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Mr Phillip Rizk,
President of The Australian Lebanese Association of
NSW
Distinguished guests, Ladies and
Gentlemen.
I will make clear at the start that this
organisation has never called for the removal of any Member of
Parliament, minister or leader.
Nor has it named any alternative in
their place therefore to label us a political party is totally
incorrect. As for addressing human rights issues in Lebanon or any
other part of the world our constitution binds us to do so. A few
examples:
1)
In the early 1900’s the Lebanese were
the first to demonstrate against the treatment of the Native South
Africans
2)
During those times it was the Lebanese
that spoke out against the treatment of the Aborigines in Australia
3)
And as recent as the early 70’s the
Lebanese around the world protested against the treatment of the
Palestinians in Palestine and that was before it was clear that their
intention of some Palestinians was to make Lebanon a Palestinian
state. The beginning of the defence of the Holy Land Lebanon.
Ladies and Gentlemen…
Becharee was not attacked in 1975
Becharee was not encircled in 1975
Becharee was not forced to defend the
very existence of Lebanon.
But Becharee –Saw the danger lights
flashing early
-The conversion of Lebanon into a
dictatorship was very much on the cards.
-Been over run by foreigners seemed even
more of a reality.
Did Becharee sit back and watch or just
try to keep Becharee safe. No!
Ladies and Gentlemen…
-As the guardians of the holy
cedars the young men and women of Becharee packed a few belongings and
headed to face the intruders at the very heart of Lebanon, Beirut and
eventually many parts of Lebanon.
-They went in their thousands, the
majority never to return.
-The heroics of their deeds cover many
pages of Lebanese modern history.
-The names of their fallen hero’s cover
the walls on the cathedral in Becharee, over 700 names that I counted
just ten days ago.
-For those that have left the shores of
their beloved Lebanon, they dwell in those foreign lands with high
distinction at heart.
-As for the Dr. Samir Geagea…
*A young man still on his honeymoon he
had a choice.
One hand:
*Any of 2 high Profile ministers
OR
*Leave your homeland with enough money
And all you have to do is
a)
dismantle the plans for reconciliation,
sovereignty and unity in
Lebanon
b) Turn a blind eye as the majority
eventually did
·
See no evil
·
Hear no evil
Reply holds very clear: No!
For that Ladies and Gentlemen he became
the Political Prisoner. You see the legal system in Lebanon could
only return an innocent as charged verdict on all
accounts.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
One could understand that after more
than 10 years in prison underground a man could have a different
opinion in life.
-Let me tell you this is very far from
the truth and reality.
On my recent visit to Lebanon Mrs S
Geagea was on of the people this branch wanted a meeting with and at
that meeting the topic was the doctor’s health. She stated that:
-While his physical health is not as
good as it was ten years back when you consider the treatment he has
faced, it’s quite good.
-As for the master plan that will lead
Lebanon to total sovereignty that is more alive today than it was ten
years ago.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
-What seems a very sad scenario at first
glance that is the departure of his men and women from Lebanon to the
four corners of the world, has converted the realistic vision to an
international agenda, that expert authorities around the world
identify as playing an integral role with other organisations
in turning the world focus onto Lebanon’s lack of sovereignty and the
non existence of basic human needs and rights for its people.
I will take this opportunity to put you
in the picture in regards to this organisations “mission statement”
Year 2001 between March & May
People, Michael Douiehi
Sheik Joe Arida
Joe Baini
Tony Saad
Myself
Many meetings and drafts that ended in a
mission statement that would be presented for acceptance at the world
AGM in Mexico. For the whole organisation
·
3 people attended that AGM from
Australia
·
Regional President at the time Mr
Michael Douiehi
·
Mr Antoine Ghanem President of the ALA
Queensland
·
Myself President of the ALA NSW
·
After the elections were completed time
was right for presentation.
-Michael Douiehi read the motion in
Arabic.
-Then I read it in English followed for
it to be seconded before a vote was to take place. Next to me a
gentleman by the name of Dr Rashid Rahme seconded the motion and the
voting was unanimous
·
Resulting in Australia writing the FIRST
MISSION STATEMENT for the whole organisation.
For those that were not at the
Independence Day 2002 in parliament house where the Regional
President Sheik Joe Arida reinforced the mission statement for the
organisation
·
Let me tell you in short it reads as
does UN Resolution 1559 with a few extras
1) The ability for all Lebanese Living
outside Lebanon to vote in
elections in Lebanon from the
countries they reside in.
2) We name Syria as the foreign occupier
of Lebanon
3) The unconditional return of General
Michael Aoan to Lebanon
4) The immediate release of Dr Samir
Geagea to continue in his quest
for the sovereignty of Lebanon and
the people.
I will conclude with a message from Mrs
Setrida Geagea the great woman behind a great man carrying the torch
higher and brighter than ever.
She said and I quote “The first visit
outside Lebanon for her and the Doctor will be Sydney Australia”
Thank you. |
