Three Syrian officers “running” election campaign in north – Lebanese paper

Al-Mustaqbal web site, Beirut
31 May 05

Text of unattributed report entitled “Three Syrian security officers
running election battle in the north” published on Lebanese newspaper
Al-Mustaqbal website on 31 May, subheadings as published

In the wake of the big victory achieved by the lists of the martyr
Prime Minister Rafiq al-Hariri in the three constituencies in the
capital and amid public welcome of the success of the lists of national
partnership, which Sa’d al-Hariri described as “solidarity by the
people of the capital with 14 March”, several election developments
took place yesterday in a number of constituencies in the districts,
foremost of which is the information on three Syrian security officers
working shifts in the north to run the election battle against the
opposition.

First, Gen Michel Awn has continued to attack the election results
in the capital, saying that “the petrodollar has swept Beirut” and
referring to “a kind of serious factional control over the country”.
He said that “the citizen in Beirut does not act spontaneously and
is guided”. He also announced that the “mourning period (over prime
minister Al-Hariri) is over”. The interesting thing is that Awn,
who attacked what he described as the “guided citizen” in Beirut,
addressed a delegation from the Kisrawan-Jubayl constituency and
told them: “Follow us and we will handle the responsibility of (…)
[ellipsis as received] I will show you the way and if you want to
take that road, you will rid yourselves and Lebanon (…)” [sentence
as published] He also attacked the “petrodollar in Kisrawan-Jubayl”.
It was also interesting that there was convergence between Awn and
[former] Prime Minister Salim al-Huss, who said that “the results were
settled in advance”, adding that the “poor turnout raises questions
about their legitimacy”. He also “observed” that “the factors which
decided the result are religious and sectarian bias, political money
and the emotional reaction to the heinous crime”.

Secondly, Awn continued with the alliances with the symbols of the
era of Syrian custodianship. After he settled the alliance with MP
Talal Arsalan in the B’abda-Aley constituency, Al-Mustaqbal learned
that progress had been made in the negotiations on the alliance with
the former interior minister, MP Sulayman Franjiyah, but full details
are not yet known.

Regarding the elections in the north, informed sources have told
Al-Mustaqbal that a Syrian team made up of three security officers,
who were part of the Syrian security agency which operated in Lebanon
in the past, is running the election process from Tripoli to confront
the opposition lists. The team held several meetings with candidates
and “key” figures. The three officers are Muhammad Khalluf (former
security official in Beirut), Nabil Hushaymi (who was in charge of
the Syrian security in Akkar) and Khalil Zughayb (former security
official in Tripoli).

B’abda-Aley

Thirdly, in the B’abda-Aley constituency, it was learnt that
negotiations between the Progressive Socialist Party [PSP] and the
National Liberal Party are making progress towards adding Ilyas
Abu-Asi, a leading figure in the Liberals, to the opposition list
in the constituency. Parallel to this possible development, the
coordination committees between the PSP and the “Forces” in the
constituency have been active (the candidate of this constituency is
Dr Edmond Na’im). These committees are organizing meetings for the
staff of the two sides and also conducting tours in various areas.

In the meantime, there was a “surprising” shift by candidate Shakib
Qurtubawi from the Qurnat Shahwan [Gathering] to the Free National
Current. Awn will announce today the list of the alliance between him
and Arsalan. The list includes a Shi’i, Ramzi Kanj. It also includes
Shakib Qurtubawi, Hikmat Dib, Naji Garyus and Ghalib al-A’war, in
addition to Arsalan, Marwan Abu-Fadil and As’ad Abu-Ra’d.

MP Walid Junblatt, head of the Democratic Forum, paid a visit yesterday
to Al-Musaylih, where he met with Chamber of Deputies Speaker Nabih
Birri. part of the discussion focused on the elections in B’abda-Aley.

Al-Matn-Kisrawan-Jubayl

Fourth, in Al-Matn al-Shamali [northern Al-Matn], sources in
the opposition have told Al-Mustaqbal that the formation of the
opposition list is still in collision with the “Armenian factor”
because of [former] President Amin al-Jumayyil’s wish not to nominate
an Armenian on the list. On the other hand, MP Nasib Lahhud is keen
on nominating Rafi Madayan. It was understood that Al-Jumayyil does
not want Al-Tashnaq to declare mobilization against the opposition
list, while Lahhud believes that this does not change anything and
that Madayan can secure Armenian votes for his list.

As for the Armenian factor, there is a discussion about the possibility
of not forming a closed list, while the Catholic seat seems to favour
Roger Ma’luf (from the Liberals). With regard to the Free National
Current, it is apparently heading towards forming a dual list that
includes Edgar Ma’luf (Catholic) and Ibrahim Kan’an (Maronite). Awn
did not deny the alliance with MP Michel al-Murr and said that he had
expressed his thanks to Al-Murr “if he wants to give us his votes,
but we do not have anything to give him in return”.

Fifth, as for Kisrawan-Jubayl, which the opposition describes as
the “mother of battles”, the alliance is settled between two MPs
Mansur Ghanim al-Bawn and Faris Sa’id with the Lebanese Forces and
the National Bloc through its dean Carlos Iddah, and the Democratic
Renewal Movement, which has nominated former MP Kamil Ziyadah.

B’alabakk-Al-Hirmil

Sixth, in the B’alabakk-Al-Hirmil constituency, and while Hezbollah
has not yet decided the name of the candidate who will replace the
Ba’th candidate, Al-Mustaqbal has learnt that a strong list will
confront Hezbollah’s list, including former MP Albert Mansur (facing
the nationalist candidate Marwan Faris); Tariq Habashi (facing MP Nadir
Sukkar, candidate of the Baqraduni Phalanges Party); and two Sunni
candidates, Husayn Sulh and Husayn or Mustafa al-Hajjiri. There are
efforts to include former MP Yahya Shams, who is described as strong
in the constituency since he enjoys the support of the tribes and
families of Al-Hirmil area, and to include Rif’at Nayif al-Masri,
Hafiz Amhaz, Hasan Nabha and Ali al-Musawi for the Shi’i seats.
Meanwhile [former] parliament Speaker Husayn al-Husayni is standing
in the elections on the alliance list with Hezbollah.