France. And in the three cases you will probably live in peace. So please stop talking about how sectarian this electoral draft law is. The fabric of our country needs it. We will all be happier from the inside.
14 January 2013, 18:54
01
the lebanese actual system is a ta2ifi system , and who denies this is living in lala land , so the orthodox law does not change anything it gives every party its real size and this is democracy
14 January 2013, 22:49
11
"“Why don't we create a positive shock and make a leap towards a unique Lebanese Electoral Spring that liberates the parliament from sectarian representation?” This sounds like a great idea - but how can it really be implemented in Lebanon? Maybe we cannot get rid of sectarianism over night, but we need to start somewhere...
14 January 2013, 22:52
30
The filthy jabalamel irani loyalist is preaching to other Lebanese about being patriotic...
15 January 2013, 17:48
10
the filthy zionist scum is using my language against me.
so uncapable to think anything on his own
so pathetic.
14 January 2013, 22:58
31
The end result of proposing a law that violates the Taef Accord such as Orthodox Gathering, is civil chaos and resentment. In some instances, some laws degrade and/or become defective over time and must be amended by the competent authorities responsible for it. If the Taef Accord has become defective in that it no longer accurately represents the proportionality of each sect on the ground then the Lebanese government has a responsibility to reform it instead of creating new laws that violate it. That's what responsible and democratic governments do. Better yet, remove all religion from government and move into the 21st century already!
14 January 2013, 23:15
00
It would seem to me that most people would support removing religion from gov't if their individual rights could be preserved and guaranteed by the state. As we have weak civil institutions we fall back on the only thing we (mistakenly) think can support us-sectarianism. Lebanon is in a state of arrested development, not having been able to evolve much beyond a feudal society - weird mix of capitalist economy and feudal politics. We are still run by a bunch of mafioso's who depend on maintaining the status quo and until we really decide we've had enough they'll just continue,,,I really want to believe what Junblatt is saying, but can we really expect anything of value from the same bunch of psychopaths?
15 January 2013, 00:34
10
Well said WJ - the lebanese are taking a huge step backward by even thinking about something so deeply sectarian and anti constitutional as this orthodox law. i want to be able to pick whoever I want regardless of who they are or what their religion is .. as long as he is from an area where I live and ork and hopefully understand the local needs. These guys then should work together for the betterment of lebanon and the lebanese
15 January 2013, 13:49
00
All political leaders in Lebanon are trying to protect their own turf and interests...and Jumblatt is no different!
15 January 2013, 17:51
00
see how zionist filth, under different nickname congratulate jumblat.
you put too high hopes in him
but yo put too high hopes on anything
15 January 2013, 17:53
00
the filthy zionist first disapproved the election law and than realized the dividing potential of it, so now he supports it
did you ask your mossad supervisor before changing tune?
