Single minds, double standards, and plural societies: One month on in Lebanon

Fatima Gate on the Lebanon-Israeli border near the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila. The gate was one of many crossing points that the Israeli army constructed to sustain the occupation of southern Lebanon. (Arjan El Fassed)
---

Once again, it seems that US President George W. Bush has declared victory and "mission accomplished" far too early: The heralded "Lebanese Spring," which Washington's PR experts quickly dubbed the "Cedar Revolution," has not been a slam-dunk validation of US Middle East policies after all. Just ten days after stepping down from the position of prime minister in President Emile Lahoud's government, Omar Karameh is about to step back into place again.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Syrians took to the streets of Damascus declaring their loyalty to President Bashar al-Assad even as Syrian troops prepared to leave Lebanon. Most significant of all, Hizbullah's immense demonstration last week was a powerful reminder that Lebanon's fractious, shape-shifting Opposition has a formidable rival in the highly fluid field of Lebanese politics. Anyone who feels shocked, disappointed, or glum about these events should recall a wise saying of Lebanon's own Khalil Gibran: "Your pain is nothing but the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding."

Despite conspiracy theories and grim assessments to the contrary, something new, amazing, and precious is indeed being born in Lebanon: an indigenous, responsive, truly plural form of democracy that is not Made in the USA, but forged out of a long and difficult Arab experience. Apparently, many thought this would be a Caesarian delivery under strong anaesthia. Wrong: it will be a painful, protracted, and loud labor and birth. Although considerable debate is now heard inside and outside Lebanon about this baby's parentage, ideological DNA tests do not indicate that George W. Bush is the father.

Since the Lebanese are about to become parents, the very least they can do is grow up and assume responsibility for what they are bringing into the world. They must also be congratulated for handling the first stages of labor so admirably: in one month since the criminal assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and nearly twenty others, all protests have been non-violent.

Lebanese from all backgrounds have voiced their views and aims in public, and all have expressed hopes for a new order based on democratic and fair principles. The demonstrations in Martyrs Square, as well as last Tuesday's demonstration, have all been examples of people power and expressions of grass roots sentiments. They may not be in harmony, but they are all Lebanese.

Debate and dissent are the heart and soul of democratic politicking, and freedom of expression and assembly are keystones of any democratic society. Yet the foundation of a democratic order is the rule of law and a judicial system capable of providing equal access to justice while denying impunity to the powerful. Without equality and justice, freedom is meaningless, even dangerous.

The Lebanese are actually less in need of personal liberties than they are in need of public accountability and a renewed and reformed state structure. The worst damage Syria has done to Lebanon has been in terms of institutional and administrative corruption. Lebanon's judiciary requires special attention. As long as 17,000 disappeared people are still missing and their families denied emotional and legal closure, there will never be trust in Lebanon, and without trust, a democratic order will not survive long.

The Syrians have been "babysitters" of the Lebanese since the war ended in 1990, and given that the war did not break out again, they deserve credit. Up until recently, the Lebanese have needed them because they have not wanted to deal with the baggage of the war years.

Read More
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article3680.shtml