Tutti diciamo a noi stessi "è doveroso difendere la nostra presenza e il nostro diritto di esistere". Ma sono pochi quelli che sanno difendere la libertà dei cristiani. Dr. Samir Geagea

Libanesi detenuti illegalmente nelle prigioni SIRIANE

Comitato per sostenere i Libanesi detenuti e in esilio

"S.O.L.I.D.E."

febbraio 2001

La nuova lista dei detenuti libanesi
nelle prigioni Siriane.
Questa lista è stata presentata al UN Comitato per i diritti dell'uomo, lo Stato Vaticano, le organizzazioni internazionali dei diritti dell'uomo, governi dell' Unione Europea

Detenuti dal 1990 (dopo la fine della guerra):

1.     Ally Issa : soldato nelle Armi Libanesi, 26 feb. 1999

2.     Mouhamad Al Shoufy : soldato nelle Armi Libanesi, 3 Mar. 1999

3.     Izzat Yassin : soldato nelle Armi Libanesi, 13 Set. 1999

4.     Najib Youssef Jaramany: Autista di Autobus Scolastico, Nato il 1956, con 5 figli, Rapito il 24 Gen. 1997

5.     Rashid Hassan : Rapito il feb. 1997.

6.     Abdallah Ahmad Shahaddeh: Impiegato nel Ministero della pub. Istruzioni, Rapito il 8 Set. 1997

7.     Bassam George Semaan: Rapito nel 1996

8.     Ally Farhat : soldato nelle Armi Libanesi, Rapito nel 1995

9.     George Ayoub Shalawit: Rapito il 30 Mar. 1994. (Nella Prigione di Tadmur-Siria)

10. Nimr Naddaf: soldato nelle Armi Libanesi 27 Lug. 1994.

11. Nabil George Semaan: Rapito 5 Lug. 1994.

12. Tony George Tamer: Rapito il 7 Lug. 1993 (Nella Prigione di Tadmur-Siria).

13. Samir Mikael Al Hajj: Sposato con 3 figli, Rapito nel 1993 , (forze Nella Prigione di Tadmur-Siria) .

14. Nabil Fawaz : Rapito nel 1993.

15. Joseph Amine Houyaiis: Rapito il 2 June 1992 (20 anni, lavori forzati)

16. Milad Shehady Barakat: Abitante di Wady Shahrour, Rapito il 19 Apr. 1992.

17. Khadija Yihya Boukhara: Cantante, Rapito da Beirut Aeroporto il 28 Apr. 1992.

18. Dany Mansouraty: Commerciante, Rapito in Damasco il 9 Mag. 1992.

19. Boutrous Khawand: Rapito da sotto casa il 15 Set. 1992

20. George Aziz Mahfouz: Rapito il 19 Dic. 1991 da Tripoli nel Nord del Libano.

Soldati Libanesi dell'Esercito rapiti il 13 Ottobre 1990

dopo la battaglia tra l'Esercito Libanese e quello Siriano a Beirut :

1.         Johny Salem Nassif (Sua Madre lo ha visitato una volta a: Maze ), Marwan Al Zoughby, Mickael Youssef Hasbany, Joseph Azar, Elie Saad Haddad, Elie Youssef Aoun. Stato confermato dal Ministero della Difesa Libanese la loro presenza nelle prigioni Siriani con decreto numero 9399-ad-mm. il 27 Set. 1990.

2.         Ufficiale George Abou Haloun.

3.          John Joseph Khoury .

4.          Fouad Assaker.

5.          Marwan Farres.

6.          Michel George Al Batteeh.

7.          Adel Youssef Doumit.

8.          George Metanious Bashour.

9.          Jack Hanna Nakhoul.

10.     John Mickael Nakhle.

11.     Tanious Kamil Al Habber ( Sua Madre lo ha visitato una volta).

12.     Marwan Riad Mechaalany.

13.     Antoine Zakhour Zakhour: Stato confermato dal Ministero della Difesa Libanese la sua presenza nella prigione Siriana il 22 Ott. 1990.( Suo Padre lo ha visitato una volta).

