Aoun Condemns Shaaban Murder: We Must Await Investigation before Making Stand
Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun condemned on Tuesday the murder of al-Jadeed television cameraman Ali Shabaan while on duty near the Syrian border on Monday.
He said after the Change and Reform bloc’s weekly meeting: “We hope the truth behind the incident will be revealed.”
Shaaban was killed on Monday in the northern border area of Wadi Khaled when he and two of his colleagues came under gunfire from the Syrian side of the border.
Reporter Hussein Khreis and cameraman Abed Khayyat managed to escape unharmed.
The TV network said the crew was in the area with the aim of filming a report about the situation there.
Asked on why he did not comment on the failed assassination attempt against Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea, Aoun remarked: “I have no reason for not contacting him.”
“I am the head of a political bloc and a former army commander. I therefore always wait the results of an investigation before making any stand,” he stressed.
“We cannot condemn anyone without an official investigation,” said the MP.
On the March 14 camp’s criticism against Telecommunications Minister Nicolas Sehnaoui’s refusal to hand over telecom data, Aoun responded: “They always attack the minister whenever a murder is committed.”
“There is a legal process that needs to be followed in order to present such information,” he added.
“The committee of judges is concerned with this issue and not the minister,” he continued.
Geagea was the victim of failed sniper attack on April 4.
The March 14-led opposition held Sehnaoui and those who support him responsible for preventing the security forces and authorities from obtaining the telecom data in their probe into assassination attempts.
The minister slammed the accusations that he would be held responsible for preventing the security forces from obtaining the telecom data.
“The ministry will deal with the issue according to principles and will not back down on implementing the law,” he said.
He reiterated that the telecom data will only be given to security authorities if the competent judicial authorities ordered that.
Commenting on retired Brigadier General Fayez Karam’s release from prison last week and his visit to Aoun, the FPM leader said: “He served his sentence, paid us a visit, and then went home.”
“He paid the price for a mistake he committed,” he stated.
“We are not ashamed or embarrassed of what we said last time,” remarked Aoun.
Karam was released from prison after serving two years in jail on charges of collaborating with Israel.
Source: Naharnet
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