AMERICAN LEBANESE COORDINATION COUNCIL
|
The Middle East: From a dictatorship of minorities to one of majorities?
By Philip Farah
When the Syrian forces announced the completion of their withdrawal at the end
of April, it almost felt like the result of a Divine intervention. Syria had the means and the will to stay in Lebanon and we will be long in debt
of the US and Bush for getting Syria out of Lebanon. Now the responsibility to rebuild this country the way we want it to be finally
lies in our hands.
However, there seems to be a worrisome trend that is emerging in those countries where democracy is being built or revived: the majorities of
those countries are taking advantage of the new democracy to try and monopolize the political power with little consideration for the role of
minorities ignoring the fact that one of the pillars of democracy is the protection of the rights (including political rights) of minorities.
In Iraq, the US seems aware of this problem and is trying to get the Sunnis more actively represented in the Iraqi government despite the fact this
community was traditionally the strongest supporter of the Saddam regime. If successful this effort will result in a more stable Iraq with less
violence and daily bombings.
In Lebanon, the US priorities appear to be in the wrong order. It seems that the highest priority is to have the parliamentary elections take place
on schedule even if this means conducting the elections using an electoral law (crafted under the Syrian rule in 2000) that basically calls for
elections to be held in larger districts where Christians are not well-represented and where Christian candidates end up being chosen by Muslim
voters.
It is true that Christians are pro-West and do not use terrorist attacks and car bombs as means of their political struggle. It is also true that it is
appealing to have the elections happen as scheduled and report it on CNN as a major victory for democracy in the middle east. However, is the
price we will be paying worth not delaying the elections by 3-4 weeks?
We all know that the next president of Lebanon will be faced with some tough decisions (e.g., de-militarizing the Hezbollah) and a parliament that
is not in strong agreement with such beliefs will have trouble electing the right President and supporting this president in taking the bold steps
needed to move the country into the right direction. Now, alliances are currently being formed where some of the Muslim leaders (many
of them recent 'converts' to the ideas of independence and democracy) are doing us the favor of including within their lists of candidates some of
the pro-West Christian representatives: This pseudo-solution can also result in half measures created by officials elected with their hands tied
behind their backs!
I find it unacceptable that many of the Christian leaders, who for the first time in history came all together to support the Patriarch stance asking
for a new electoral law that will guarantee the Christians will have control over the election of their own representatives, ended-up abandoning
him (specifically, the Lebanese Forces and Solange Gemayel) to go after their own narrow-minded personal interests. And I suppose the claims
that the US pushed for such a change in attitude are true. However, I believe our unity would have forced the US ambassador to reconsider his
priorities and allow us to redraft a fair electoral law that will ensure the right changes happen in Lebanon later (from which the US will greatly
benefit). Instead those leaders preferred to act as selfish spineless 'leaders' who bow only to force not to the power of their convictions.
I am greatly disappointed with those leaders especially at a point where all the stars are aligned. They bear, in my mind, a great responsibility for
missing such a historic opportunity. God only knows where the US focus is going to be in 4 years, what will after president Bush leaves office and
how quickly Syria will be out of its isolation.
I do hope the US will realize the risks of a hi-jacking of the democratic move to the profit of those who want to build dictatorships of the majorities.
I also hope our people will hold our leaders responsible for the choices they make and vote for those who truly represent the values they believe
in and the interests of the people they serve.
Philip F.
May 20, 2005