No more impunity!

If the Lebanese government and the rest of the political establishment pulling the strings of Lebanon continue to rebuff any international investigation and to hinder the involvement of a mere international technical team in the investigation, the European Union, spearheaded by France, must convene a group of world-renowned legal experts in order to explore the accountability mechanisms in the case of the three heads of power – President of the Lebanese Republic Michel Aoun, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, and Hezbollah-backed Prime Minister Hassan Diab along with his ministers – for resisting and impeding an international investigation into a crime against humanity. 

These three presidents, and every person previously involved in allowing the storage of explosive materials in Beirut Port amidst a civilian population, in leaving this port under Hezbollah’s control and for its own uses beyond State control, must be met with accountability and punitive measures. The same shall apply to Hezbollah and the Iranian leaders instructing it and benefiting from manufacturing missiles and planting explosives in the corpses of innocent Lebanese. Perhaps was it Israel that orchestrated yet another shady covert operation – along the lines of its undeclared operations inside Iran – targeting a certain hangar in Beirut Port which it had previously accused Hezbollah of using to manufacture Iranian missiles and concealing explosives. Then, it was taken aback by that substance rapidly turning the "limited" operation behind the first explosion into a disaster and a war crime in the second. If the investigation proves that Israel is indeed involved in Beirut’s disaster, then Israel too shall not go unpunished, no matter how hard it tries to deny, along with Hezbollah and Lebanon, its involvement in the incident of August 4, in a questionable scheme tying between these enemies. 

Humanitarian aid for the afflicted population is essential, it is even direly needed, however, it should never dilute the urgency of ending impunity, otherwise, such crimes against humanity, acts of terrorism and crimes of war will become normalized recurrence in Lebanon.

Ethical responsibility requires that the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, daringly requests the immediate dispatch of a fact-finding team before it is too late, and evidence is destroyed. The Security Council will be crippled by procrastination as some of its Member States will hinder calls for an international investigation or the dispatch of a fact-finding team. The International Criminal Court does not have the mandate to intervene as Lebanon, Israel and Syria refused to join it. 

Yet, when there is a will there is always a way. The UN General Assembly will not convene under “United for Peace,” which would grant it a mandate similar to that of the Security Council. But it could demand that the Lebanese State complies with calls for international participation in the investigation in crimes against humanity. It could also appeal to the Secretary-General to promptly call the Security Council to dispatch a fact-finding commission.

At the same time, influential States must unite under international law and mobilize legal experts to explore relevant mechanisms for ending any impunity for those who rejected transparency and deliberately concealed evidence, whether they be ministers or presidents, senior or junior officials in all State institutions, or leaders of forces operating outside state the parameters of the state.

Impunity must end now, as failing in doing so in the past has organically contributed to criminal resurgence, as perpetrators exploited such lack of impunity given that the world’s memory is rather weak and accountability inexistent, and that political bargains have always ended or hindered the course of justice.  

French President Emmanuel Macron might have taken one of his most historical stands by visiting Lebanon on day one of the disaster that swept through Beirut. Not only did he sympathetically hug a distraught woman amidst the Coronavirus epidemic, but also rebuked and reprimanded all political leaders when he spoke of the “missing funds” from international donations to Lebanon and insisted on channeling aid through NGOs. He stated that he called upon Aoun, Diab and Berri to assume their responsibilities and re-establish confidence, speaking of a new political charter for the Lebanese. Marcon added that there will be no more blank checks given to a regime that no longer enjoys the confidence of its people. He promised to mobilize support through an international conference, stressing that it will not be unconditional and uncontrolled, but support that is governed by transparency and accountability.

Rumor has it that Lebanon’s ruling junta will most likely make use of the aid and donations to float its ranks and turn the situation to its advantage, while it keeps dodging reform and doing patchwork to advance its own interests. Here again, accountability must be ensured internationally, because the cartel pulling the strings of Lebanon has become accustomed to political and financial debauchery, to looting and preying on people’s misery.

The Lebanese themselves must turn against their own sectarianism, their leaders, and the political system governing the country. Let the Lebanese army take charge of the country to save it from what has befallen Beirut. Let there be an international custody to help the Lebanese army salvage the remains of Lebanon, torn apart by its own leaders. ‘All of them, means all of them’. And, let the Lebanese legal practitioners now focus on mobilizing international legislators in an organized and pragmatic fashion to explore options and means of trial and accountability. Impunity ends now!

