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"You may chain my hands and shackle my feet; you may even throw me into a dark prison, but you shall not enslave my thinking because it is free."
- Gibran Kahlil Gibran
Posted by FLAYM COMMITTEE
on 6/11/2002, 1:39 pm
Board Administrator
Edde abandons Qornet Shehwan
Daily Star: Decision divides National Bloc Sabine Darrous Daily Star staff While the Qornet Shehwan Gathering tries to remain on its feet in the face of state moves against it, the Christian opposition group will have to deal with a new challenge this time from within. National Bloc leader Carlos Edde said Monday that his group would no longer participate in the gathering because the authorities had blocked the opposition from achieving its goals of Lebanons independence, sovereignty and free decision-making. Eddes announcement comes despite the opposition of three of the blocs members, who announced that they will leave from the party if their president walks out on the gathering. Qornet Shehwans secretary- general, Samir Abdel- Malak, Shakib Qortbawi and Salim Salhab opposed Eddes decision, saying they saw no convincing excuse for withdrawing at such a critical time.
Political sources said that Edde was promised a seat in Parliament in 2005 in return for his withdrawal from the opposition group, adding that Chouf MP Walid Jumblatt, who is on good terms with Edde, has played a big role in the issue. Edde reportedly informed the Maronite patriarch, Nasrallah Butros Sfeir, about the decision to withdraw and is slated to meet Tuesday with Bishop Youssef Beshara,who heads the gathering, to relay his decision. Meanwhile, Qornet Shehwan will hold its scheduled meeting Tuesday and is expected to discuss Eddes withdrawal and the Constitutional Councils decision to strip Metn MP Gabriel Murr of his seat in Parliament after accepting a challenge to his victory. Abdel-Malak pledged that he and his colleagues in the National Bloc would attend the Qornet Shehwan meeting and withdraw from the bloc if Edde went through with the decision. I dont see any excuse for his withdrawal at this critical and embarrassing time for the opposition, Abdel-Malak told The Daily Star, adding that Edde did not discuss the issue with party members. We were informed about the decision and not consulted, Abdel- Malak said, refusing to comment on whether a compromise was behind the decision. The decision by Edde, who has said he opposes the idea of being part of a group that is not multi-confessional, is expected to win praise from pro-government politicians and parties. Eddes withdrawal will affect Qornet Shehwans image but will not influence the groups performance, according to Jbeil MP Fares Soueid. Soueid and many other members of Qornet Shehwan said they were surprised by Eddes move and added that the motives behind his decision were highly suspicious. In any case, Eddes membership of the group has always been controversial as he did not sign the founding document because it adopted the Taif Accord, to which his party has expressed reservations.
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