Top judges voice relief over generals” release
Politicians urged “not to meddle” in judicial affairs
Lebanon”s Higher Judicial Council expressed its relief on Tuesday over the release of four former security generals, but voiced disappointed about recent attacks against the Lebanese judiciary. The council convened on Tuesday in an extraordinary session to discuss a campaign launched by the opposition after the release of the four former security officers, who were detained for almost four years without trial on suspicion of involvement in the killing of former Premier Rafik Hariri.
The session was held in the absence of Public Prosecutor Said Mirza, who is accused by some opposition forces of being responsible for the officers” 44-month detention.
Local media reported that Mirza, accompanied by his wife, traveled to Prague early Monday for medical treatment.
A statement issued following the meeting said: "The council expresses its relief at the decision to release the four officers, which was issued by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL)."
"The council wishes that the international judiciary would continue its path to achieve justice," it added.
The judges also stressed that the council represented an independent authority, adding that they "will not spare any effort to defend its autonomy, neutrality and dignity."
"The council regrets and regrets any attack against the Lebanese judicial body, particularly that the judges deploy all efforts to launch efficient reforms following the issuance of the last judicial appointments."
The council called on "politicians not to meddle with the judiciary”s affairs and judges to avoid any interference or influence from any party."
It stressed its readiness to "assume responsibility for any gaps in judicial practices and to hold any judge, who commits breaches, accountable for his acts."
It welcomed any "serious and positive proposal to re-examine some bases of the judicial system, in order to strengthen the judicial authority and follow-up on efficient reforms adopted in democratic countries."
They also addressed media, saying that the Lebanese judiciary should not be portrayed as involved in politics, "because such a description is untrue."
"The judiciary is neutral and rejects any political affiliations," the statement said. It added that council would hold more extraordinary sessions in order to follow up on recent developments.
In a related development on Tuesday, March 14 MP Boutros Harb said attacks against the judiciary were dangerous indications of "attempts to topple the current political system in Lebanon and disrupt the democratic system that ensures people”s freedoms and the role of state institutions."
Following a visit to Premier Fouad Siniora, Harb said that "any Lebanese politician, who rejects decisions by the STL, will be hampering national accord which we reached in the dialogue sessions."
Harb added that the opposition”s position toward the STL was "dangerous … and a retraction from earlier commitments and agreements which were reached in the national dialogue sessions, or in Doha, which called for accepting the decisions of the STL."
Public Works and Transport Minister Ghazi Aridi also criticized attacks on the judiciary and called on the Lebanese to "preserve the state" and its institutions. Aridi”s remarks came following a visit to Berri on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Future Bloc MP Mohammed Qabbani highlighted the bloc”s trust in the Lebanese judiciary and the STL. In comments after a meeting with Siniora, Qabbani stressed the need to activate the Memorandum of Understanding between Lebanon and the STL.