Al-Rahi Hails Suleiman's Stances: Those Adopting Autonomous Security Have No Faith in State
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi praised on Tuesday the stances of President Michel Suleiman that seek the interests of Lebanon and its constitutional institutions, criticizing powers that are skeptical of the army and security forces' competency in protecting Lebanon.
He said: “We have no need for autonomous security. Those who adopt such measures do not trust the state.”
He made his remarks before traveling to Rome on a week-long visit where he is scheduled to meet Pope Francis I.
“It is shameful for us to obstruct the role of the state and claim that it is unable to protect us,” al-Rahi added.
“We must all strengthen the state and pay the necessary taxes,” he continued.
“We must all abide by the law and preserve the state's institutions and security forces,” he remarked.
“We must abandon our personal and foreign interests for the sake of Lebanon,” he demanded.
Moreover, al-Rahi said that Suleiman needs the support of all sides in order to protect the country.
He said: “We must protect Lebanon through the Baabda Declaration.”
The patriarch added: “The president is the head of the country and he is calling for the assistance of all sides and we should therefore comply with his demands in order to complete the rest of the Lebanese body.”
“All sides should preserve the country and cooperate for the sake of the state,” al-Rahi stressed.
“A strong state protects us all, but a weak one won't be able to protect anyone,” he noted.
“We hope that Lebanon will be allowed to play its role as a message of diversity and act as an oasis in the Arab world,” he continued.
Hizbullah had set up checkpoints in and around its stronghold of Dahieh in Beirut's southern suburbs in light of a bombing in the Ruwais area.
Twenty-seven people were killed and 280 wounded in the bombing that took place on August 15.
A number of politicians have since criticized the party for its security measures, but Hizbullah officials have denied that they have adopted autonomous security measures with MP Mohammed Raad saying that the party had repeatedly urged the state's security forces to assume their duties in protecting Dahieh, but these demands were not fulfilled.
Caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel had stressed last week that only the state's security agencies are entitled to set up checkpoints.
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