State Security ‘Marginalization’ Threatens Cabinet

by Naharnet Newsdesk 17 March 2016, 07:59

The Kataeb Party’s three representatives in the cabinet in addition to Minister Michel Pharaon have warned that they would take action if the government fails to resolve the “marginalization” of the general-directorate of state security.

Minister Alain Hakim and Pharaon said they would storm out of the session that is was chaired by Prime Minister Tammam Salam on Thursday.

But the premier pledged to discuss the issue of state security during the next session.

"The siege laid on this agency is unjustified," said Pharaon.

Hakim also said that all Christians reject the neglect of the department.

The directorate had sent a bill to the cabinet on March 20, 2014 asking for the creation of a six-member leadership authority under which the director-general, Maj. Gen. George Qaraa, a Catholic, would have the casting vote, said An Nahar.

But the former secretary-general of the cabinet, Suhail Bouji, paralyzed the plan by saying that the approval of the bill requires a draft-law to be adopted by the parliament unlike a decision made by the Shura Council, the report said.

The newspaper quoted a ministerial source as saying that Bouji’s move likely came as a result of his friendship with the deputy director-general, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Tufaili.

Greek Catholic Patriarch Gregory III Laham contacted Salam on Wednesday and discussed with him “the margination of the director general.”

The patriarch also criticized “the failure to invite the state security chief to security meetings despite its successes,” said a statement issued by the patriarch.

Laham stressed “the importance of swiftly resolving this issue and preserving the dignity of the director-general,” the statement added.

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https://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/204746