14.     Ufficiale Robert Bou Sarhal.

15.     Ufficiale Tanious Sharbel Zoughaib.

16.     Elie Karim Wehbe.

17.     Sayed Shahid Battour.

18.     Joseph Dib Al Akiky.

19.     Najy Elias Al Hindy

20.     Jihad George Eid (è stata riferita la sua presenza nelle prigioni siriane da un ex detenuto ).

21.     Milad Youssef Al Alam.

22.     Doumit Souleiman Ibrahim.

23.     George Milad Al sheikh.

24.     Khaled Moustafa Khodr

Preti rapiti il 13 Ott. 1990:

25.     Padre Albert Shirfan.

26.     Padre Souleiman Aby Khalil.

I due preti antoniani sono stati rapiti da " Deir Al Kalaa" Monastero ad Est di Beirut e con loro la Sig.ra Victoria Dakkash (Servitù del Monastero). I Siriani hanno dichiarato la morte in battaglia dei due frati ma i vicini del monastero ribadiscono che li hanno visti qualche giorno dopo la fine della battaglia.

Nessuna prova sostiene i reclami siriani, mentre molte fonti insistono che sono state arrestati dalle forze speciali siriane perché hanno provato a nascondere un gruppo di soldati libanesi che scappavano dall'esercito siriano. Alcuni dei soldati sono Tanious Kamil Al Haber e Antoine Zakhour, che risultano prigionieri siriani.

La gente della città di Qournayel (Drusi) nella zona di Matn conferma di aver visto i due preti con altri detenuti libanesi in un convoglio dell'esercito siriano.

I detenuti liberati confermano che tutti i prigionieri del 13 di ottobre del 1990 sono nella prigione di Tadmur.

I Detenuti Libanesi arrestati prima del 1990, dalle milizie pro-Siriani e militari Siriani :

1.       -Raiif Fouad Dagher: Rapito da “Hizb-Allah” il 6 giu. 1990.

2.       -Elie Khalil Mansour: 10 June 1990 from Saida.

3.       -Jamal Abdel Salam Yassine Bayrouty: Uomo d'affari, Rapito il 10 Mar. 1989.

4.       -Abdel Hafiz Oulaiyan: 1 Feb. 1989.

5.       -Moustafa Kenaan: 2 Feb. 1989.

6.       -Milad Naoum Al Khoury: 16 May 1989.

7.       -Khaled Said Farhat: 6 June 1989.

8.       -George Emile Zaher: 7 Ago. 1989.

9.       -Claude Augoust Jirar: 4 Ott. 1989.

10.     -Tony Youssef Metanious Mattar: 25 Dic. 1988.

11.     -Elias Ibrahim Jirjis: 1988.

12.     -Samir Fouad Al Sayegh: 8 Set. 1987.

13.     -Khalil Amine Abou Zakky: 15 Giu. 1987.

14.     -Toufik Salim Al Jamal: 24 Lug. 1986.

15.     -Darar Abd Al Qadr: 6 Mar. 1986.

16.     -George Adib Gannaj: 6 Gen. 1986.

17.     -Shamel Housseoin Kenaan: soldato nelle Armi Libanesi rapito il16 Giu. 1986.( In Tadmur prison)

18.     -Ahmad Abd Al rassoul Daboouk: 6 Nov. 1986.

19.     -Dr. Girgy Malek Hanna: Professore nella univ. Di Beirut, Rapito il 10 Sett. 1985.

20.     -Rashid Ahmad Al Khalil: Rapito da “Abou Moussa” Gruppo palestinese filo Siriano , ultimamente è stato trasferito in una prigione Siriana.

21.     -Shukrallah Touma, Jack Abi Mourad, & Albert Nicola : Rapiti insieme il 13 del 1985.

22.     -George Joseph Al Asmar: rapito dal partito nazionale Siriano (in Libano) il 9 Feb. 1985, e dopo nelle prigione siriane.

