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Equality and Justice in Lebanon Today!!!
Joe Chidiac
People with disabilities are united by the pursuit of a common goal.
The goal being the full and equal participation in the life of their
respective societies. Disabled people yearn to end the hurtful
discrimination that exists in all our countries. Access to employment,
education, religious worship and basic services are our human right
and in saying this, it is without doubt every disabled person’s
aspiration to achieve equality and access without sympathy.
Lebanon has unfortunately once to often proved it is unable to fulfil
its duties towards people with disabilities, often treating disabled
men and woman as second-class citizens and often segregating or
separating individuals from society. Lebanon’s government choses to
impose it’s laws only on the volnrable, poor, the sick or the needy.
Instead of protecting they chose torture those that bare such a heavy
load in life.
I
vigorously ask and urge that you do not absorb what is here told in
anyway that even suggests that I am seeking sympathy. Speaking out may
help the world realise that Lebanon’s government is neither caring nor
legal, and that the people that are burdened mostly are the needy.
On
June 6,2004 I flew out of Sydney bound for Helsinki-Finland where I
coached The Australian Electric Wheelchair Hockey team in the team’s
first World Cup campaign. Six months of hard work soon paid off with
the relatively new Australian team finishing in fourth place and
earning an invitation to compete in next years European cup in Italy.
Electric Wheelchair Hockey is striving to become a Paralympic Sport by
the year 2008.
Countless hours of fly time, climate adjustment and a week of intense
competition had finally come to an end, and it was now time to
continue on my journey to Lebanon.
On
my arrival to Beirut International Airport on June 15, 2004, it was
clearly evident that Lebanon was not equipped with the facilities
required to accommodate to the needs of people with disabilities,
however the purpose for the visit was to give my mum the opportunity
to see my aging grandmother and thus the visit would be deemed worthy
under any reasonable difficulties. Mum was scheduled to meet my dad
and I, a week after our arrival, once the specialist had cleared her
to travel after a knee operation.
Whilst being processed through customs, I felt concerned. The Lebanese
government attempts to portray a Lebanon that has overcome previous
equality problems and is in line with world standards in respect to
discrimination and human rights issues however my fears were still
unmistakable, even though I knew my disability created most of the
abnormal attention. After a short delay my passport was stamped with a
visa.
I
was not told on my arrival, that I might have difficulties on my
departure. In fact I was hopeful that on my departure I would have no
concerns because I had planned to have my Lebanese identity documents
established (Akhraj aid). I would be departing as a Lebanese citizen.
After a stay of two and a half months, which included more surgery on
my mum’s knee and airline delays we finally had the 24th
August 2004 confirmed as our departure date.
On
the 24th August 2004 we entered Beirut International
Airport unaware that the systematic betrayal and injustice that the
Lebanese people have had to endure from all government bodies and
officials over many years was just about to be carried out on us.
Once our emotional
goodbyes had completed we entered customs at 12:37pm for the initial
baggage check and immediately faced problems, with the wheelchair
controller deemed to be dangerous. The baggage check officer had
suggested that we place the controller in the larger suite case, as
this was going to be position in the cargo area of the plane and was
unreachable. After explaining that the item was to value of three
thousand ($3000) the officer then explained that he was willing to let
the item stay in our possession however the concluding baggage checks
might not allow this and might take the controller into their
possession during the flight. We explained that this was a better
option and proceeded to the Malaysian check in counter.
At
the check in counter our names were taken and the appropriate staff
were called to attend to the needs that were conveyed to them by the
travel agent via the appropriate documentation that were required by
the airline, before our initial departure from Sydney.
The
manager approached us and began to explain the procedures that would
be carried out through customs. The manager explained that I would
need to hand my wheelchair over to them immediately and that I was
unable to proceed with my wheelchair to the gate, unlike the
procedures exercised at other International airports. A wheelchair was
to be organised to take me to the plane but this however became of
great concern to my father and I because of the fact I have a
stainless steal rod in my back that requires support given by the
backrest and cushion on my own wheelchair.
