In an interview with Al-Manar website, Interior Minister Marwan Charbel spoke about the latest security developments in Lebanon.
Interior Minister to Al-Manar Website:
Decision to Punish Roumieh Officers Taken;
Ehden Incident Personal, Happens Everywhere;
Prisons’ Situation Unbearable;
No Political, Terrorist Value for Security Incidents;
Electricity Draft Bill Excellent, No Clash over It;
Ministerial Solidarity Not Threatened at All;
Electoral Law Will Be Based on Proportionality
Interior Minister in the Lebanese government Marwan Charbel said that the officers and security members in Roumieh prison clearly neglected their duties when five inmates escaped over the weekend, and revealed that the decision to punish all those responsible for the break out of the inmates on Saturday had been taken. He also announced that a ministerial meeting will be held on Tuesday, with possible measures to fortify the prisons on agenda.
In an exclusive interview with Al-Manar Website, Minister Charbel played down the circulating security incidents. He said that the incident which erupted in the northern town of Ehden Sunday was personal and had no political or terrorist significance.
Minister Charbel denied that ministerial solidarity was threatened in light of the failure to approve the electricity draft law, and stressed that this law was excellent. He noted that the national unity government had previously reviewed the law and approved it.
Commenting on Head of the National Struggle Front MP Walid Jumblatt’s stance where he declared his refusal to the proportional representation mechanism in the new electoral law, the interior minister said he was actually preparing an electoral law based on proportional representation. Yet, he said the final decision would be that in the Parliament.
WE TOOK MEASURES…
Minister Marwan Charbel told Al-Manar Website that the officers and security members in Roumieh prison clearly neglected their duties when five inmates escaped over the weekend. He said the decision to punish those involved in the break out of the prisoners was taken, given that State Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Saqr Saqr ordered the arrest of two officers and nine guards on Sunday.
While acknowledging that this incident was not the first of its kind and that such break out schemes happen, he noted that he would take part in a ministerial meeting headed by PM Najib Miqati Tuesday and attended by Justice Minister Chakib Qortbawi, over the possibility to take measures to fortify prisons.
In a related development, Minister Charbel said he personally backed the draft on reducing the prison year and any other bill in the interest of the prisoners. He noted that the prisons situation in Lebanon has become intolerable and unbearable, and encouraged both the executive and legislative authorities to proceed with such steps.
PERSONAL INCIDENTS HAPPEN EVERYWHERE
Answering a question on the circulating security incidents, Minister Charbel stressed that the incident that took place in the northern town of Ehden at dawn Sunday was personal, and that “drunk people” were involved in it. He said that such incidents could happen everywhere, and stressed it was not fabricated or paid, but something very ordinary.
The house guards of former President Suleiman Franjieh and some “drunk” men exchanged fire in the northern town of Ehden early Sunday morning, injuring three people, the National News Agency reported. It said that the two guards – Butros Mikhael Iskandar and Bakhos Ibrahim Jerjes – were injured in the incident that erupted at 5:00 am with two drunk occupants of a vehicle. The two men were speeding near the mansion when one of the guards stopped them questioning their inappropriate behavior, the agency said. One of the men hit the guard while the other shot at him, which forced the guards to open fire at them.
Charbel said that Lebanon was believed to be the most secure country amid the current status-quo in the region, and stressed there was no political or terrorist value for the circulating incidents.
ALL PEOPLE WANT ELECTRICITY
The interior minister in the Lebanese government found strange the claims that ministerial solidarity was questioned in light of the failure to approve the draft law on electricity that was suggested by Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun. The draft bill allows Energy Minister Gebran Bassil to receive $1,200,000,000 to implement a project on producing 700 Megawatts of electricity.
While denying that the ministerial solidarity was actually threatened, he said that ongoing discussions were normal to reach solutions to all problems, especially to those that really concern the people such as electricity.
Minister Charbel stressed there was no problem at all on the electricity bill, and said all people want electricity. He said the plan set by Minister Bassil was excellent, and recalled that the previous cabinet, known as the national unity government, has approved it, given that it was not modified.
PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION
To conclude, Minister Charbel tackled the electoral draft law in light of the latest stance of the head of the National Struggle Front MP Walid Jumblatt who frankly declared it would be better to postpone discussions of proportionality and keep the status quo to preserve diversity and plurality.
Minister Charbel said every political side has its own opinion, but added that he was actually preparing an electoral draft law based on proportional representation, as stated by the government’s policy statement. He noted that this bill would be finalized by the end of the month of September, but highlighted that the final decision in this regard would be taken by the Parliament.
Answering a question on whether he was optimistic that such a law could be approved, Minister Charbel expected extensive discussions in this context, given that Lebanon is known for its diversity and many sects. He said that the various sides would expose their fears, and that these fears would be discussed to reach “compromises.”
