Aljazeera.net, Qatar
April 26 2005

Syrian pullout evokes mixed feelings
By Cilina Nasser in the Bekaa Valley, eastern Lebanon

Syria has officially informed the United Nations that it has
completed its withdrawal from Lebanon, but for some, there are some
memories that continue to linger.

Lebanese soldiers have slowly started to fill in the vacuum left by
Syrian troops and intelligence units who in recent weeks have packed
up and vacated buildings they inhabited for most of the past 29
years.

A paper plastered at the entrance of a Syrian military intelligence
office in the eastern town of Anjar – 58km from Beirut and close to
the Syrian borders – and signed by the Lebanese Army reads: “This is
a military centre. It is not allowed to enter the building or get
close to it.”

A construction contractor points his finger at the two-storey
building, covered with graffiti, and says: “This is the Prophet Yusuf
Centre. That’s where the Syrians tortured people.”

The Syrian military intelligence headquarters had been located just
beside the famous ruins of the Islamic Umayyad Dynasty in Anjar since
1976.

There were joyous scenes as
Syria completed its pullout

Now, several Lebanese soldiers are stationed outside this former
detention centre, banning journalists from snooping around.

Bitter memories

But the Anjar military intelligence office may be a place were some
memories will never leave.

The construction contractor claims he still remembers the screaming
of detainees whom he heard once when he took his truck to do some
digging work about 20 metres away from the Centre, which was named
after the Syrian officer in charge there, Yusuf Abdu.

“They were screaming from pain,” he recalls. “I finished my work
quickly to get away from there.”

Remon Bouban, a commercial driver, remembers the seven days he spent
at the centre in 1986. He was then transferred to Syria where he was
moved from one detention facility to another in the course of 12
years.

“I hate the Syrian regime. I hate it more than you can imagine,” he
states. “I was tortured for years and years and was thrown in prison
because of a fake accusation,” he alleges.

He claims he was tortured and forced to confess to anti-Syrian
activities he maintains he did not commit.

The use of torture to obtain confessions is a violation of
international law.

Syrian-Lebanese fraternal ties

Still, Bouban says he will never forget the friendships he has made
in prison with Syrian inmates.

“The Syrian people are very simple and good people,” he says. “Every
time one of them used to receive a family visit, he would invite me
to share the food his family brought him.”

Rafi Tamourian, 25, told Aljazeera.net he was happy to see the
Syrians leave as his mother kept interrupting him in Armenian
obviously trying to protect her son from questions involving Syria.

Armenians are the main inhabitants in Anjar.

“Maybe they are our brothers, but they have treaded on our hearts for
a long time now,” he said.

Residents in the Hizb Allah stronghold of Yahfufa, a small village
tucked in a valley and surrounded by a spectacular view of mountains,
supported Syria, saying it has backed the armed resistance in forcing
Israel to pull out its troops from Lebanon in May 2000.

“It’s true Syria is getting out of the country, but our relations
must and will become stronger,” a Hizb Allah guard told
Aljazeera.net.

Honouring Syrian dead

In the neighbouring village of Riyak, a cornerstone for a monument to
honour Syrian soldiers killed in Lebanon’s wars was laid during a
farewell celebration which included a military parade for separate
Lebanese and Syrian battalions.

“It’s true Syria is getting out of the country, but our relations
must and will become stronger”

“Let’s remember our martyrs,” a commander shouted. The Lebanese and
Syrian soldiers roared three times in unison: “We will never forget
them.”

“Mabruk,” a congratulating salute surprisingly came from a Syrian
journalist covering the farewell celebration as he addressed his
Lebanese colleagues. “I’m happy. I don’t want oppression to be
practiced against the Lebanese in my name,” he said, adding he hoped
his country would continue to go through changes under the leadership
of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

On the main road at the border town of Masnaa, a Syrian army officer
filmed green military buses filled with soldiers and lorries crammed
with their belongings as they headed back to Syria. “The filming is
just to keep the memory,” he told Aljazeera.net. He came from
Damascus especially to film his retreating colleagues. Asked if they
were happy, he said: “I don’t think anybody wants to leave Lebanon
this way.”