Aoun Says Will not Sit Idly by as Dispute over Army Chief Grows
Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun issued on Saturday another warning against the extension of the term of the army chief, accusing some parties of practicing dictatorship.
“We will not sit idly by to the manipulation of the law with regards to the military,” Aoun told a delegation that visited him at his residence in Rabieh.
“Such a move would have severe repercussions,” he warned.
“The extension of terms of the army chief, military intelligence and the Internal Security Forces leader are illegitimate. This harms the morale of the officers,” he said.
Aoun has been lobbying for political consensus on the appointment of Commando Regiment chief Brig. Gen. Chamel Roukoz, his son-in-law, as army chief.
His efforts have put the cabinet in paralysis. FPM officials have warned that Change and Reform bloc ministers would block any cabinet decision before security appointments are made.
But rival parties are prone to extend the term of Army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji, whose term expires in September.
“The disgraceful decisions should be abolished,” Aoun said in reference to the ongoing efforts to extend Qahwaji's tenure.
“We will remain righteous even if they were not abolished,” he warned.
“Some sides backed by certain parliamentary blocs are practicing a dictatorship and not taking into consideration the posts that belong to Christians,” the MP said.
“They are incapable of taking any decision to preserve the country,” he added.
Aoun's remarks and doubts about the army leadership have drawn criticism from several March 14 alliance officials.
During his speech Saturday, the FPM chief, who is a member of the Hizbullah-led March 8 alliance, accused his rivals of allowing jihadists to enter the country from Syria.
“When the war in Syria started, we advised them to preserve Lebanon ... but they gave up Lebanon's sovereignty in favor of the gunmen,” he said.
“Today the resistance is clearing the border area. We hope it would be done with this issue to devote itself to other issues,” he said in reference to Hizbullah.
Hizbullah has intervened militarily in Syria on behalf of President Bashar Assad, saying it is protecting Lebanon from the threat of jihadists.
A joint Hizbullah-Syrian army offensive to clear the border area of rebels began about a month ago.
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