Solange Gemayel Vows to Resist Master-Lackey Relationship with Syria

The LF has observed the 22nd anniversary of its founder's assassination with vows resist the master-lackey relationship with Syria and a resounding denunciation of President Lahoud's extended regime as a front for a "mafia of loyalists desperate to complete the systematic plunder of public funds."
"Our opposition struggles for a relationship of equality with Syria, not one of master and lackey or 'Amrak Seidna'" said Mrs. Solange Gemayel on the death anniversary of her husband, President-Elect Bashir Gemayel, who founded the Lebanese Forces Christian militia in the early years of Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war.

She was the star speaker at the massive observation rally that was held Tuesday at the Miracle Icon Cathedral in Ashrafiyeh, marking the debut of a 'holly alliance' among the nation's main right-wing opposition factions—the LF, Gen. Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement, Qornet Shahwan and ex-President Amin Gemayel's Katayeb Corrective Movement, An Nahar reported on Wednesday.

Solange Gemayel sat at the front row of the memorial service held with Cardinal Sfeir's blessing for her husband, who perished with 22 associates in a 1982 bomb blast in Ashrafiyeh just 20 days after his election for Lebanon's presidency and only two weeks before his swearing-in ceremony.

Mrs. Gemayel was flanked by her son Nadim, daughter Yumna, and her husband's elder brother, ex-President Amin Gemayel and his wife. Amin was elected president to succeed the slain Bashir.

At the other end of the front row sat Sitrida Geagea and Gen. Nadim Lteif, the top Lebanon representative of exiled Gen. Aoun, leaders of the Qornet Shahwan collation and Dory Chamoun, leader of the National Liberal Party. 'Bashir Gemayel's Death Anniversary Unites Opposition," exclaimed a headline on An Nahar's front page.

Crowds brandished portraits of Bashir Gemayel and Samir Geagea, who headed the LF three years after Bashir's assassination until the end of the civil war. Geagea then changed the militia into a full-fledged political party, which was technically outlawed by the government upon his 1994 arrest. He is still in solitary confinement at the prison of Lebanon's defense Ministry in Yarze.

posted by Rampurple @ 9/15/2004 04:49:00 PM

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