Aoun calls for attention to Christian marginalization

Source: Daily Star, 05-12-2007
BEIRUT: The "Memorandum of Christian Principles and Basics" issued by Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) leader Michel Aoun on Monday calls for sweeping reforms aimed at rectifying the "marginalization" of the Christian community in Lebanon.
The memorandum was the result of three days of consultations between Aoun and other Christian figures at the FPM leader's residence in Rabieh last week. In the document, Aoun urged the country's leaders to restore prestige to the presidency by agreeing on the "representative and personal characteristics of the president." He also called for "correcting the imbalance" of Christian representation in government and security and judicial institutions.
"The Christians seek the friendship of all people and countries," said the document. "An effective [Christian] role maintains and safeguards the [Christian] existence."
It said targeting the Christians' existence, role and rights "is tantamount to targeting Leb-anon's unity and singularity."
"Given that fact, we are paying special attention to the Christians' marginalization, particularly the demographic defect resulting from the naturalization law, the poor representation in Parliament due to unfair electoral laws and the symbolic participation in government and public administrations," the memorandum said.
"The current crisis is nothing but an extension of the situation we were witnessing during the period of Syrian tutelage when the Christians opposed it and paid heavy price to recover sovereignty and independence," the document said.
The document set out to identify the "rules of democracy in the Christian community," saying the relationship among the Christians should be based on "two principles, two pillars and one authority."
The two principles, according to the document, deal with the concepts of political diversity and pluralism of parties as well as recognizing "the other" and the presence of a majority-minority system which should always respect democracy.
As for the first pillar, the document said it belongs to the majority which has the right to lead the community politically while the second pillar is for the minority, which has the option of either joining the majority or forming an opposition.
"Bkirki is the authority that would oversee the respect of the set rules," it said.
"The church is a high authority and Bkirki was and will remain the uncontestable national and spiritual authority.
"And in order for it to preserve such a role, no one should be allowed to use Bkirki as a parallel authority or as a competitor to the political authority," the document added.
The document also said the president should be chosen by the Christians and backed at the national level. "The Christians should not be punished for choosing their leaders; but the latter should be discussed regarding their political choices and performance."
It called for adopting a reform policy and fighting corruption, stressing that the Christians reject "auto-security which leads to sowing partitions."
"Christians support the establishment of a national defense group that provides Leb-anon with stability, constitutes a force of deterrence against enemies and allows the state to spread its authority throughout Lebanon, while preventing any foreign interference," it said.
It listed two main threats directed against Lebanon and its Christians: "Naturalization of Palestinian refugees and the monetary surplus being used in purchasing plots of land and changing their identity."