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Human Rights Action Alert # 1 |
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Human Rights Action Alert October 18, 2000
Subject: The wave of arrests continues in Lebanon ========================================================================== The Lebanese authorities continue to conduct a campaign of terror against members of the disbanded Lebanese Forces Party. Informed sources report on arbitrary arrests, daily interrogations, intimidation and harassment. Your urgent help is needed to safeguard the lives and the integrity of those targeted and the preservation of Freedom in Lebanon. Background: The Lebanese Forces dismantled its military machine and transformed into a political party in early 90s. In 1992, Dr. Samir Geagea, the leader of the Lebanese Forces Party, refused to accept a Ministerial Post in the Government and proceeded to boycott the elections held under Syrian hegemony. In 1994, the government falsely accused the Lebanese Forces of the church bombing in Zouk (Eastern sector of Beirut) and disbanded the party and arrested Dr. Geagea who was held in the Ministry of Defense Jail where he remains in solitary confinement. The Lebanese Forces was acquitted from the charges but the government proceeded to open the war files in violation of the General Amnesty Law and managed to fabricate charges against the organizations’ leader and members. A campaign of arrests was conducted against the members of the party jailing many and forcing others to flee the country. Throughout the 90’s the campaign of terror continued despite the fact that loyal members of this party kept a low profile and signed agreements (under pressure and intimidation) pledging not to engage in any political activities. On September 14 and 17, 2000 marking the anniversary of the death of late president Bachir al Gemayel, founder of the Lebanese Forces, and the anniversary of the Lebanese Forces Martyrs, tens of thousands of members and loyal supporters of the party took the streets in a peaceful demonstration demanding the restoration of their rights of freedom of speech and opinion provided by the Lebanese Constitution. Following the two events, the government proceeded to arrest a large number of them on daily basis without issuing any warrants and to conduct interrogations using forceful means and violating their right by denying them access to a lawyer.
Methods of arrests: The Secret Services deploy their agents, in either plain or military uniforms, to the location of the targeted individuals at various hours of the night (mostly after midnight) and proceed to storm the home while people are sleeping and detain, handcuff and blindfold each subject. Subjects are brought to the Ministry of Defense or to a nearby Intelligence Centers such as the ones in Tripoli, Hadath al Jibbi, Zalka, Ashrafieh, and Beirut. Upon their arrival to the location, subjects’ heads are covered with bags made of material. Another way to arrests them is by calling them to appear before the interrogative officer on a certain day. When the subject arrives, he/she, despite previous promises of good treatment, is blindfolded and handcuffed
Questions asked and duration of investigation: Subjects are asked about the identities of their comrades and their meeting places. They are asked about the topics discussed during their meetings (despite the fact that their right to a gathering of more than three people at the same time and place is denied). They want to know whether they have contact with the wife of Dr. Samir Geagea and whether she is active and giving instructions. The interrogation period ranges from 4 to 12 hours dependent on the cooperation (or forced cooperation) of the subject. The duration of arrests vary from half a day to several days and then released after being beaten, insulted and warned. Other methods used range from threats to offering perks or guarantees of no more harassment. Let it be known that even when subjects agree and sign confessions that they have not given, those agents never leave them alone.
Names of those arrested: The following
are the names of the persons who were subjected to the above
methods. Please note
that the names provided are small percentage of those truly
arrested. Other
members fear retaliation and would not like their names mentioned.
Some of them say that they have been enduring this treatment for
over 6 years and they do not want their cases to be worsened. · On September 17, 2000, the government arrested twenty members of the Lebanese Forces from Becharri, Hadshit, and Hardine. · On September 18, 2000, the government arrested Fadi al Shamati, Selman Smeha, Joseph Rahme, Tony Kayrouz, Charbel Tok, Milad Tok, Charbel Imad, Ghandi Rahme and 17 others. · On October 3, 2000, the government arrested Miled Assaf in Ein al Remmaneh and Reymond Sikkar in Becharry (the home town of Dr. Samir Geagea and a staunch supporter of the Lebanese Forces) · On October 4, 2000, the government arrested Nabil Abou Shakra in Ashrafieh · On October 12, 2000, the government arrested in Ashrafieh the following persons: Fady Sayegh, Tony Sayegh, Vincent Sippo, Michel Sippo, Fares Traboulsi, Raphael Abboud, Dany Mizher, Tony Salamoun, Wael Nahas, Jawad Daou, Chadi Aoun, Emile Moukarzel, Elie Abdo, Pierre Karim, Eddy Abillamah, Pierre Adam, Chamoun Fayad, Elie Tarantic, and Ghassan Azzouz. · On October 9-12, 2000, the government arrested Charbel Eid, Semaan Sarkis, Tannous Eid, Joseph Ishak (Chief deputy of Hasroun municipality in North Lebanon), Daniel bou Cheiban, George Zena, Nabil Geagea, Emile Shibly, Marwan Moubarak, Paul Al-Shaair, Carlos Ishak, Saliba Saker and others. · On October 10, 2000, the government arrested a large unknown number of Lebanese Forces members and supporters in the North of Lebanon. · On October 17, 2000, the government arrested Farah Hadchity, Tony Said Tawk and Ghazi Geagea, member of the Municipal Council in Becharry · October 18, 2000, the Government arrested Pierre Boulos and Garo in Ashrafieh · On October 18, 2000, a Press Release was featured in al Safir Newspaper in Lebanon condemning the arrests conducted by the government against a large number of Kataeb* members in the city of Zahle. * The Kataeb Party includes many supporters of the Lebanese Forces Party. Some of the
above mentioned persons were released after long hours of
investigation and harassment but they stand a chance to be
arrested again as it happened in the past many times. Your help is
urgently needed to restore freedom in Lebanon and to protect the
oppressed. Please
write letters to the following:
Name, Title, Fax, e-mail
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