Jumblatt blasts state in visit to Strida Geagea, PSP faces 'prosecution from this stupid regime'

By Majdoline Hatoum Daily Star staff

BEIRUT: Chouf MP Walid Jumblatt denounced the apparatus-run regime in Lebanon Wednesday, during a visit to Strida Geagea - wife of disbanded Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea - in a step that came shortly after Jumblatt's recent endorsement of the petition to release the former LF leader. "There is no official authority in Lebanon. Where are the president and the judiciary? They are all being run from the central post of the apparatus in the Bekaa," Jumblatt argued, referring to the Syrian intelligence base in Anjar, run by General Rustom Ghazaleh. Jumblatt, who arrived to Geagea's house accompanied by Jbeil MP Fares Soueid and Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) vice president Doreid Yaghi, met members of the disbanded LF and held a brief meeting with Strida Geagea, after which he talked to reporters. The visit is a finalizing step to the initiative Jumblatt and his parliamentary bloc took when they signed the petition  calling for the release of Geagea, who is currently serving a life time sentence. The petition advocates amending the general amnesty law that was issued at the end of the Lebanese Civil War, so to allow the end of Geagea's sentence. Jumblatt noted that this was not the first time he had met with Strida Geagea. "But this visit," he added, "comes to strengthen the reconciliation that took place in the 'jabal,' (Mount Lebanon) and sets the building blocks for a new political phase," in a reference to his new alliances with the enemies of yesterday. The reconciliation of the jabal took place through an initiative by Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir in 2001, in which the Christians and Druze sects put behind them the political differences and the thousands of deaths in the Chouf and Mount Lebanon. Jumblatt's visit to Geagea's house was accompanied by high security measures taken at the Lebanese Army check points stationed on the road leading to Geagea's house. Soldiers stopped cars and demanded detailed identification information, including middle names, date of birth and ID serial numbers from journalists who covered the meeting. However, Jumblatt denied that his step was as an attempt to win Christian votes in the upcoming elections, expected to take place in May. "This is not an electoral issue," he said. "I believe that we currently share certain broad lines in common with the LF, as well as participants in the Bristol Hotel meetings - despite some differences," he added. The opposition figures held two meetings in the past two months at the Bristol Hotel, where they agreed to join forces to oppose the extended presidential mandate of current President Emile Lahoud. Jumblatt explained that while he calls for the implementation of the Taif Accord - which allows some Syrian troops to remain in the Bekaa area for strategic reasons - and the dismantlement of Lebanese and Syrian secret services, other political opposition groups (including the LF) believe there should be a complete Syrian withdrawal. "However, we respect all opinions, and are convinced that the main issue should be preserving Lebanese independence and security," he said. Jumblatt said that he "completely refused the detailed intervention by Syrian apparatus in Lebanese issues." He also refused any postpone-ment of these elections. "The elections will take place on time, and we will fight the electoral battle all over Lebanon - unified - and under one slogan," he said, referring to the allegiance of Lebanese opposition figures under the Bristol conferences. Meanwhile, opposition powers who took part of the Bristol meetings are expected to meet in Jumblatt's home in Clemenceau on Thursday, to agree on appointing a follow-up committee. When a reporter asked Jumblatt if he was afraid of possible repercussions following his visit to Strida Geagea, and his demand of releasing the LF leader, Jumblatt said simply "no." However, he said he expected PSP members to endure "further fabricated prosecution by this stupid regime." Several PSP members were called in for interrogation during the past couple of days, in matters related to the civil war, a step the PSP party considered - in a statement it issued on Wednesday - to be threatening to the opposition and Jumblatt. "Opening the war files and calling in PSP members for investigation aims at damaging  all the reconciliation that took place after the end of the civil war and is completely illegal," read the statement. Jumblatt also warned against further security breaches. "We have not yet forgotten the assassination attempt that targeted Chouf MP Marwan Hamade when we raised our voice in defiance of the extension of Lahoud's mandate," he said. Strida Geagea also addressed Jumblatt before the reporters, welcoming him in Samir Geagea's home. "I say that Jumblatt's visit to Geagea's house today has a very serious political implication," she said. "I just wish Samir (Geagea) was standing here in my place, but time will hopefully bring him back," she added. Meanwhile, Speaker Nabih Berri asserted before members of Parliament who met with him today that he does not mind receiving Strida Geagea, who announced Wednesday after her meeting with Jumblatt that she will ask for an appointment to see Berri when signatures are complete on the petition. Prime Minister Omar Karami said Wednesday that he refused to further discuss Gea-gea's case, adding he would not consider awarding him a pardon anytime soon. Geagea is accused of the assassination of Rashid Karami - the premier's brother - during the Civil War.