Suddenly and without prior notice, the northern city, famous for its regular and suspicious clashes, exploded during the weekend. The announced reason was the arrest by the General Security Department of a man, suspected of having links with a terrorist organization.
Yet, the arrest was enough for the city to explode after extremist groups decided that the arrest was enough for them to set the whole city on fire. And as usual, the Lebanese Army seemed to be their main target...
Shadi Mawlawi... Extremists' New Hero!
One week ago, most Lebanese were not familiar with the name of Shadi Mawlawi. But in less than one week, the man became a "star" after his "justified" arrest turned to cause a real "war" in the country.
The story started when the General Security Department arrested Mawlawi in front of offices belonging to Finance Minister Mohamad Safadi, for whom an arrest warrant was issued by the judiciary. He was accused of having links with a terrorist organization.
The story started when the General Security Department arrested Mawlawi in front of offices belonging to Finance Minister Mohamad Safadi, for whom an arrest warrant was issued by the judiciary. He was accused of having links with a terrorist organization.
Nevertheless, extremists claimed that the arrest was "suspicious" and rejected what they called the "politicization" of Mawlawi's file. They did not hesitate to undermine the state by igniting violence in the northern city. They demanded Mawlawi's release without any restrictions.
Thus, and under the pretext that Mawlawi's arrest was "unfair," hundreds of young men blocked the northern and southern roads into Tripoli. They gathered at a tent camp that had already been set up at the southern entrance of the city by demonstrators calling for the release of detained Islamists.
Lebanese Army Pays Price...
The so-called "peaceful protest" immediately turned to be a non-peaceful one, and armed clashes erupted in the city, threatening its stability. The Lebanese Army turned itself to be the extremists' target in what was believed to be a message to the Lebanese state as a whole, not the military institution only.
"The military institution applied once again its slogan of honor, sacrifice and loyalty," military sources told moqawama.org. According to the sources, this is not a choice for the army but rather a commitment. The sources admitted that there were losses within the army since the first day, when an army soldier joined the military's many martyrs throughout Lebanon's history, but said that the nation's security and stability remains the army's ultimate priority.
The sources denied the fact that the army remained inactive at the beginning of the events. "The army was on ground since the clashes erupted on Saturday," the sources highlighted. "However, for it to use its iron fist, other factors are required," they said. They explained that the political green light should be given to the army at the first level. But this is not everything. "The army seeks to restore stability and security, but it must consider well its options. It is not acceptable that the army acts, when it knows that it is a target and that its strength is threatened," the sources went on to say.
Political Exploitation...
The military sources recalled that the green light was given during the Higher Defense Council emergency session, which was held on the second day of the clashes. However, they noted that this green light could not be translated into action on the same day. "Actually, it came simultaneously with political campaigns against the army," the sources said, indirectly referring to campaigns launched by the protesters as well as the Future party. Some lawmakers, affiliated with this party, did not hesitate to speak of a "conspiracy" against the city of Tripoli and boldly accusing the military institution of taking part in such plots.
The military sources refused to comment on these campaigns in harmony with their "neutral" aspect. "The army is here to guarantee stability and security for all Lebanese without exception," the sources said. They emphasized that the military institution was aware of some inciting and provocative statements against it, but simply neglected them as it believes it should not be concerned with such campaigns.
According to the military sources, the political exploitation of the bloody incidents was the most dangerous part of the whole story. "Political exploitations make the army's mission more complicated and even impossible," they elaborated. "In contrary, the political contacts and negotiations help the army accomplish its mission," the sources said, while highlighting the fact that the military green light must be accompanied by a political agreement.
Truce Still Fragile...
"The fact that all political sides without exception declare their support of the army was the secret behind the reached truce," the military sources said. According to them, this national aspect of the army should be maintained, just like security and stability. "Without this political consensus to stand at the side of the army, situations would have been even worse."
The sources refused to answer a question about what was planned to Tripoli and the north in general. They noted that such questions should be transferred to the political sides as well as the judicial authorities. Yet, they reiterated that the situation was more dangerous than what might be imagined.
The main issue remains, in the meantime, to focus on maintaining stability and security, the sources highlighted. They noted that the reached truce was still fragile, and that all options remain open. "Despite all the efforts spared, the truce is fragile and the situation can worsen even more," the sources said, while pointing to the clashes still taking place on daily basis in Tripoli's various places. "The situation is sensitive. People are scared, there are many rumors," the sources said. "What's certain, however, is that the truce is currently under test."
What About Double Standards?
For the army's mission to succeed, the military sources refuse to enter the political debate over the incidents. They even refuse to question the motives of the campaigns launched against the military institution itself.
However, Lebanese people draw tens of question marks about what happened during the week, about the conspiracy which is set, not against Tripoli residents as some lawmakers suggested, but against the whole country. And before anything else, they question the "double standards" of the extremist cells, covered by the Future party. Indeed, between supporting the army and declaring commitment to the state and its institutions at one side and targeting the army and refusing a judicial warrant, something must be wrong!
Source: moqawama.org
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