Suleiman: STL is a Step towards Holding Criminals Accountable for their Actions
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
President Michel Suleiman stressed on Wednesday Lebanon's commitment to international resolutions, while highlighting the importance of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon in ending impunity in Lebanon.
He said on the eve of the beginning of the STL trial: “The tribunal is a step towards holding criminals accountable for their actions.”
“It will lead to the truth behind the crimes and it will make the assailants realize that they are not immune to justice,” he added.
Moreover, he stressed that the STL will also serve as a deterrent to others from committing future crimes.
“Justice will remain more powerful and effective than crime and murder,” he continued.
“Justice also preserves the safety of people and societies and acts as their sole safe haven,” he remarked.
Earlier on Wednesday, Suleiman had held talks on the government formation efforts with Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam and head of the Phalange Party Amin Gemayel.
The STL is set to try the suspects behind the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, who was killed in a massive car bomb in Beirut on February, 14 2005.
The trial is set to kick off at The Hague on Thursday.
15 January 2014, 14:18
149
By the end of this so called STL , it would have cost Lebanon over $ 100 million , what we will we get out of it ? Nothing what we already know .
No one man is worth more than any other , too much of a waste of time , unless Lebanon agrees to investigate ALL the previous Warlords for their Atrocities which they still are allowed too roam our streets like a pack of wild Hyenas , let alone are still permitted to be members of Parliament even after released from prison . What a bunch of thieves & murderers who all have become billionaires .
What a waste , what a shame .
Signed Wolf .
15 January 2014, 17:10
97
I agree.... He is a lunatic posting under @game7 now. He never makes any sense...rant after rant full of hate.
15 January 2014, 21:27
73
Wolf is another paid propagandist trying to discredit the STL.
The STL is not just about Rafik Hariri. The ones who killed Rafik also killed Gemayel, Tueni, Kassir, Hawi. Eid, Ghanem, Eido, al Hassan and dozens of other bystanders. They also tried to kill Murr, Hamadeh, Chidiac, and Harb.
We know who killed them, but the importance of the trial is to get a conviction. That is what it's all about..... justice.
The way HA and other M8 murderers have infiltrated the security and justice system, it would be impossible to get any conviction in Lebanon for the crimes they committed. They can't even interview Eid for the Tripoli bombs. They can't even move forward on a trial against Samaha who admitted his crimes. The murderers kill the investigators (Eid and al Hassan), and have threatened to kill witnesses.
The international Tribunal is the only chance for justice, and it's only justice (and convictions) that will end impunity and stop further murders.
15 January 2014, 15:10
911
So according to you wolf we should just forget this murder ever happened and move on, This one man you talk about was a man of peace and co-existence between all sects of lebanon, i don't think lebanon will ever see a man like this again also what about all the other victims in these murders it's about time we took this stance one and for all to uncover the murderers who plan and execute these murders because what it all means in the end is if you i or any lebanese has an opinion or belief no man has the right to stop us expressing it thats what a democracy means we may not agree on a lot of things but i will fight to the death for your right to express it.
15 January 2014, 16:05
129
@banipoof
For your information , Lady Gaga pulls the strings on the political stage through his wife who is an MP which of course we all know , you are certainly an intellectual octapussy , that I have to admit , not forgetting that he is also head of the LF , in case you did not know , does your partner wear the pants in your household banipoof ? You don't have to answer the question because it seems you are a bit on the softy side , ;-) you know what I mean , or do I have to spell it out for you again ?
Signed Wolf .
15 January 2014, 14:19
1111
And the m8 drones have commenced their dribble against the president ....
15 January 2014, 14:38
1110
@Southern : Iranians, Syrians and their supporters have NO LESSON to teach about justice.
@Wolf : $100m is NOTHING compared to the economic repercussions of Hezbollah's murders ! Even if it takes billions of dollars to prove to the world they are guilty (or innocent), at least we would have turned this page. This has nothing to do with the killing of one particular man. This has to do with holding these criminals accountable once and for all and exposing them for the murderers and terrorists that they are !
15 January 2014, 15:11
1110
So now tell me what is so special about a time wasting STL concerning Harriri ? One man , is he worth more than all the people killed at the above mention countries by their psychopath leaders during their reign of terror amounting into the millions loss of lives ?
Signed Wolf !
15 January 2014, 15:21
106
Wolf i don't care about other countries i only care about my country lebanon if we can get justice we take it and you or a family member could have been a passer by when these bombs went off wouldn't you justice or would you just turn a blind eye
15 January 2014, 15:26
105
what is special is that it was approved by the security council which includes Russia and China. so if the STL proves their guilt the secuirty council will have no choice but to label H.A as terrorists and thus the whoooole U.N and world will label them as terrorists(not uust the west) and won't be allowed to have dealings with them anymore.
15 January 2014, 15:16
106
Rafik Hariri brought the world to lebanon and put us on the map he gave a lot while he lived in lebanon we owe this man and the victims justice because this man and the other victims could have been my father, mother, brother , sister , son, or daughter we should never accept turning away from prosecuting these people that committed these crimes no matter the cost.
