March 14 Marks 8th Anniversary of Independence Uprising, Vows to Continue Struggle to Achieve 'Real Independence'
The March 14 alliance on Sunday commemorated the eighth anniversary of the 2005 Independence Uprising at the Beirut International Exhibition and Leisure Center (BIEL), amid the absence of its top leaders over security fears.
“I'm truly confident that March 14 will go on,” head of al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc, former premier Fouad Saniora, vowed in a brief speech at the rally.
“We will continue our struggle to achieve the real independence of Lebanon,” Saniora pledged.
The coalition takes its name from the historic demonstration in downtown Beirut's Martyrs Square on March 14, 2005 that ultimately led to the withdrawal of Syrian forces from Lebanon in the aftermath of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's assassination.
“The day of March 14 stands for the idea of Lebanon and the meaning of being Lebanese,” said journalist Ali Hamadeh in his speech.
“We gather today to say, in the name of the martyrs and all the Lebanese, that March 14 is the protector of the country, its people and its future,” Hamadeh added.
Addressing March 14's leaders, Hamadeh said: “You are our representatives, but enough with concessions.”
Hamadeh also saluted the "the revolution of the Syrian people.”
Fourteen March 14 activists delivered speeches commemorating the anniversary at the rally, taking center stage amid the absence of the movement's top leaders.
“Lebanon does not bear divisions and we need to work hand in hand in order to build it,” activist Elie Fawaz said.
“It is difficult for Hizbullah to hand over its arms, but it is not impossible,” he noted.
March 14 activist Magaly al-Hajj said “we have the right to live in a state that is not controlled by the army of another state.”
She also admitted that “March 14 needs change” and that the “entire scene” in Lebanon needs change.
“The loyalists of Syria and (Syrian President) Bashar Assad will not defeat us because there is justice in this universe,” she stressed.
Activist Mohammed Handoush, who hails from northern Lebanon, said “martyrs build a nation, but compromises destroy it."
"Where is security in our country while prison guards are being taken hostage at the hand of inmates," said acitivist Randa Maarabouni.
Referring to ex-PM Rafik Hariri, activist Nadine Kahil said: "They feared the giant who built Lebanon, so they assassinated him."
Activist Edmund Rabbat underlined that March 14's supporters are "free, independent and daring," noting that "they sometimes seem to be more daring than their official leadership."
For his part, March 14 activist Karim al-Rifai said "Yes to the Lebanese army that challenged the decision of the (Syrian) hegemony authority in 2005, foiled the Syrian plot in Nahr al-Bared and confronted Israel in Adaisseh" in southern Lebanon.
“No to any armed militias, whether Shiite or Sunni,” Rifai added.
“We tell all the militias that are threatening Lebanon that we will not allow them to maintain their presence and we won't allow the return of the civil war,” he went on to say.
Rifai called on the Lebanese army to protect citizens “inside the country and in border areas and to protect Akkar's residents from the crimes of the Syrian regime.”
“We will not arm ourselves and we will not allow the Free (Syrian) Army or al-Nusra Front to defend us against any Lebanese party,” Rifai reassured.
“We tell the Assad regime and the Iranian regime and we tell March 8 and March 14 that we have returned for the sake of Lebanon,” he added.
March 14 activist Cherine Abdullah reminisced that “eight years have passed and many parties tried to divide us and to drive a wedge between us.”
But she stressed that “nothing can impede the idea of March 14” if its components maintain their “strength and solidarity.”
Activist George Droubi, who hails from Tripoli's el-Mina area, said March 14 “diagnosed Lebanon's disease and found the cure which is the civil state.”
“We do not fear you or your weapons and assassinations, we rather fear for our country, and March 14 is a lifestyle and we are its guardians,” said activist Carol Maalouf.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Left Movement announced in a statement that its representatives walked out of the BIEL rally in protest at “some parties' insistence on their improper approach in dealing with the movement, which had the honor of playing a pioneering role in the Independence Uprising.”
“It seems that these parties cannot tolerate a different viewpoint in the March 14 camp, which is insisting on its alienation,” the statement added.
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