Posted on 04/16/2005 5:28:15 PM PDT by Valin
The Cedar Revolutionaries briefly lost their focus after the million-person demonstration in Martyr's Square. They weren't sure what to do next, exactly, aside from setting up a tent-city next to Rafik Hariri's grave site. Some dissidents felt like they had already won - when they clearly had not. Others were worried they would never be able to bring yet another million people down to the square for demonstrations.
The Syrian puppet regime in Beirut has been playing for time, changing the subject, and coming up with all manner of public distractions - the Pope's funeral was only the latest. People here are sick nearly to death of it, especially those who are playing a waiting game in the tent-city. So yesterday, in response to all this, they unfurled a new public campaign. It is simple, unambiguous, and pressing.
They are demanding elections on May 29. And they are demanding the government call for those elections by passing the necessary election law 30 days in advance.
Opposition members of parliament (yes, they do exist) were invited along with the media to witness the launch of the campaign. First to arrive was Nayla Moawad, the staunchest member of the opposition in Parliament. Her late husband Rene Moawad was briefly President of Lebanon in 1989 before he was assasinated by (guess who?) the Syrian Baath regime.
A giant red, white, and black sign was dramatically erected next to the tent-city. Supporters gathered around as the sign was tied to its frame and bolted to the side of a stage at the edge of the camp.
Thanks for this post. I have been looking for news of the Revolutionaries & had wondered what happened to them. Clicking on source now.
Link to thread with many links:
Thanks for the ping.
Thanks for the ping Ernest!
Fantastic link and updates!
Things are happening as described, while the syrians, moved by good intentions (ha), are removing all the statues of the Assad family erected in various parts of Lebanon, even in the so called strongholds of Hezbollah. These satatues are of the type "where ever you go, the eye of the leader is watching you tenderly". Unfortunately, the press is never present for the scoot ceremonies.
The new government is being formed, most probably from non candidates to elections. Lebanon hopes to normalize the situation through legislative elections beginning next month.
Thanx for the ping.
"where ever you go, the eye of the leader is watching you tenderly".
Do I detect a hint of sarcasm?
Sure, what else? fatherly could do too, or brotherly for Big Brother.
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