Charbel Regrets Lack of Political Consensus to Disarm Tripoli Gunmen
Interior Minister Marwan Charbel lamented on Friday that Lebanon's political leaders haven't yet taken the bold step to lift the political cover off gunmen in the northern city of Tripoli.
In remarks to Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3), Charbel said: “The Tripoli situation is still under control but unacceptable.”
He expressed regret that “the political cover hasn't been lifted off the gunmen in Tripoli.”
“Parliament should convene and take security measures,” said Charbel, who has repeatedly called for consensus by lawmakers to give security forces the right to act against perpetrators away from political interference.
Asked where the weapons used by the gunmen in both Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen neighborhoods had come from, Charbel said: “Some traders sold arms to the Lebanese and most parties are armed.”
He blamed political differences for the armed clashes, which he said have now turned into sectarian differences.
“What's happening in Tripoli trespasses the government's capabilities,” Charbel told VDL, reiterating that only political consensus resolves security problems in the country.
His remarks came as intermittent sniper fire shook the rival neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen, leaving several people dead.
The majority of Bab al-Tabbaneh residents are Sunni and back the revolution against Syrian President Bashar Assad while Jabal Mohsen's residents are mainly Alawites from Assad's sect.
11 years
No one disagree disarming salafist and el Qaeda. The problem is that HA does not agree disarming the Alaouite and the Tawhid militias. And the army cannot disarm one side without disarming the other side.
11 years
how about disarming hizbocrap too?
11 years
once more: hizbushaitan and the Syrian regime are arming jabal Mohsen and tawhid, and until they accept to have them disarmed, there can be no peace in Tripoli. if they accept they are disarmed(instead of sending them weapons) the other side can easily be disarmed.
11 years
Charbel ~
“Some traders sold arms to the Lebanese and most parties are armed.”
There is no point disarming the militias when they can re-arm at will. Charbel must go after the arms traders: first to dry up supplies and second to make sure disarmament works. Stop the weapons at the source.
Charbel must detain and arrest arms traders to stop this proliferation. The army can not keep up with the arms traders. The army and the people of Tripoli can only continue to have wounded and deaths without stopping the traders.
11 years
you might be correct: he should go after the ones supplying the weapons.
so he should start by hizbushaitan :)
11 years
If HA is indeed supplying weapons they should stand down. Instability in Lebanon only harms their message of resistance against Zionism.
The problem is HA allies are far out numbered and out gunned in Tripoli. As I said before the supply of weapons must dry up and then disarmament stands a chance ...
Having said that HA deserves special status as a front against Israel. Only when other Lebanese parties can be trusted should tey have to merge with the army. I see Zionist posts here all the time.
11 years
you are still giving a special standard when it comes to hizbushaitan, while for most of the Lebanese people they are a foreign entity under the orders of iran directly. furthermore show us one single law that justifies the existence of hizbushaitan the way they are armed within the Lebanese territory.
11 years
@ geha
Seeing your extreme hatred of HA only confirms to me that you can not be trusted to treat all Lebanese the same under the law.
It is only when there can be a trusted understanding that all groups, not just HA, will abide a united Lebanon.
11 years
you said it: the key word is under the law, and it is exactly what I asked you about.
for a long time, hizbushaitan was the only armed group outside the state, and all the others just followed to protect themselves (as they say) especially after the may7 and the cabinet overthrow.
so basically, it is you who is bias and refuse to tackle the issue at hand: the fact that hizbushaitan is an shia extremist terrorist organization under the orders of iran.
11 years
One more thing:
Any arms trader that sells grenades, rockets, mortars-rounds or explosives into the civilian population deserves a special place in Hell.
These traders that sell this indiscriminate ordinance should have mandatory prison sentences and their assets confiscated.... period.
11 years
So you think he can arrest traders of arms supported by HA who have free access to the Lebanese borders and harbors.
11 years
It is both sides that are being armed not just the HA allies. Charbel says "some arms traders" which means he knows who indeed they are.
And yes, if these traders continue to sell arms into civilian populations they should be arrested.
11 years
ft
name calling shows who you are especially when you have no arguments to substantiate what you say.
hizbushaitan is arming those thugs of jabal Mohsen and the tawhid thugs, which is the root cause of the problem.
11 years
It is both sides geha ... Your constant rants against HA only confirm their suspicions about your intentions should they disarm.
11 years
Qu'est ce que vous attendez pour demissioner M. le Ministre. vous reconnaissez que vous n'avez pas la couverture politique pour faire votre travail.
11 years
Ft
to the contrary you always do it, and as you previously said, you are an azaar.
hoping you can grow up some day to behave like a human being some day, and until then: you are the only animal posting on this site :)
11 years
Disarm Jabal Mohsen? I don't ever recall the Alawites of Jabal Mohsen attacking Bab Tebaneh every time something happens in another country to the terrorist that the Bab Tebaneh supports. Every time something happens in Syria Bab Tebaneh threaten and attack Jabal Mohsen. Alawites have the very basic right of defense of self and family. Disarm the side that is openly being supported by Al Qaeda.
11 years
I think they should let them fight it out until the end. Beautiful country, stupid people. No one can hurt the lebanese if they were united. No one need to hurt the lebanese because they can take care of it themselves.
11 years
In this case, who needs such gutless and spineless men as Abou Melhem and his president, Elie Snayfer, in positions of authority?
Bravo for Chatbel to say thing directly. Yes there is no agreement from HA to disarm its allied militias. Please m8 supporters do not out the blame on m14. They have been shouting out loud for disarmament of ALL militias in tripoli since more than two years.