Daily Star – Lebanon
Aug 6 2007
Supporters, voters turn out in droves for peaceful ballot casting in
Metn
By Iman Azzi
Daily Star staff
Monday, August 06, 2007
METN: Church bells were drowned out by car horns honking political
melodies in the Metn on Sunday as tens of thousands of Lebanese cast
ballots in the by-election to fill the seat of assassinated Industry
Minister Pierre Gemayel. Across the region, white roses were handed
to voters by campaigners for former President Amin Gemayel, running
for the seat of his son Pierre, who was gunned down in Beirut last
November.
"So far, so good," said Bechara Hajj Boutrous, 47, a resident of
Bikfaya whose shop is two blocks from Gemayel’s house. He said
retired General and Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) leader MP Michel
Aoun’s war against Lebanese Forces head Samir Geagea "split the
Christians during the Civil War. I think the politicians are making
the same mistakes again."
While most residents and political analysts said during the day on
Sunday that the race was too close to call, Gemayel had an
overwhelming advantage in the numbers of posters and flags promoting
him on streets in much of the Metn.
Bikfaya’s main street was more of a pro-Gemayel and pro-March 14
Forces car parade than road. Lebanese flags and even the occasional
US stars and stripes swayed from passing vehicles, not just in
Gemayel’s Bikfaya seat but throughout the region.
Some car passengers waved flags, others gave a hand sign displaying
the thumb, forefinger and middle finger to represent God, family and
Lebanon. The three-finger gesture of support for Gemayel’s Phalange
Party often turned thumbs-down when cars sporting FPM orange drove
by.
"I’m so happy," 16-year old Sabine Sakr said as the noise of horns
droned on. "It’s important because Pierre Gemayel was killed, and it
wasn’t an accident. His seat needs to be replaced with someone who
can help the Christians here. I don’t know why Aoun is entering these
elections. The Metn is not his home. Lebanon is not even his country
anymore."
Too young to vote, Sakr was dressed in a Phalange Youth T-shirt and
sat watching the convoy of cars with her friends.
Other youth marched through the streets with flags or hung posters.
Some children had painted on their arms and cheeks the words Amin,
Pierre and Lebanon.
Meanwhile, orange scarves, T-shirts, sunglasses and baseball hats
proclaimed support for FPM candidate Camille Khoury.
"This is not a fight for today – this is a fight for the presidency,
for our future. It’s an important day for the whole Metn and the
country," said Milad Saliba, 24, in Bteghrine, hometown of Change and
Reform bloc MP Michel Murr. "Aoun will be our president."
The elections in Beirut’s second district on Sunday were less
competitive. Future Movement candidate Mohammad Itani seemed assured
of victory, as many voters were unaware there were other options on
the ballot.
In Moseitebeh, a People’s Movement representative calling himself
Jihad said, "as many people as we bring in, the Future [Movement]
will bring in double than that, if not triple. They have money we
don’t."
In Burj Hammoud, supporters of Aoun and Gemayel gathered on the
sidewalk opposite the polling booth, divided by party. Despite the
Armenian Tashnag Party recently aligning with the FPM, Phalange Party
volunteers said they would draw well in the predominantly Armenian
quarter, too.
Metn residents seemed happy to keep political disagreements limited
to the ballot box and not in the streets, and most said they hoped
the peace would hold after the results were announced and politics
would not deepen the divide between neighbors.
"We see them, we greet them, and we’ve been joking with them. At the
end of the day, they are our neighbors. We are family," said
65-year-old Aoun supporter Bechara Abboud outside a polling station
in Mtaileb, near Rabieh.