Beirut activist takes aim at Hizbullah's weapons

BEIRUT -- Fourteen years after armed Hizbullah elements swept through the streets of Beirut, committing acts of violence and intimidating city residents, the memory is still fresh in the minds of those who were there.

The violence of May 7, 2008, left about 71 people dead and caused extensive property damage.

It followed two cabinet decisions: to shut down a Hizbullah communications network, and to dismiss airport security chief Brig. Gen. Wafiq Choucair.

Choucair was removed from his position after authorities obtained information indicating the Iran-backed party had placed surveillance cameras on the runway.

Hizbullah's weapons have been in evidence in the ensuing years, including during violence that erupted in Beirut on October 14 as armed militiamen from Hizbullah and the Amal movement stormed through the streets.

Hundreds of fighters fired assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) towards the neighbourhood of Ain al-Remmaneh, amid a Hizbullah/Amal rally to demand the dismissal of Beirut port explosion investigator Tarek al-Bitar.

To address the arms proliferation issue, Resilient Beirut Foundation president Rasha Itani on June 20 put forward a bill that calls for a "Weapon-free Beirut".

The draft legislation calls for a ban on carrying or acquiring light, medium and heavy weapons by anyone in all areas of Beirut, with no exception for any individual, party, association or organisation.

Only soldiers of the Lebanese armed forces may remain armed, according to the proposal, while the Ministry of Defence would oversee the granting of weapon carry permits to individuals for valid reasons.

Beirut native Mahmoud Chebaro told Al-Mashareq that in his view, the draft legislation is "a necessity after Hizbullah's weapons ravaged Beirut and its people".

Looking back at May 7, 2008, he said, he sees that Hizbullah's use of its weapons on that occasion harmed Beirut's standing as a model of co-existence.

"Its weapons pose a challenge to us, and there is an urgent need to have them removed in order for Beirut to regain its freedom," he said.

Restoring security

Itani, who ran for office in the parliamentary elections, told Al-Mashareq that one of the proposals of her candidacy was for a "Weapon-free Beirut".

She subsequently developed her proposal into draft legislation to be submitted to lawmakers representing Beirut in parliament and all members of parliament (MPs) "who would like to contribute to putting Lebanon back on the civilised map of the world".

"There is an urgent need to demilitarise Beirut in order to put an end to the insecurity, instability and sense of defeat," she said, noting that armed militias "use and brandish those weapons to nullify political decisions".

The continued presence of weapons "leads to more problems, fear and emigration by the Lebanese", she said, and also has been detrimental to Lebanon's relationship with the Arab and international communities.

Under the proposed legislation, weapon traffickers and dealers and anyone who stores weapons, ammunition or materials that can be used for the manufacture of weapons would face up to five years of imprisonment.

Itani expressed hope that parliament would respond to the proposal, "because weapons are a problem in Beirut and throughout Lebanon, and Beiruti families aspire for a weapon-free Beirut".

Need for change

The presence of illegal weapons in Beirut and throughout Lebanon "is unjustified, and Itani's proposal to make Beirut free of weapons must apply to all regions", said Alfred Riachi, secretary-general of the Continual Federal Congress.

"Hizbullah's illegal weapons have brought only harm to Lebanon," he told Al-Mashareq, noting the need for change.

"MPs today face a great challenge, foremost among them the change-oriented MPs, who must be at the forefront of those who demand a weapon-free Beirut," he said.

He noted that the Lebanese armed forces, especially the Internal Security Forces, "are agencies concerned with enforcing [a weapon-free Beirut] to maintain security in the capital".

"It is not the militias or Hizbullah's weapons that maintain security in Beirut, but rather the legitimate security forces, and they are capable of doing so," he said.