23.     -Said Foud Al Khabbaz: nel mar. 1985.

24.     -Saba Naja Asaker: 18 Apr. 1985.

25.     -Habib Nabil Abi Abdalla: Uomo d'affari rapito il 25 Apr. 1985.

26.     -Qouzhaya Karam Dagher: 28 Apr. 1985.

27.     -Robert Marwan Abou souleiman: Poliziotto rapito il 28 Apr. 1985.

28.     -Florence Michel Raad: Giornalista Libano-Francese, rapito da “Hizb- Allah” nel 1985 e dopo consegnato ai servizi segreti siriani.

29.     -Claude Hanna Khoury: soldato nelle Armi Libanesi rapito il 20 Giu. 1985.

30.     -Jeries Elias Kassis: 20 Giu. 1985.

31.     -Elias Nicola Al shaieb: 19 Ago. 1985.

32.     -Victor Binny Farhat: Ago 1985, è stato rivisto nella prigione di Tadmur.

33.     -Tanious Jirjis Elias: 19 Ago. 1985.

34.     -Jirjis Nimr Jirjis: soldato nelle Armi Libanesi rapito nel Nov. 1985.

35.     -Ibrahim Khalil Haddad: 9 Lug. 1985.

36.     -Malek Yasin Agha Kalthoum: Rapito nel 1984.

37.     -Amine Ghabriel Al Dik: 18 Feb. 1984.

38.     -Joseph Jamil Phares: 22 Feb. 1984.

39.     -Elias Michel Abdel Nour: Rapito all'aeroporto di Damasco il 8 Mar. 1984.

40.     -Nabih Youssef Isshak: 31 Mar. 1984.

41.     -Youssef Nakhle Al Kallas: 26 Giu. 1984.

42.     -Ibrahim Melhim Jabber: 12 Apr. 1984.

43.     -Samir Jirjis Nassrallah: soldato nelle Armi Libanesi rapito il 26 Giu. 1984.

44.     -Omar Ahmad Al khodr: 7 Ago. 1984.

45.     -Fouad Saouma Haddad, Edward Soufeir, & George Qazzy : Rapiti in Siria nel Ago. 84

46.     -Atta Mahmoud Al Abdallah: nel 1984.

47.     -Fady Elie Ghoulam: 30 Ott. 1984.

48.     -Salman Aly Al ziz : Nov. 1984.

49.     -Karam Youssf Mourkous. Ziad Youssef Mourkous & Elie Abou Nader : tre musicisti rapiti il 21 di Nov. 1984, sono stati accusati di collaborare con israele.

50.     -Elias Mama Saab: nel 1984.

51.     -Adel Kamal Dib: Rapito dai miliziani filo siriani e dopo trasferito in Siria il 17 di Dic. 1984. La sua cella è la numero 285(State Security service) .

52.     -Sizar Elias Kaisar Eid: Studente universitario, 22 Gen. 1984.

53.     -Karim Maroun Shahla: 28 Ott. 1983.

54.     -Amer Ahmad Al tourkoumany: 25 Ott. 1983.

55.     -Milad Habib Youssef: 29 Ago. 1983.

56.     -Ally Mouhamad Ahmad Housein: 23 Sett. 1983.

57.     -Eid Anoine Sarkis & Arz Antoine SArkis: 10 di Feb. 1983.

58.     -Charbel Tanious Zoughaib: 3 Ott. 1983.

59.     Khaled Abdel Latif Al Kourdy & Salem Abdel Latif Al Kourdy : il 15 di Dic. 1983.

60.     -Riad Abdel Khaleq Al Qary & Bassam Abdel Rahman Al sabsaby: Dic. 1983.

61.     -Daoud Youssef Lahoud: 24 Dic. 1983.

62.     -Robet Badry rokouz: Feb. 1983.

63.     -Riad Youssef Geagea: 1983.

64.     -Joseph Nazih Al Zarka: on Mar. 1983.

65.     -Joseph Hanna Awad: 28 Mar. 1983.

