Proofs presented by the Secretary General of Hezbollah Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah proved to be not liable for any suspicion and that STL could be able to achieve many things except justice.

By Zulfiqar Daher

They are but "Deaf, mute, blind, with no perception." This is the state of "March 14" group who refuse to listen, read, or admit the truthfulness of all the arguments, evidence, and proofs that confirmed the corruption of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) and its employees. This group refuses to look objectively into everything said about the STL's legitimacy, transparency, and legality. Last but not least, the evidence and the proofs that were presented by the Secretary General of Hezbollah Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah few days ago, which proved to be not liable for any suspicion and proved that STL could be able to achieve many things except justice.

The proposed question is: Why does not March 14 group want and does not accept addressing the STL with any comments, criticism, or suspicion even if they are based on conclusive evidence?

Why does this group refuse to look objectively into the proceedings of the STL and the extent of the legality of each step it has made and will make? Why does not this group want to trigger the mind and the conscience so that they would judge what this court is doing? Why does this group want to have a predetermined attitude that makes this court sacred as if it were a holy revelation, or as if it had a prophetic, disciple, or saints' fingerprints?

However, is there anyone who thinks apart from his political blind goals through which he can only see his own interests and his own goals never caring for the interests of the country and the requirements of true justice and not the predictable justice of the STL? Why do the closest legal avengers of blood of every one fell dead since 2005 discuss the legality of the court investigating - as it were- the murderers of their victims? Moreover, do they accept to have their cases looked into by a court lacking legitimacy? Alternatively, are they only concerned about finalizing this file without showing any interest in reaching to the real murderer? Does" March 14" holding onto the STL have its political reasons? Does holding onto the STL, despite all what has been said and presented about its legality and legitimacy, have its guided political motives that originate from certain obligations offered by "March 14"? On the other hand, is it an innocent and naïve holding on to the court and a true belief in its legitimacy by "March 14?

Lawyer Franjieh: Cassesse is not infallible

About this topic, Head of Media Department in "Al-Maradah" movement, Lawyer Suleiman Franjieh asked "if it is required to remain silent upon any error committed by the STL which is run, after all, by humans." He explained that "the presiding judge Antonio Cassesse is not Jesus Christ (pbuh) or Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) to become infallible." He showed astonishment "how the mere discussion over the performance of the STL has turned out to look an involvement in the crime and a refusal for the truth." He added that "as if suspecting the court is prohibited the way the Lebanese popular saying goes, "It must be a goat even if it flies."

Franjieh indicated in an interview with Al-Manar Website "what Secretary General of Hezbollah Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah is offering undisputed and unquestioned evidence while the STL never clarifies any of those issues nor does it offer an answer regarding all those undisputed and unquestioned evidence".

Franjieh: The other group does not want to interact with the documents that have proven corruption in the Court.

Franjieh reminded of "all the phases Sayyed Nasrallah has gone through since his proposed Israeli hypothesis in the crime of assassination. Sayyed Nasrallah started with the legitimate questions he addressed as to what the Israeli spying planes were doing and their way of monitoring the moves of Al-Hariri, in addition to the proceedings of the  investigations that were conducted, and finally ending with the documents he presented very recently in connection with the corrupt employees working for the STL." Franjieh pointed out that, "All those documents leave no room for any suspicion about the corruption of this court whether through bribing the former head of the international investigation committee  Gerhard Lehmann, or through the pride expressed verbally by President Judge Antonio Cassesse about his being friend of Israel."     

Lawyer Franjieh called "Sayyed Nasrallah not to tire himself and his heart", and he stressed that" the other group does not want to interact with this issue." He also pointed out that the resistance masses are the ones who interact while the other group does not want to listen." He assured that even if Rafik Al-Hariri returned from Heaven and told them that Israel was his murderer, still they would never believe him."

Madayan: March 14 connected with international and Western, and the STL Has Joined the Nations' Contest

About the same issue Secretary General of "George Hawi Youths" Rafi Madayan assured that, "The political leadership of March 14 is linked with international and Western agendas, and that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon has become a tool in the hands of the Western countries, and that it has become involved in the nations' contest."

Madayan sees that, "The people and the public opinion supporting March 14 is misguided due to the political and media campaigns which have been orchestrated and financed by the U.S.A. administration and former Ambassador to Lebanon Feltman." The latter has assumed the following positions: Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs (Feb. 2008-Dec. 2008); U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon (2005 to 2008); Coalition Provisional Authority's (CPAs) office in Iraq (2004 to 2005).

Madayan: the Interlocutory Decision is Politically Manipulative, and It Is Part of the Exterior American Policy

Madayan in an interview with "Al-Manar" Channel pointed out that, "March 14 is executing an American agenda at the regional level. Its goal is to contain what it considers an Iranian surging influence by striking Hezbollah and the resistance in Lebanon in order to defame their image on the one hand, and by modifying the Syrian leadership behavior, on the other hand, so that the latter would give up its relations with Iran, the resistance, Hezbollah, and Hamas." He emphasized that, "The interlocutory decision is politically manipulative and that it is a part of the U.S.A. exterior policy."

Madayan reasserted that, "The timing of the interlocutory decision is not innocent, and it is linked with the American leadership aiming at a strike against the resistance and Syria." He added that, "It will facilitate the success of the American plot to set a sectarian discord at fire in Lebanon so that it could be an introduction for an Israeli war targeting the resistance during the few months to come." Madayan elaborated by saying that "the political goals for the interlocutory decision are clear because it is coinciding and in agreement with the leaks that were released in French, German, Arabian and other newspapers."

It is too hard to persuade a person with a certain actuality if the other person already makes up a predetermined attitude, and insists that he will never change it and never responds to the other side; not even if the latter is fortified with undisputed proofs and evidence that prove what the former says. Thus, how could the case go if the group to persuade is a political one like "March 14" group with all the support and indebtedness motivating it that it would not fail to grab any opportunity and take aim at its contestants in its struggle to accomplish its goals.