The biggest bomb since Hiroshima and Nagasaki, detonated the beautiful capital of the East leading to a real disaster. This is not a natural disaster. It is a crime against humanity. Period.

Accountability shall spare no one. Israel, if found implicated, must be held accountable. Let Iran be told, enough is enough. Let there be international action against the Islamic Republic of Iran if it is responsible for storing explosives at Beirut Civil Port, because this would amount to a crime against humanity. The same shall apply to Hezbollah.

Shame on Hassan Diab and his ministers for not resigning. Who brought this wolfman dressed in sheep's clothing? Once a friend, I never imagined him so unscrupulous, as he proved to be in the aftermath of the Beirut tragedy. He has become a clerk answering to Hezbollah at the expense of the Lebanese people. He must leave. But he will not resign because he lacks courage. He must be ousted either through punishment and accountability or by the people who will drag him out of the Serail.

Nabih Berri boasts about being the most seasoned of politicians. However, wisdom is not about being savvy and shrewd. After seeing what happened to Beirut, he, too, must leave unless he stops providing cover to Hezbollah through the “Shiite Duo” and truly dismantles it. Lebanon's Shiites do not deserve to bear the stigma of destroying Beirut because their leaders either participated in or turned a blind eye to storing massive explosives in a civilian port.

Michel Aoun is not the “Father of All”, otherwise he would not have wandered in Beirut Port, an alien from another planet. His reign is not the “powerful reign”, but rather a “reign of failure”. It is in his interest to willingly resign before he is dismissed by force. In people’s minds, his name rhymes with “jinx”. Clear your name, Michel Aoun. Resign. Let the people say farewell with any respect that might be left for you. 

This government, clearly oblivious to mass panic, must be dismantled, as it reeks the unbearable stench of the regime. Volunteers were the ones who took to the streets in Mar Mikhael, Gemmayzeh, and Ashrafieh to help people. These young men and women were the ones who carried brooms and put on masks while searching for bodies or removing glass and debris. God bless you, our wonderful children. God bless you.

One last observation – a personal one. My same floor neighbor, in a 60-apartment building, presently all hollowed with dislodged dwellers, a beautiful woman, was killed in front of her daughter and son, barely fifteen and ten years of age. Our other next-door neighbor was rushing to the ground floor after the explosion only to find these two children crying for help, before their severely injured mother. He took the pulse of the dead body, then insisted that the two children accompany him, as they were screaming, refusing to leave their mother's body behind. Sultan was forced to make one of the most difficult decisions in his life, to forcibly draw them away from their dead mother to save their lives. The horrific scene of the two children should be enough to haunt each and every person responsible for what happened. 

However, those people know no shame for they are criminals, par excellence. They have always enjoyed impunity, despite their terrorism, war crimes, or crimes against humanity.

Most of the residents of the Skyline Tower, iconic landmark of the port, are young men and women in their forties, graduates of international universities, who work, day and night, to lead a life of normalcy they deserve. Most of the older residents from the diaspora came back home, longing to Beirut, with the earnings of a lifetime of hard work, to invest in this landmark of the port where criminals had hidden explosives in its silos. They killed the dreams of an entire generation without blinking. For they knew what they were doing, they deliberately chose this location to destroy this normalcy, this lifestyle of hard-earned luxury.

Whether they were envious, greedy, ideologues, employees, decision makers or implementers, they shall not go unpunished. They have committed crimes against humanity. Israel too shall not go unpunished if it had any involvement in the Beirut Port crime, whether intentionally or accidentally.

On a personal level, it was God, only God, who protected me, my daughter, and the Beirut Institute team. It is from there, from the tenth floor, in front of Yehia al-Warraq's painting that rejects silencing, that I broadcasted the 13th and final episode of the first season of the e-Policy Circles of Beirut Institute Summit in Abu Dhabi. It was on Wednesday July 29, with the idea of taking a break during August. It was only God’s will that guided me to suspend broadcasting in August, otherwise we would all have been killed. Only God's will had it that I would be in Batroun and not in Beirut on Tuesday, 4th of August.

Nevertheless, the Beirut Institute team and I will not be deterred by displacement and incapacitation. We will find any place, even if it were a deserted street or among the rubble, to resume the Beirut Institute Summit e-Policy Circles on September 9th, only without that painting. We will remain the voice of moderation and modernity. We shall prevail, no matter how insolent extremism, corruption and bankruptcy get.

Our outcry today to the world shall remain: They must not go unpunished. No more impunity!

We will be waiting for you. Join us!