Jumblatt says last May”s events “behind our backs”
PSP leader renews faith in state as “sole authority”
Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) leader MP Walid Jumblatt told his supporters as he toured a number of villages in the qada of Aley that the page has turned on last May”s violence between March 14 and March 8 supporters.
"The events of last May are behind our backs … This commits us to supporting the state as the sole authority in all decisions," Jumblatt told the families of people who were killed during the May events.
The PSP chief reiterated his party”s commitment to last year”s Doha Agreement, which put and end to an 18-month political crisis in the country.
"The blood of our martyrs in May gave birth to dialogue and national consensus," he said.
Jumblatt voiced regret that some of the country”s politicians have violated the Doha Agreement by returning to "tense political rhetoric," hinting at the recent debate between Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Fouad Siniora over funding the Council of the South.
Jumblatt ended his tour by visiting the family of Luffi Zeineddine in the town of Chbaniye. Zeineddine, a PSP supporter, was killed on February 14 on his way back home after participating in a mass rally to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the killing of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
Zeineddine was reportedly attacked by March 8 supporters, who clashed with a number of protestors following last Saturday”s rally.
The PSP leader praised the country”s security and armed forces for arresting all suspects who were implicated in Zeineddine”s murder.
Addressing the issue of upcoming parliamentary elections, the PSP leader urged his supporters to "head to the elections with a high spirit of democracy … and with respect to all opinions and views."
Jumblatt also called on all March 14 parties to work on drafting a socio-economic platform to address the country”s harsh economic conditions.