Change and Reform Urges 'Practical Solutions' to Refugee Crisis, Real Neutrality
The Change and Reform parliamentary bloc on Tuesday called for “practical solutions” to the social, economic and security problems created by the Syrian refugee influx, urging real “neutrality” in the Syrian conflict.
“It is not enough to say that you're against the issue of Syrian displacement and that it poses dangers. It is not enough to demand funds from foreign parties. Those who want to confront it must propose practical solutions, such as our suggestion on closing the border,” said MP Ibrahim Kanaan after the bloc's weekly meeting in Rabieh.
“If anyone has an alternative solution to stop the daily drain, let them tell us about it, as these theatricals and attempts to deceive the Lebanese people do not benefit anyone,” he added.
“We are speaking in the name of all the Lebanese ... and they must decide whether they are with the state or against it,” Kanaan went on to say.
He asked: “Who is undermining the neutrality? Can we preserve neutrality through backing a certain camp in Syria and through keeping our border open and our security vulnerable?”
Kanaan described “anyone saying that the issue is dangerous while refusing to back our proposed step” as “a partner in the crime.”
They would be “conspiring against Lebanon,” he added.
Separately, Kanaan said: “We also discussed the campaign of lies waged by those who have claimed that the telecom ministry is obstructing the work of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon,” which is probing the 2005 assassination of former premier Rafik Hariri.
“Who speaks in the name of the STL? The official spokesman Marten Youssef issued a statement saying that cooperation with the government is good and he lauded this cooperation,” Kanaan noted.
“The smear campaign must stop as the public opinion is observing everything and your lies cannot survive for two days,” he said.
Turning to the tragedy of the Lebanese asylum-seekers, Kanaan said the municipalities' revenues “must only be utilized by these municipalities, not by any other party.
“This issue has to do with confronting a major social threat and we have recently witnessed the boat incident in Indonesia. There is despair over the lack of development, the squandering of public money and corruption,” he added.
Kanaan pointed out that the municipalities' revenues can create a lot of job opportunities.
“Start building the state, not through 'occupied minds' but rather through a common initiative. This must also apply to the issue of the new cabinet which must be formed through local initiatives and it must address the priorities,” he said.
Twenty-eight Lebanese asylum-seekers died as their boat capsized off Indonesia on Friday while seeking to sail to Australia.
Many more are still feared missing.
The Lebanese Foreign Ministry said there were 68 Lebanese, including children, on board the ill-fated vessel and that 18 survived the ordeal while at least 29 were still missing.
Most of them hail from the impoverished district of Akkar, where thousands of Syrians have also sought refuge from the 30-month conflict that has wracked their country.
Source: Naharnet
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