Aoun defends FPM protest, blames Army chief for violence
The Daily Star/July 11, 2015
BEIRUT: Army commander Gen. Jean Kahwagi gave the order for the attack against supporters of the Free Patriotic Movement who protested in Downtown Beirut Thursday, party chief Michel Aoun said Saturday, accusing him of “politicizing” the military.
“It was a planned operation that falls under the responsibility of the commander, because such a command can only come from the highest rank of leadership,” Aoun told a crowd of supporters from the district of Aley who visited him at his home in Rabieh.
He said the attack was part of “a retaliatory policy against those who oppose the commander,” describing the statement released by the Army which stated that troops were attacked and seven were wounded, as “very despicable.”
“As I said two days ago, a statement should not have one wrong comma, so of course it should not include propaganda to cover a crime ordered by the leadership,” he added.
He also mocked the statement, wondering how “a soldier was wounded in the hand” while protesters did not use any sharp objects.
“How did he get that wound, by punching someone?” he asked.
“It seems that the Army is being politicized and transformed into a party against other parties.”
Aoun held that Army troops surrounded the protesters by blocking the entrances to the area and attacked them with batons and metal sticks without being provoked, citing videos posted online.
“There were not more than 20 cars that went to protest in Beirut, but after the incidents, people left their offices and joined,” he said. “Among those were my daughters and our MPs. I am still waiting for a statement of condemnation by the Parliament.”
He said he had seen videos that prove the Army started the violence, adding that he was collecting names of the soldiers involved.
“We are following up on this case, and it will not go by unnoticed.
Hariri failed to deliver on security appointments: Aoun
The Daily Star/Jul. 11, 2015
BEIRUT: Future Movement chief Saad Hariri suggested making a deal to appoint new police and Army commanders, but failed to hold up his part of the bargain, Free Patriotic Movement Michel Aoun said.
“Hariri raised the security appointments matter in our meeting [in February] and asked for our opinion on extending [Internal Security Forces chief] Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Basbous’ term,” Aoun told Al-Akhbar in an interview published Saturday.
“I answered honestly that we oppose the extension because there were many competent generals in the ISF [to select as a successor].”
Aoun said Hariri, a former prime minister, then proposed two names to succeed Basbous: Information Branch chief Brig. Gen. Imad Othman and ISF’s South Lebanon chief Brig. Gen. Samir Shehadeh.
Hariri said he preferred Othman, who had served as the head of the Cabinet’s protection unit when he was premier.
Then, according to Aoun, the following conversation took place.
Hariri: “You should get me the approval of your friends (the March 8 coalition). And who do you want as Army Commander?”
Aoun: “Who do you think?”
[Hariri laughs]
Aoun: “You tell me, you know him.”
Hariri: “Shamel [Roukoz]?”
Aoun: “Yes, you know him from May 2008.”
Roukoz, a brigadier general who heads the Army’s Commando Regiments, is Aoun’s son-in-law.
The FPM chief continued that when he consulted Hezbollah over the potential deal, the party’s leadership approved the appointment of Othman, as did Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt, the Kataeb Party and the Lebanese Forces.
“This is when I called Hariri, while he was in Saudi Arabia, and told him: ‘It’s a deal. Everyone agreed, and we have consensus’.”
“I am returning to Beirut tonight or maybe tomorrow,” Hariri replied.
“But he has not returned till today,” Aoun said.
Aoun said the Future Movement kept procrastinating until May 2015, when “their real intentions were revealed.”
When he asked them about the deal, he was told the appointments had to be put on hold until the military developments in Syria stabilize especially after rebels captured Jisr al-Shughour.
“What do they mean? If the regional circumstances change, then so would Shamel Roukoz?” Aoun told Al-Akhbar. “This is proof of bad intentions.”
He said he was only stating facts and not attempting to “disturb Hariri,” but then added: “Hariri cannot commit. He who does not have the say cannot make a commitment.”
During a Cabinet session on June 4, the Future Movement’s Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk proposed appointing Othman to succeed to Basbous.
When rival ministers refused, Machnouk extended Basbous’s term by two years. The move enraged FPM’s ministers and prompted them to vow to prevent the Cabinet from making any decisions before the security appointments, resulting in the cancellation of three consecutive regular sessions.