Several attempts to persuade the manager that I required my own
wheelchair were made without any success. The manager repeatedly
saying that the airport was not equipped with a lift to transfer the
chair from the gate to the cargo area of the plane and that he was not
willing to return the chair through customs to have it transported
down.
I
was shocked to learn that the wheelchair they wanted me to sit in was
not actually a wheelchair used to transport people with disabilities
around in normal situations but in fact it was a wheelchair meant only
for usage inside aeroplanes. No side supports, foot rests or proper
back cushioning meant that this chair would normally be required to be
used for a maximum of ten minutes under normal conditions.
Forced to accept I knew that my only chance of minimal suffering and
or damage would be to have support from my father which meant that he
would basically have to hold and support me in the chair provided.
It
was now 1:30pm and after waiting for the manager to assign a helper,
we headed towards customs to submit our departure documents. At the
first checkpoint, we submitted our passports only to learn that the
departure cards that were meant to be completed by us hadn’t been
given to us by the airline.
The
man assigned to aid us, returned to get them and then helped us to
complete them. Once presented, we were told to proceed to the final
customs checkpoint.
At
the final checkpoint the officer accepted the appropriate documents
and one by one began stamping the departure cards until he reached my
documents. He then suddenly stopped and requested one of the superior
officers. After deliberating, the superior officer left and entered
his office where he seemed to take forever to return. He returned to
collect the other documents and whilst doing so, the officer suggested
that maybe by stamping the passport with a visa he would solve the
problem.
At
this point it was still unclear what the problem was, however we
interrupted and presented the superior officer with my Lebanese
Identity document. He took the documents and re-entered his office.
Several minutes past before the superior officer emerged and whilst
walking towards us advised us that I would need a document from The
Ministry of Defence excusing me from serving in the Lebanese Army and
if I didn’t have this now I wouldn’t be allowed to board the plane.
My
dad unable to let go of me because of my seating asked my mum who was
herself, feeling the pain after being subjected to over an hour of
standing, to support me so that he could reach for an Identity
document that proved I was the only son. This is one of the criteria’s
used to gain pardoning from serving in the army.
The
superior officer then asked my father to follow him with the document
into the office. My dad repeatedly explained that he couldn’t leave me
because of my inability to support myself and that my mum was also
unable to do so. Their inability to comprehend meant that my dad
followed him only to return fuming at what he had heard.
Whilst with the superior in the office, the superior made a phone call
to explain the situation to the head of customs, who is situated on
the second floor (one floor above us). The head of customs bluntly
rejected clearing my departure and ordered us to obtain the specified
paperwork before I could depart.
At
this point it became impossible to keep the matter under control, as
both my parents could not hold back their anger and emotions. I
managed to calm them and gained their attention, reminding my dad that
I had applied for and obtained a Disability card whilst in Lebanon
which was issued by a government body and approved by a government
doctor in Tripoli.
At
this point they asked us to move to a different location, which was
closer to the office and whilst doing so my dad suggested the
Disability card to the officer. Unaware that the card might be of some
use we left it with my aunty who had left the airport. After gaining
some positive feedback from the officer I made the call to my aunty to
head back to the airport with the card. The aid assigned to help us
volunteered to wait for my aunty outside in order to save some time.
The plane was scheduled to take off at 3 pm and the time was fast
approaching.
Whilst waiting for the arrival of the card the superior officer seemed
to get frustrated with our presence and the tension began to deepen.
My dad offered to show him the scares of my operation for the rod but
he refused to even look and soon after offered my dad the opportunity
to meet the head of customs on the second floor to plead our case,
however my dad refused and explained that he was unable to leave me
and if the head of customs did not believe what you had conveyed to
him why would he believe me.
My
dad then asked the superior officer to contact the head of customs and
ask him to come down and see for himself that I am not only unable to
serve in the army but that I have sufficient evidence to excuse me
from the army without the documentation from The Ministry of Defence
but the officer laughed, saying he could only provide us with the
number. My dad quickly refused knowing all to well that the only
reason they wanted him to go up was to be able to accept a bribe
completely out of the view of other officers.
