Mohammad Raad: ‘Hizbullah & FPM prevented the worst’

Source: Monday Morning, 20-6-2006
Mohammad Raad, leader of the parliamentary Bloc of Loyalty to the Resistance, believes that the "document of joint action" signed by Hizbullah and the FPM has proved its solidity.
"Without the presence on the ground of representatives of the two parties, the popular anger would have taken on alarming proportions and the demonstrators would have committed more serious acts, with unforeseeable consequences", he said.
Is the "Hizb" ready to assume its responsibilities and compensate citizens whose persons and/or property was damaged, without offering an apology?
We have borne the responsibility, even though Hizbullah did not ask anyone to take to the streets on June 1. But we understand the reasons that motivated our supporters to demonstrate and, for some of them, to commit reprehensible actions. The cause of these actions is the behavior of a political side which is trying to monopolize power and refuses to accept the logic of partnership.
Hizbullah accuses certain members of the cabinet, especially the information minister, of mishandling the events of June 1. What is your comment?
People know the hostile sentiments of certain members of the cabinet for our party. This isn't new, but the manner of showing their feelings during a crisis that shook the country [on June 1] had the result of stirring up people's anger.
Thus, the minister you mentioned commended Sharbel Khalil, promoter of the satirical sketch that derided Hizbullah's general secretary, without taking account of his position as a spiritual leader of a great national community.
You affirm that the document of joint action signed by Hizbullah and the FPM still holds, but we see that neither General Michel Aoun nor Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has said anything about the document since they signed it at the church of St. Michael in Shiyah.
Ongoing contact is maintained between them, either directly or through an intermediary, and they are ready to meet at any moment if this is thought necessary.