Syria Must Quit Lebanon; Murderers Must Be Brought To Justice, Interim Government To Be Instituted, Expatriates Must Be Allowed To Vote 

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THE COUNCIL OF LEBANESE AMERICAN ORGANIZATIONS

   CLAO   Founded in 1989 to serve the USA and Lebanon.

                                          4401-A Connecticut Ave. NW Suite 273, Washington, DC 200

                                         Eastern USA: P.O. Box 181116 Cleveland, OH  44118  ***  Western USA: P. O. Box 661823, Los Angeles, CA 90066

February 22, 2005                                                                                                                  PR050222

CLAO Calls for Rallies in Los Angeles in Support of the Lebanese Independence Uprising 

The Council of Lebanese American Organizations (CLAO) and the Southern California Association of Lebanese Americans (SCALA), call on all the supporters of a free Lebanon, to join the Lebanese Opposition groups including the Free Patriotic Movement in a series of protests in Los Angeles in support for the Lebanese Independence Uprising.  Several events are planned as follows:

1. Three sit-ins in front of the Lebanese Consulate located at 660 S. Figueroa St., Downtown Los Angeles, on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, the 22^nd, 23^rd, and 24^th of February from 12 noon to 1 PM.
2. A massive demonstration in front of the Federal Building located at 11000 Wilshire Blvd., in Westwood on Saturday 26^th of February from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

The tragic assassination of Prime Minister Hariri is the latest Syrian terrorist attack on Lebanon.  It must be the last.  The following steps will ensure that it is:

1. Sanctioning an International Commission charged with conducting a criminal investigation into the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
2. The immediate resignation of the Syrian installed Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, the Syrian installed Prime Minister Omar Karame, and the whole cabinet.
3. The immediate withdrawal of all Syrian troops and Syrian intelligence agents and operatives, under supervision of US / European coalition forces.
4. The disarming of all illegal militias, including Hizzbollah and the Palestinian armed groups under supervision of US / European coalition forces.
5. Sponsoring the formation of an interim government charged with establishing favorable conditions for free and truly democratic national elections under the supervision of international observers.
6. Moreover and in an effort to ensure true representation of the Lebanese population, provide facilities for expatriates worldwide to participate in the electoral process in a manner similar to what was in place for the recent Iraqi elections.

Through unity, the Lebanese will regain their Nation; Through solidarity, freedom is imminent.

THE COUNCIL OF LEBANESE AMERICAN ORGANIZATIONS

CLAO Founded in 1989 to serve the USA and Lebanon.

                                              4401-A Connecticut Ave. NW Suite 273, Washington, DC 20008

                                              Eastern USA: P.O. Box 181116 Cleveland, OH  44118  ***  Western USA: P. O. Box 661823, Los Angeles, CA 90066

February 21, 2005                                                                                                PR050221

Syria Must Quit Lebanon; Murderers Must Be Brought To Justice, Interim Government To Be Instituted, Expatriates Must Be Allowed To Vote 

The recent assassination of former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri serves as a fresh reminder to the Lebanese people and political leadership of the perilous consequences of challenging Syria’s hegemony endured by Lebanon over the past 30 years. Underlying the horrific act and the colossal manner the assassination was carried out is a simple, yet ominous and evil message of intimidation to an overwhelming majority of the Lebanese people vehemently opposed to Syrian occupation. Even more significant is targeting a leader of Mr. Hariri’s significant stature at the local and international level thereby crossing all the red lines in a contemptuous defiance to the International Community. 

The Syrian-installed puppet regime in Lebanon figures prominently on a list of primary suspects, as suggested by the call for an International Inquiry into the assassination by the US Administration and France.  This represents a clear testimonial to the level of distrust the world community has towards government institutions of the current Lebanese regime and their Syrian mentors. Such a government has no credibility left with the International Community let alone the people it represents and hence will not be suited to organize fair and impartial parliamentary elections, scheduled to take place Spring 2005.

The Council Of Lebanese American Organization (CLAO) urges the United Nations to heed the call of the International Community in support of the International Commission to investigate the assassination of Mr. Harriri and bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice. With this serious escalation of violence, the United Nations is urged to assume a proactive role in pushing for a speedy implementation of UN Resolution 1559, which calls for a complete withdrawal of Syrian forces, including its intelligence network, along with the disarming of Syrian and Iranian sponsored surrogate militias.

Furthermore, CLAO calls upon the United Nations to sanction a process by which an interim government is instituted to oversee free national elections with the direct assistance of international observers. As an additional measure to ensure true representation, it is imperative that Lebanese expatriates around the world are provided with facilities to participate in the upcoming parliamentary elections in the same manner Iraqi expatriates did in the landmark January elections, considering that over a third of the Lebanese population has immigrated since 1990 due to oppression and various aspects of human right violations.

In summary, CLAO urges the United Nations to take active measures to help the Lebanese people in their struggle to regain their freedom and sovereignty, reestablish their government institutions according to the democratic traditions that this nation has long cherished thereby shepherding Lebanon back into the fold of growing nations. Towards that end, CLAO proposes the following steps:

1)      Sanction an International Commission charged with conducting a criminal investigation into the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafic Harriri and bringing the perpetrators to justice.

2)      Drive for an immediate implementation of the UN Security Council resolution 1559 that calls for the withdrawal of Syrian occupation forces, Syrian intelligence withdraw from Lebanon and for the disarming of their surrogate militias. 

3)      Sponsor the formation of an interim government charged with establishing favorable conditions for free and truly democratic national elections under the supervision of international observers.

4)      To ensure true representation of the Lebanese population, provide facilities for expatriates worldwide to participate in the electoral process in a manner similar to what was in place for the recent Iraqi elections.