66.     -Alfred Jirjis Al Habr: Sept. 1983.

67.     -Marroun Youssef Al Khoury: rapito 7 Sett. 1983.

68.     -Mouhamad Mahmoud Al Sultan: 29 Ott. 1983.

69.     -Hisham Ramadan: Polizziotto, rapito 29 Ott. 1983.

70.     -Youssef Salim Al Gharib: Polizziotto, rapito 3 Nov. 1983.

71.     -John Semaan Saliba, & Antoine Semaan Saliba: Rapiti il 21 Dic. 1983.

72.     -George Moukhail Awad: 22 Nov. 1983.

73.     -Issam Hassib Kiidy: rapito dalla Milizia filo siriano “Amal”. Trasferito in siria il 26 di Ott 1983. Suoi parenti prima, e dopo ex-detenuti, confermano la sua presenza in Tadmur.

74.     -Maroun Edward Mousalem: 4 Sett. 1983.

75.     -Elie Ibrahim Al Sabak: 3 Sett 1983.

76.     -Hanna Mourrad Solaiman: rapito 1982.

77.     -Houssein Khodr Omeirat: 1982.

78.     -Hassoun Amine Hassoun: 2 Nov. 1982.

79.     -George Elias Lahhoud: 2 Nov. 1982.

80.     -George Youssef Abi Nakkad: 1982.

81.     -Walid Mouhamad Zarkout: Soldato nel Dugana, rapito nel 1982.

82.     -Edward Kamil Al Khoury: 16 Mar. 1982.

83.     -Antoine Ghaleb Khazaka: Rapito dal partito nazionale Siriano (in Libano) trasferito dopo nelle prigioni siriane il 21 Giu. 1982.

84.     -Aly Moussa Abdallah: Lug. 1981.

85.     -Rene Tanious Mouaad: 20 Nov. 1980.

86.     -Qouzhaia Farid Chehwan: rapito dalla città Cheka 22 Lug. 1980.

87.     -Istifan Massoud Iskandar: 6 Set. 1979.

88.     -Tanious Ibrahim Tayar: 27 Mag. 1978.

89.     -Fady Jirjis Karam: 1 Lug. 1978.

90.     -Fady Jirijis Karam: 1 Lug. 1978.

91.     -Abdel reda Shehaddy Barbish: rapito nel 1978, Suoi parenti hanno ricevuto una sua lettera spedita dalle prigioni siriane.

92.     -Antoine Elias Tawil: 7 Lug. 1978.

93.     -Joseph Elias Sabaa: 7 Lug 1978.

94.     -Stafrou Elie Andrioty: 7 Lug. 1978.

95.     -Malky Youssef Shoumait: 7 Lug. 1978.

96.     -Nadim Mirii Mirii: 28 Ago. 1978.

97.     -Assaf Jeries Roukouz Mourad: 22 Set. 1978.

98.     -Becharra Tanious Roumieh: Mar. 1978.

99.     -Farid Youssef Hanna: rapito 1978.

100. -Nasser Dib Qaafrany: rapito 1978.

101. -Shahine Shaker Al Hayek: Rapito 22 Gen. 1978.

102. -Joseph Elias Al Hoyaik: Rapito 6 Ott. 1978

103. -Tanious Youssef Elias: Rapito 9 Feb. 1978.

104. -Mouhamad Taan Nasrallah: Rapito 1978.

105. -Jamal Riad Houhou: 31 Dic. 1978.

106. -Samir Samy Ramih Saad: 6 Ott. 1967.

107. -Imad Najib Haidar: Rapito nel Dic. 1976, rapporto conferma che è ancora vivo nella prigione di Tadmur.

108. -Elias Emile Harmoush: rapito 16 Gen.. 1976.

109. -Antoine Michel Mezher: rapito in 16 Gen. 1976, Suoi Parenti e un rapporto confermano che è ancora vivo nelle prigioni Siriane.

110. -Samih Abdel Rahman Mounaiemneh: Rapito 5 Giu. 1976.