15 January 2014, 15:22
1010
Money is not wasted ! If the STL is capable of proving that a government such as Syria or Iran has ordered the murder of Hariri. If they are capable of proving Hezbollah conducted the murder. Then the money is very well spent for exposing the truth about Hezbollah !
Ennemies of Lebanon are the very people who do not abide by Lebanese laws and who answer to foreign ORDERS. Who are funded and armed by foreign countries. Hezbollah is the first of them. Bashar too !
So please stop it with your failed rhetoric.
We wont and will probably never agree on the fact that Hezbollah is the most dangerous thing preventing Lebanon from being a sovereign country.
What's important is proof and only the STL is capable of demonstrating with evidence (that you choose to ignore) that Hezbollah is behind this. If true, then you are the enemy of Lebanon !
15 January 2014, 15:29
108
other people committing crimes is not an excuse for us to follow the same path!! so indirectly u are admitting H.A killed harirri but you are saying they should be forgiven since so many others do it right?
15 January 2014, 15:31
108
This is irrelevant ! And you can expand your list infinitely. The problem is it does not include the instances where justice was in fact applied. Something you willingly ignore.
What counts is Lebanon and justice for crimes commited in Lebanon. Our judicial system is incapable of tackling such cases. The very fact that Hezbollah suspects are required for questioning by LEBANESE JUSTICE and hidden by Hezbollah is proof enough ...
So I will trust the STL which will conduct an open and transparent trial of the suspects to which you can later object if you find the evidence to be non-conclusive. Fake evidence will NEVER make it through as it can be easily discarded by innocent people ...
Again, the farce here are all you dictator lovers trying to teach a lesson in justice and fairness...
15 January 2014, 16:34
98
It seems you do not understand proper english Wolf.
1- The Lebanese justice system is flawed and also failed to incriminate any of the criminals you mention
2- Lebanese parties who are incriminated have a tendency to "eliminate" and "threaten" judges
3- International Tribunals have successfully incriminated war criminals and murderers since world war 1 !
4- These assassinations, even if conducted by Hezbollah were ordered or sanctioned by foreign entities such as Syria and Iran. This goes far beyond our jurisdiction and the JOKE that is the Lebanese justice system in a country were Hezbollah type terrorists conduct themselves above law
5- If you want to sue ALL the persons who have killed in Lebanon, what stops you ? You can even ask any international criminal court to do so. It's as easy as suing and nothing prevents you !
15 January 2014, 15:46
99
@W-L
The young Lebanese soldiers that have sacrificed their lives during the " Naher Al-bared " incident three of them were my immediate close family members to me they are as worthy ( if not more the Harriri ) they also deserve the attention along with their dead comrades but they are not as rich as Harriri , so therefore we tend to forget their commitment ?
Signed Wolf .
15 January 2014, 15:53
92
@wolf may god have mercy on the souls of your dead but this isn't only about Rafik Hariri its about drawing a line in the sand and saying enough! no longer will we the lebanese will tolerate this . This has gone on long enough and 100 million dollars being spent on this is better than it lining the pockets of Berri,Jumblat,miqati and so on
15 January 2014, 17:28
94
Wolf, i doubt you are or were in the army. The army will be ashamed of people like you. I have read many of your posts and they contain pure insults to the point of sickness. You are not normal. You are the one who has been posting all this filth under alias "game...". I honestly believe you are mentally ill.
15 January 2014, 15:47
94
@wolf Bashir Gemayel was killed during the war there were many murders being committed at that time Rafik Hariri and the other victims were murdered in a time of peace when the was law and order and i think by now we all know who killed Gemayel and justice is being served.
15 January 2014, 21:57
72
why is it farce? Just because it is incriminating some hizbullah members?
15 January 2014, 21:59
72
basically Southern, we want the truth and justice. put it up your stupid lobotomized mind.
15 January 2014, 23:39
91
True, but before the STL they were able to make up any whimsical story and gullible masses buy it. Now, all the evidence will be presented to the public and the only thing they can hide behind are absurd conspiracy theories. Those are things that most logical human beings laugh at. At least we will get the undeniable truth out in the open.
16 January 2014, 07:15
00
Look all, we can argue points but we can do this with simple math.
Murder: A person/group kills another person/group.
Person/group murderers are not brought to justice for said murder and there is no closure.
Person/group that was murdered demands justice and asks the international community for help because they will not find it in Lebanon.
This equals the STL.
I don't usually comment on stupid comments but I have to pick this one: @wolf...You made a list of countries where; "This is just to state a few countries who's leaders have committed major atrocities but none have been convicted or even have been called up for a " Special Tribunal"". Is Hizthrowup the leader of Lebanon? As far as I know they have been labeled a terrorist organization by several countries. Hmmmm. That is the problem sometimes I think. Some believe that Hizthrowup is actually the government of Lebanon.
