Wiretapping Scandal: Bassil Wins Decision to Finally Apply Law

 
Source: Al-Manar TV, 02-02-2009

Once again, "wiretapping" turns out to be the main headline in Lebanon amid a "scandal" from here and an "electoral exploitation" from there as electoral campaigns have kicked off five months before decisive legislative elections.

Indeed, and only a few hours after launching a fierce campaign against Lebanese Telecommunications Minister Gebran Bassil and accusing him of facilitating wiretapping once and obstructing investigations once, the "truth" came out to open the topic to even more interaction with the revealing of violations taking place here and there..

Moreover, a parliamentary investigative panel would be formed to look into details and determine responsibilities, according to the head of the Telecommunication and Information parliamentary committee MP Hassan Fadlallah following a meeting with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.
The meeting, also attended by Berri's political advisor MP Ali Hasan Khalil, stressed on the necessity of carrying on the topic so that the law could be applied and the violators held accountable.

Earlier, Berri described the whole issue as dangerous and questioned the reason behind delaying the implementation of article 140 of the law and the executive decrees that were issued four years ago, when Marwan Hmedeh was Telecommunications Minister.

Meanwhile, a ministerial-judiciary-security meeting was held at the Grand Serail to discuss the issue of wiretapping. Prime Minister Fouad Saniora headed the meeting who was also attended by Telecommunication Minister Gebran Bassil, Interior Minister Ziad Baroud, Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar, Defense Minister Elias al-Murr, Army Commander Jean Qahwaji and other security officials.

The meeting lasted for three hours, three hours that were enough to shift all priorities. The meeting, which was aimed by some at targeting the Telecommunications Minister, gave the latter all needed credits. Not only the concerned minister presented all documents that falsify all accusation, but he was also able to extract a confession that the wiretapping was previously taking place contrary to the law.

Following the meeting, Defense Minister Elias al-Murr revealed that he was the one who appointed an officer in the Ministry of Telecommunications to control illegal international communications and denied that Minister Bassil hid any information for any party. Murr said a law on intercepting calls would be applied for the first time as of tomorrow, noting that Bassil convinced all attendees with his point of view during the meeting. He also said he is not responsible for wiretapping procedures adopted in the past.

For his part, Minister Bassil held a press conference in Rabyeh following the weekly meeting of the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc. Bassil said that the proposed center for intercepting communications would protect privacy of Lebanese citizens. "Some parties were anxious because we touched on certain taboos related to them in the Telecommunications Ministry," he said. "During today's meeting on wiretapping, we agreed on [creating] a specialized center for tapping in accordance with the Law No 140," he revealed.

"The wiretapping issue concerns the Ministries of Defense, Interior, and Justice, but the campaign issue was only directed at the Telecommunications Ministry. That is why I consider this political," Minister Bassil said. He concluded that what had been achieved following the Serail meeting was a victory for the Lebanese nation freedom.

Earlier, Bassil said that "after they accused me of facilitating wiretapping, now they are accusing me of banning it. They should decide what charge they want to use against me so that I can respond. I am convinced that those campaigning against me will not be present at the ministerial meeting" Monday.

Bassil stressed he would adhere to the implementation of article 140 of the law and will demand an investigation into the illegal wiretapping cases by any security apparatus.
"I challenge them to reveal with evidence the existence of any wiretapping room in the ministry. On the other hand, I would like to know what they have to say about those with ‘mobile cases' and ‘black rooms' specialized in wiretapping. Who controls those who send copies of their reports to embassies?"

In November 2005, the parliament issued legislation number 140 backed with executive decrees stating on establishing a station overseen by the ministries of interior, defense and telecommunications.