Thousands attend launch of Al-Marada`s new party, Franjieh supports Lebanese resistance`s arms

Source: Daily Star, 12-6-2006.
ZGHORTA: Former Lebanese Cabinet Minister Suleiman Franjieh officially launched his new Al-Marada party in his hometown of Zghorta on Sunday in a ceremony attended by thousands of supporters and representatives of Hizbullah, Amal and the Free Patriotic Movement. Franjieh said Al-Marada`s main aims were to support the Lebanese resistance`s arms, reject giving nationality to Palestinian refugees in Lebanon and oppose the division of the country.
Al-Marada initially founded in 1975 to protect Zghorta during the Civil War. After the Taif Accord, the group handed over its arms to the Lebanese Army, like nearly all other militias did at the time.
The launching of the party coincided with the commemoration of the Ehden massacre of June 13, 1978, when Franjieh`s father Tony and members of his family were assassinated, allegedly by the Phalange.
"The Lebanon we want is based on consensual democracy," Franjieh said as his supporters waved light green flags with Al-Marada`s new emblem, the Greek letter Pi.
Voicing his full support for Hizbullah, Franjieh said the resistance was an "honor" to Lebanon and all Arabs, and that the resistance`s arms were "directed against the enemy," not against any Lebanese groups.
Franjieh, who lost during last year`s parliamentary elections against a coalition led by the Future Movement, ended his speech with his favorite motto: "My country is always right."
Earlier last week, Franjieh, former Prime Minister Omar Karami and other figures formed a new opposition front with the aim of toppling the government led by the March (Feb) 14 Forces.
Although the country`s main political leaders had agreed at the last session of the national dialogue on Thursday to abide by a "code of honor," the politicians who addressed the crowds at the ceremony lashed out at the majority camp.
MP Nabil Nicholas, who was representing the FPM, criticized the policy of the "so-called ‘majority'," which, he said, was "impoverishing citizens and leading them to emigrate."
Nicholas said that "democracy and laws have been hampered," condemning the majority`s attempt to control the country`s institutions, namely the Constitutional Council and the Higher Judicial Council.
Nicholas also attacked the parliamentary ‘majority' for its alleged plans to grant citizenship to Palestinian refugees.
"The government is insolent when dealing with the Lebanese; what is happening in the country does not guarantee the building of a secure future and a stable society," he said.
Hizbullah MP Mohammad Raad, who voiced his party`s support for Franjieh, said that attempts to break ties between Lebanon and Syria were only serving "Israel".
For his part, Karami criticized Prime Minister Fouad Siniora`s economic reform plan, calling it a plan of "taxes and economic stagnation."
"Bringing down the government is the only way out," Karami said, calling for early parliamentary elections.
Karami said that "all the promises of [the majority] were lies," adding that corruption was still rife in the country.
The ceremony was also attended by former MP Talal Arslan, who is Chouf MP Walid Jumblatt`s rival; MP Hassan Khalil, representing the Amal Movement; and Environment Minister Yaacoub Sarraf, representing President Emile Lahoud.