Yousef Daoud 'Aoun

era un ragazzo di 17 anni quando, nel 1982, Israele invase il Libano. Il 3 giugno di quell'anno, lui e alcuni suoi amici vennero arrestati nei pressi di Seghbine, nella Bekaa orientale, da elementi del Partito sociale nazionalista siriano. Furono consegnati ai servizi segreti militari siriani ed accusati di appartenere alle "Forze libanesi", una milizia che combatteva contro la presenza della Siria in Libano.

Da allora, Yousef Daoud 'Aoun è detenuto senza processo in una prigione siriana. Dal 1999 i parenti non possono più visitarlo e hanno perso le sue tracce.

Il 22 luglio 2002 una delegazione di parenti di prigionieri libanesi si è recata a Damasco: in quella occasione il ministro degli Interni, generale 'Ali Hammud, si è impegnato a fornire notizie entro novanta giorni. Tuttavia i parenti non hanno ricevuto alcuna notizia sulla sorte dei loro cari.

AI chiede alle autorità siriane di comunicare dov'è detenuto Yousef Daoud 'Aoun, di assicurare che non è sottoposto a torture e maltrattamenti e, in considerazione dei lunghi anni trascorsi in carcere senza processo, di disporre il suo rilascio immediato. AI chiede inoltre che tutte le informazioni sui cittadini libanesi detenuti in Siria siano messe a disposizione dei loro parenti.

L'appello può essere trasmesso anche via fax (00963 11 3323410).

Si prega di inviare copia dell'appello a: His Excellency Major General 'Ali Hammud, Minister of the Interior, Ministry of Interior, Merjeh Circle, Damascus, Repubblica Araba Siriana (fax: 00963 11 2223428) e all'Ambasciata della Repubblica Araba Siriana in Italia (piazza dell'Ara Coeli 1, 00186 Roma).

Affrancatura per spedizione con posta prioritaria: € 0,62 sia per la Siria che per l'Italia.

* Tutti i casi accennati hanno un file completo e prove da risorse differenti: Genitori, ex-detenuti, ufficiali siriani, politici libanesi, organizzazioni dei diritti dell'uomo ed altre.

Report on Lebanese Detainees in Syrian Prisons

AUGUST 2003

Index:

Introduction

Why Does Syria Detain Lebanese?

Official Lebanese and Syrian Positions (1987-2003)

Missing in Syrian Jails

From One Detention Center to Another

Testimonies of Released Detainees

Human Rights Groups’ Positions

Recommendations

A- Introduction

On June 25, 2003 Joseph Emile Houeiss, a Lebanese citizen, 43 years old, died in detention in a Syrian jail. His remains were returned to Lebanon six days later and buried hastily in his native village in the Bekaa Valley. It was the fourth case in which the body of a Lebanese prisoner has been repatriated from a Syrian detention center in relative secrecy. Joseph was arrested in Lebanon in 1992 by Syrian Military Forces following a road accident in which 2 Syrians died. He was immediately transferred to Syria where he was serving a 20 years sentence handed by a Syrian Military Court.

This is one example of an on-going tragedy, the one of the many Lebanese illegally detained in Syria.

December 2000 brought first what seemed to be happy news to Lebanese families when Syria released 46 Lebanese detainees from its jails. Human Rights Organizations and Political figures hailed it a good initiative. But soon the mood changed when Syrian Officials declared that there was no more Lebanese detained in Syrian jails. Families rushed to protest the death sentence against their loved ones and demanded the Lebanese Government to assume its responsibility towards its citizens and attempt to locate them or at least acknowledge their presence in Syria. As a result of public and media pressures and the mounting protest to closing the files of detainees, Lebanese State Prosecutor Adnan Addoum suddenly announced that Syria still holds 95 Lebanese Nationals charged with common crimes and that they will not be released until they serve their jail time in Syria.

