According to political sources, it is expected that Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi's speech today at the funeral of Pascal Suleiman, the coordinator of the Jbeil region in the Lebanese Forces, will emphasize the need for rational discourse, cooling emotions and reactions, and avoiding falling into the strife that some are attempting to incite, as indicated by "An-Nahar" two days ago. Similarly, Samir Geagea, the head of the Lebanese Forces party, has picked up on signals received from the resistance team in recent days that aims to redirect the public’s domestic and international concerns and corner the "Forces" into chaos and strife. He is expected to call for the activation of state institutions and reaffirm his party's principles regarding weaponry, entrusting the judiciary and security agencies with their roles without affecting the morale of his supporters, reiterating the continuation of resistance and confronting the logic of the "statelet" without falling into traps possibly set for him and his party.
While the available data so far suggests that the crime's motives were linked to theft, this incident reopens the file on Syrian refugees, providing new impetus to address its escalating danger to Lebanon. Two days ago, the Minister of Displaced Persons in the caretaker government, Issam Sharafeddine, caused a stir by stating that "security in Lebanon is not controlled, and there are 20,000 armed individuals in the camps who can be called upon at the moment of truth." The fear of increasing reactions on the ground rose following the discovery of Pascal Suleiman's body in Syria, reportedly killed by a Syrian theft gang, as noted in "An-Nahar."
Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who expressed condolences yesterday for Suleiman, spoke of a solution to the displacement issue that he plans to reveal at the end of April, possibly stemming from his talks with the Cypriot president, as they agreed to present the matter to the European Union for new measures to facilitate returns. He warned that there are malevolent hands working to instigate strife, while Minister Sharafeddine revealed yesterday a "plan for the return of Syrian displaced persons, pending the establishment of its mechanism," indicating that "the convoy will head to Syria after Eid al-Fitr."
Sharafeddine affirmed his responsibilities toward the country, aiming to facilitate the return of 1.5 million Syrian displaced persons to their homeland, disregarding the decisions of the European Union, the United Nations, or donor countries. He stated that "his conscience compels him to act in this regard." He called via "Voice of Lebanon" for the Lebanese state and the Syrian opposition to "communicate with the Syrian state concerned with this file to reach an agreement on the mechanism for the safe return of the displaced." He highlighted the need to "work on forming a lobby in coordination with the host countries such as Turkey and Jordan to pressure for a suitable resolution to this file."
He noted that the special conference on Syrian displaced persons next month will include Lebanon's demands, which will not be limited to financial assistance but will also call for the return of the displaced due to the risks they pose to the Lebanese entity. He warned of "the danger of organized gangs, and approximately 20,000 fighters, waiting for the implementation of the American decision involving violent and combative actions," alluding to "weapons hidden beneath the refugees' camps."
On the other hand, Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi confirmed that "we are not inciting against Syrian refugees, but we do call for the law to be applied to all residing on Lebanese territory." He pointed out that "Lebanon is committed to human rights and protects everyone legally residing in the country." He added: "Lebanon is not a country that can bear displacement, and there are areas in Syria that are now safe." He called for calm and a halt to attacks against others.
Mawlawi's statements came in response to the increase in violent acts against Syrians in various areas, and while these acts were individual in nature, there is a "fifth column" working to ignite strife through questionable statements distributed in the name of local youth urging the expulsion of Syrians and inciting violence against them, without any party claiming responsibility for this.
**Burial Today**
Meanwhile, the condolence gatherings continued yesterday, and preparations for Suleiman's burial this afternoon were ongoing. The follow-up committee arising from the coalitions of Change and Renewal, the Phalange party, and the Strong Republic, along with MP Bilal El-Hachimy, issued the following: On the occasion of the funeral of martyr Pascal Suleiman on Friday, April 12, 2024, at St. George's Church in Jbeil, the Lebanese opposition MPs call for Friday to be a national day of mourning in solidarity with Pascal Suleiman's family and in tribute to his spirit, demonstrating the unity of all Lebanese with the Lebanese state and its sovereignty in the face of the chaos of arms and the current security breakdown due to illegal weaponry that Lebanon is suffering from, according to "An-Nahar."