I
made several attempts to talk to the officer myself, but it was to no
avail. Almost at the age of thirty I was being treated as a
second-class citizen. Equality was non-existent in Lebanon. In fact I
felt non-existent.
The
aid soon returned with the Disability card and handed it over to the
officer. Once again he called the head of customs, which we later
learned to be Officer Bou Khezem, but like previously he declined to
issue me with clearance.
After exhausting all avenues with no success it was now a quarter to
three. The officer disrespectfully told us to return to the check in
desk and ask that our luggage and wheelchair be returned to us from
the plane before the plane took off, with them.
With no other option but to return and my parents searing they began
to raise their voices, hollering abuse at the dictatorial way the
government was and the actual puppet regime that existed that has over
decades lead to the mistreatment of the Lebanese people. Screaming and
yelling, “This is the Lebanon they want us to return too”, “This is
the advanced Lebanon not the one they try to portray” and “They want
my son to go to the army, this is their civilised Lebanon”
It
is rare that I would accept and condone an activity that would bring
greater attention on myself, however I felt that the actions of my
parents were not out of place and surprisingly this was demonstrated
by some airport official’s who seemed as surprised as we were, and by
other officials who would not be game enough to respond, ask or
interrupt the actions of both my parents.
The
back pain that I was forced to endure, after being subjected to
sitting in an inappropriate chair meant that I was unable to fully
absorb the emotions of what had taken place.
At
the check in counter the young lady by the name of Nisrin showed great
compassion. She organised to have our luggage and my chair returned to
me, and repeatedly attempted to calm my parents, often saying that,
this is the Lebanon, which we have to live in, day in day out. My
father began to contact our relatives to ask them to re-organise the
car, which we had rented for our stay, as this was my only form of
transport. The trip to the airport had required three cars to take our
luggage and the rented vehicle to take my wheelchair and I.
On
exiting the airport customs area we were met by outraged relatives.
We
obtained possible departure dates at which was dependant on how
quickly we could obtain the required documents, and requested the name
of the head of customs for our records.
Wednesday 25th August 2004 I visited a doctor to obtain a
medical opinion on my back. After a thorough check up the Dr explained
that the pain would continue for a few more days and that a repeat of
such trauma can lead to pressure sours among other things that can be
life threatening. Painkillers were prescribed and another appointment
scheduled.
The
document required in order for me to depart could be obtained without
my presence from the Ministry of Defence so plans were made to have a
relative attend the Ministry the next day.
Early Thursday 26th August 2004, my relative obtained a
document allowing me to depart from Lebanon. This was after a
three-hour wait at the Ministry of Defence. This document is not a
pardoning from the army. In fact the document states only that I am
able to leave Lebanon. The document excusing me from serving in the
army altogether will not be complete until February next year. Whilst
at the Ministry the events were described to an official and his
comments were that it was unusual for such actions.
I contacted the Australian embassy and endeavoured to talk to the
Australian ambassador. Unfortunately the staff, at the embassy is
deeply influenced by the puppet regime. Staff repeatedly said that
they were unable to do anything and that any complaints were to be
made in person. Staff seemed desperate to avoid what I had to say and
wanted to get rid of me as soon as possible. Attempts to contact the
Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir via his secretary were made without
any success.
Later that afternoon it was confirmed that we could depart on Friday
27th of August 2004 by the airline. The flight was not
direct and required us to spend nine extra hours in Malaysia. We
decided to accept the flight because if an issue arose it would be
possible to contact the various institutions (Ministry or the Car
rental company) rather than fly out on the weekend.
We departed on Friday the 27th August and arrived in Sydney
on Sunday 29th August at 6 am.
Let it be known, I would be proud to serve the Lebanese people by
means of serving in the army, however the Lebanese people have been
left behind and are outsiders in deciding vital national issues.
Serving in the army would currently be serving the continued
dictatorship that exists in Lebanon.
In order to serve and uphold Lebanon’s true identity we must unit and
support the cause of a free democratic and sovereign Lebanon
Strength and knowledge in testifying for the truth
will bring about equality and justice.
Joe
Chidiac
Sydney
29
September 2004
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