But, even when counting those who were released and adding those names provided by the Lebanese State Prosecutor, there remain a much larger number of undeclared persons believed to be held in Syrian custody. Their families are devastated and times and times again they ride this emotional roller coaster of being forced to believe that their sons are dead or permanently missing. However, those families are convinced that if they keep pushing, Syria will release prisoners she previously denied holding.

B- Why Does Syria Detain Lebanese?

Since its military incursion into Lebanon in 1976, Syrian forces, military and intelligence, have been summoning, interrogating, detaining and transferring Lebanese (and other foreigners residing in Lebanon) to Syria. Those arrested are deprived of their basic rights, including access to family, legal counsel, they are often tortured, mistreated, and kept in Detention Centers in lamentable condition. There is no clear and transparent legal proceeding, no respect for due process. Number of those arrested remains jailed for years before being brought to Court, if ever. Sentences are swiftly pronounced by Military Courts without right to appeal

Syria deals with the Lebanese in Lebanon as it deals with the Syrians in Syria. It considers any political opposition or any threat to its interests in Lebanon, a threat to its security. Syria does not tolerate any opposition to its presence in Lebanon, and detention is a method among others to curb this opposition.

The accusations used against detainees vary from collaboration with Israel to political affiliation with groups opposed to the Syrian presence in Lebanon.

The Syrian and the pro-Syrian Lebanese Governments often accuse members of the opposition of serving Israeli interest in Lebanon. The Lebanese President Emile Lahoud states that those demanding Damascus withdraw its soldiers from Lebanon are serving Israel, and are working against Syrian and Lebanese interests. Also, Syrian officials declared "Lebanese parties who are launching a campaign against Syrian presence in Lebanon are serving Israel's purposes and interests."

C- Official Lebanese and Syrian Positions (1987-2003)

To better understand how the Lebanese and Syrian governments have dealt with the issue of Lebanese Detainees in Syria over the years, it is necessary to provide this chronology of events and declarations:

1- October 1987: Amnesty International published a report about Lebanese detained in Syrian Jails

2- In 1993: Lebanese President Elias Hrawi, a Syrian ally, announced to the BBC that Syria does not hold Lebanese prisoners.

3- In 1995: the Lebanese Government issued a decree, which considers all missing during the Lebanese War to be legally dead. This decision inhumanly requested the families to initiate this process, thus relieving the Government from the burden of its responsibility towards its citizens.

4- October 1996: Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, another ally of Syria, denied, while visiting in Washington DC, the presence of any Lebanese detainee in Syria, when asked by Human Rights Watch delegate Houeyda Saad.

5- November 24, 1996: Lebanese President Elias Hrawi, altered his previous statement and announced in a Press Conference that Syria holds 210 Lebanese Nationals comprised of 200 Muslims and 10 Christians.

6- October 1997: the "Lebanese Committee of the families of Detainees in Syria" was established to pressure Lebanese authorities to ensure the release of the detainees from Syria or at least to transfer them to Lebanon to be tried in Lebanese courts, in case they committed a crime.

7- February, 28 1998: the President of the Bar Association in Syria denied the existence of Lebanese prisoners in Syrian detention centers.

8- March 1998: Syrian authorities admitted the existence of 155 Lebanese prisoners in Syria. They announced that 25 more Lebanese would still be held for collaboration with Israel.

9- March 5 1998: Syrian Authorities ordered the release of 121 Lebanese detainees. Amongst those, were 10 Palestinians.

10- January 27, 1999: Amnesty International published a detailed report about Lebanese Detainees in Syria.

11- September 22, 1999: Adel Khalaf Ajouri, a Lebanese, died under torture in a Syrian prison. He was kidnapped at a Syrian Checkpoint in Beirut Airport in May 5, 1990. His family received his remains 30 days later.

12- January 21, 2000: Prime Minister Salim Al Hoss set up a commission of inquiry to investigate "disappearances" during the war between 1975 and 1990. The Commission headed by an Army General and including four members, officers in the Army, the Surete Generale, the State Security and the Internal Security was to look into a total of 17,415 people who are listed missing during the war. It was ordered to report back within three months. No tangible outcome ever resulted from this commission.

