Gemayel Warns against Politicizing Samaha Case, Lauds Rifi and al-Hassan

Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel hailed on Monday the efforts exerted by Internal Security Chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi and head of the Information Branch Col. Wissam al-Hassan for averting a plot targeting Lebanon, warning against any attempt to politicize the investigations over the issue.

“It is a humanitarian achievement that saved the lives of innocent people,” Gemayel told reporters during a press conference at his residence in Bikfaya.

He also lauded the judiciary for issuing arrest warrants against Syrian officials for the first time, describing it as “brave.”

The March 14 official warned against tampering with the security and judicial affairs in an attempt to obstruct the investigations with ex-Health Minister Michel Samaha.

Samaha was arrested on Thursday following information that he was planning various attacks in Lebanon.

“We will confront any attempts to politicize the issue and distort the facts,” Gemayel said.

The Military Tribunal charged on Saturday Samaha and Syrian security Chief Maj. Gen. Ali Mamlouk with forming a group to commit crimes in Lebanon.

Some reports said that they were planning on carrying out attacks against various political and religious figures in Lebanon.

Gemayel called on the cabinet to take swift and effective measures in order to safeguard the country, slamming its policy to disassociate itself from the developments in the region while Lebanon is being “under attack.”

He noted that the case of Samaha requires the government to re-evaluate its official links with the current Syrian regime.

“The cabinet should convene with one article on its agenda, which is to tackle the plot targeting Lebanon,” the Phalange chief stressed.

He pointed out that the security agreement with Syria should be suspended “immediately,” demanding to “free Lebanon from any similar cooperation or coordination.”

He also called on the cabinet to provide the Arab League, the United Nations and the Security Council with the all the available information concerning the Syrian violations.

“The Security Council resolution 1701 should include the deployment of UNIFIL along the Lebanese-Syrian border,” Gemayel said.

He urged the cabinet to recall the Arab and European countries ambassadors to brief them on “the Syrian aggression plot against Lebanon to avert the danger against us.”

Concerning his party’s participation in Thursday’s national dialogue session, Gemayel criticized the army-people-resistance formula, describing it as “heresy.”

He said that his party is consulting with its March 14 allies to take a joint stance regarding our participation in the national dialogue.

March 14 had tied its participation to a government decision to provide security agencies with the so-called telecom data to help them investigate assassination attempts against MP Butros Harb and Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea.

The telecom data has since been handed over to the security apparatuses.

Another reason for the boycott was Hizbullah MP Mohammed Raad’s announcement that the national defense strategy is not currently necessary because Lebanon is still in the liberation stage.

On the electoral draft law that was approved by the cabinet last week, Gemayel said that the proposed draft law “is an advanced announcement of the polls result.”

The cabinet on Tuesday approved an electoral law based on proportional representation and 13 districts.

He deemed it as an attempt to disregard Bkirki’s committee initiative and that of the civil society.

The Bkirki committee includes representatives of the four major Christian parties in Lebanon, formed by the Maronite patriarchate, to study the electoral draft law.

The first proposal made by Christian parties at the seat of the Maronite church was based on dividing Lebanon to small districts that do not surpass 3 seats each and the other called for proportionality based on 15 districts.