Sami Gemayel to Nasrallah: 622 Lebanese in Syria are Detainees, Not Missing Persons

Phalange Party Central Committee Coordinator MP Sami Gemayel on Monday urged the state to address the issue of the Lebanese who are believed to be in Syrian jails, stressing that they are “detainees” and not “missing persons.”

“The issue of detainees in Syrian prisons is a crisis that has been dragging on since 30 years and the state has not launched any initiative to resolve the case in a drastic manner,” Gemayel said in a press conference he held after the weekly meeting of the party's political bureau.

Commenting on remarks voiced by Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah only minutes before the news conference, Gemayel said: “The 622 names who are in Syria are not -- in any way whatsoever -- missing persons, but rather detainees, such as our comrade Butros Khawand, who was kidnapped from outside his home and was spotted in Syrian jails.”

“We totally know where they are and the names include those of army troops and Lebanese citizens who were confronting Syria on October 13, 1990,” Gemayel added.

Turning to the issue of the nine Lebanese pilgrims who were abducted in Syria in 2012 and released around two weeks ago, Gemayel saluted the freed men, stressing his solidarity with them.

But the lawmaker lashed out at the Lebanese state over several details of the swap deal which also involved the freeing of two Turkish pilots kidnapped in Lebanon and dozens of Syrian women detainees from regime jails.

“It turned out that the Lebanese state was aware of the whereabouts of the abductors and was coordinating with them, and this has become known by everyone,” Gemayel said.

He also voiced respect for General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim, but criticized him for meeting Syrian security chief Ali Mamlouk – wanted in Lebanon on charges of plotting bombings in the country –- as part of efforts to secure the release of the nine Lebanese and the Syrian women.

Gemayel also deplored the manner in which the two Turkish pilots were freed, saying “someone handed over the hostages” to Lebanese authorities.

“Where is this person, what is his name, why wasn't he arrested? There is no answer,” Gemayel lamented.

“Those who kidnapped the Turks in Lebanon were released from jail on a L.L.500,000 each, and therefore the Lebanese judiciary forgot about the law and constitution and it turned out that the judiciary is not free,” the lawmaker added.

He noted that “the entire state mobilized for the sake of the Aazaz abductees, and it seems that all the Lebanese must take things into their own hands so that all officials can be mobilized.”

“Maybe if we kidnap the Syrian ambassador the state will act. What is the message you are sending us in the case of the Aazaz abductees? Should we block roads and kidnap people? Why don't you recognize the presence of the 622 detainees?” Gemayel added.

“Do anything to demand the release of these detainees. Seek the help of the United Nations,” Gemayel went on to say, addressing Lebanese officials.

“You are pushing us to renounce the state and to review all our stances. This is a message to all officials and to the state,” Gemayel warned.

He vowed that the Phalange Party will not abandon “the 622 detainees, because they sacrificed for the freedom of the Lebanese.”

Earlier on Monday, Nasrallah congratulated the nine pilgrims on their safe return to Lebanon, hoping this development would pave the way for resolving the case of Lebanese held in Israel and Syria.

He suggested that mechanisms be set in place to tackle these issues.

He revealed: “I have received word from Syria that it is willing to help resolve the cases of missing persons and we hope these efforts will yield happy endings.”