13- February 17, 2000: A conference to address the fate of scores of Lebanese jailed in Syrian Prisons was cancelled after Lebanese Security agents stormed the Conference center and forced it to shut its door to the participants.

14- July 2000: Lebanese Officials close to Syria stated that there are no Lebanese held in Syria.

15- August 25, 2000: the Syrian authorities released Cheikh Hachem Minkara, a prominent Islamist activist in Tawhid Movement in Tripoli, North of Lebanon, who disappeared 15 years ago, and whom Syria had previously denied holding. It also released Samir Al-Hassan, military official in Tawhid Movement.

16- September 2000: Lebanese Human Right Organizations and Dozens of Lebanese Families held a demonstration near the Maronite Christian Patriarchate and accused Syria of having illegally jailed Lebanese opponents. Syria denied the accusation.

17- September 26, 2000: a statement was released by a large gathering of 99 Syrian individuals, including intellectuals, artists, engineers and journalists calling on the Syrian Government to cancel the state of emergency and the martial law, to grant amnesty for all political detainees and to allow for political freedoms.

18- September 30, 2000: SOLIDE (Support for Lebanese in Detention and Exile) organized in Lebanon on the road leading to Baabda Presidential Palace a demonstration of 300 relatives of Lebanese detained in Syria. Representatives of the families were finally granted an interview with an official at the Lebanese Defense Ministry.

19- October 1, 2000: an official Syrian source admitted for the first time that Syria is holding Lebanese prisoners, but said that they number fewer than 50.

20- December 2000: Nabih Berri, the Lebanese Speaker of the House, who is also close to the Syrian regime, mentioned after his visit with the Maronite Patriarch, the possible release of Lebanese Detainees from Syrian jails.

21- December 6, 2000: Lebanon National News Agency (NNA) published an official statement that the Lebanese President Emile Lahoud received a letter from Syrian President Bashar al Assad regarding the release of “Lebanese detainees” from Syrian jails. This Syrian initiative is a reward to the Lebanese President for his national stands, in regards to the struggle with Israel and to the support of the Syrian presence in Lebanon.

A committee of top Lebanese Security Officials was formed to take charge of receiving the prisoners and studying their files. The Committee was headed by State Prosecutor Adnan Addoum and included Director of Surete Generale, Major General Jamil Sayyed, Director of the Internal Security Forces Major General Abdel-Karim Ibrahim, and Director of Military Intelligence, Colonel Raymond Azar.

22- December 2000: Syria hands over to Lebanese Military Officials who traveled to Syria 54 prisoners, 46 Lebanese, 7 Palestinians and one Egyptian. Two buses carrying the freed detainees rolled across the Syrian-Lebanese border at high speed, escorted by seven Lebanese Army jeeps, their sirens wailing. Families who had been waiting at Masnaa crossing point since early morning were left on the side of the road, unable to determine whether their loved ones were on the buses. Photographers could see passengers handcuffed and blindfolded as the vehicles maneuvered their way past the border checkpoint and down the road to Chtoura in Lebanon.

23- December 12, 2000: after mounting pressure from the Public and the media, State Prosecutor Adnan Addoum makes public the presence of 95 Lebanese detainees still imprisoned in Syria for non-political crimes. He declared the matter to be “permanently closed.” When reminded that both governments had earlier denied the existence of any Lebanese prisoners in Syria, State Prosecutor Addoum claimed that they had only denied the existence of “detainees,” not those who had been convicted of various crimes.

24- December 26, 2000: As a result of continuing protest by the families of the Detainees, a statement was issued by the Lebanese Presidential Palace clarifying that President Lahoud was prepared to “request the Cabinet, in its next meeting, to set down a mechanism for investigating the fate of those missing, based on information submitted by their families to the competent security authorities.”

25- January 2001: another special commission was created by the Lebanese government under pressure from the families of the missing individuals. No official report has been issued yet. However, one member of the commission declared to the press that the commission had examined 96 files of Lebanese detainees in Syria.

26-