Al-Rahi: Political Powers Responsible for Army Casualties in Arsal Clash
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi condemned on Sunday the recent clash in the Bekaa town of Arsal that left two army officers dead.
He said during his Sunday sermon: “We hold political powers responsible for their deaths due to their covering up of such assaults against the army and security forces.”
Furthermore, he added: “They are the victims of the so-called consensual security being imposed in Lebanon.”
Two officers were killed on Friday in Arsal as the army was attempting to apprehend a wanted suspect, who was also killed in the clashes.
The patriarch therefore called for fortifying the internal security scene “by eliminating the possession of illegal arms and the phenomenon of consensual security.”
The state should prevent riots, kidnappings, the blocking of roads, occupation of buildings and public institutions, and “pointless open-ended strikes,” al-Rahi said in reference to the Syndicate Coordination Committees' announcement of an open-ended strike over the government's failure to refer the new wage scale decree to parliament.
“The social and security stability will provide economic stability,” he explained.
The cabinet has stalled in finding sources to fund the new wage scale that was approved in 2012, leading to growing differences with the SCC, which has been accusing it of negligence.
The SCC said it would take “fateful” measures in February in order to tackle the government's negligence.
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://naharnet.com/stories/en/70583 |