Qahwaji Livid at Military Salaries Delay: Let them Find a Way

Army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji stressed that the delay in payment of salaries to the military must be “solved as soon as possible,” assuring that he will not stand idle, al Mustaqbal daily reported on Sunday.

“We will not remain silent, we want the payrolls as soon as possible,” he told the daily.

Qahwaji pointed out to the anger and disappointment spreading among ranks of the military.

“Some military personnel have not been paid since the Al-Adha holiday and that is 45 days ago. They (government) have to pay, there are a million ways to pay, let them find one. It is not our problem,” said Qahwaji sharply.

“We cannot stand and watch while the military get deprived of their salaries,” he added.

Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil said last week that the cabinet must convene in order approve the payment of the salaries of public sector employees including the military, assuring that the matter is “not political but constitutional.”

The military have not received their salaries for the month of October which drew the ire of the military.

Lebanon has been without a head of state since President Michel Suleiman's six-year term ended in May last year.

The Baabda Palace vacuum has caused the parliament's paralysis and huge differences among cabinet members.

The government assumed the responsibilities of the head of state in his absence but sharp differences have stopped it short of taking important decisions.