BEIRUT - The assassination of former prime minister Rafik Hariri on February
14, 2005, generated a popular outcry in Lebanon, which led to the massive
protest in Martyrs' Square a month later on March 14. The demonstration against
Syrian occupation, which was accused in the killing, marked a turning point in
Lebanese politics and the birth of the March 14 movement.
More than three years later, the movement symbolized by the red and white
colors of the Lebanese flag has failed to build on the momentum of uniting
people in the cause of nation-building.
The essence of the movement was an alliance of rival warlords and political
factions. Many Lebanese were amazed by the sight
of Walid Jumblat (leader of the Druze Progressive Socialist Party), Amin
Gemayel (Christian Kataeb party), Samir Geagea (Christian Lebanese Forces), and
Saad Hariri (son of Rafik Hariri and head of the Sunni Future movement)
standing side-by-side.
A few months after the demonstration, and leading up to the 2005 elections,
Jumbilat, Hariri and Geagea struck a deal with Syrian allies, the Shi'ite Amal
and Hezbollah parties, sidestepping General Michel Aoun, head of the Christian
party the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM). Aoun had then recently returned from
exile.
The alliance between March 14 and Hezbollah and Amal did not last long. A major
political crisis erupted as soon as the March 14 demand for an international
tribunal to investigate the assassination of Hariri was brought up. The crisis,
lasting nearly two years, began with a public sit-in protest in Beirut
organized by the opposition March 8 movement - which included Hezbollah, Amal,
the FPM and the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP). It ended with week-long
fighting between the two groups in May that resulted in 67 deaths.
On May 21, peace was brokered by Qatar between the March 14 and March 8
movements, leading to formation of a unity government.
"March 14 has certainly made the most concessions, as witnessed in the
government composition, where the opposition has been able to secure as many
key ministries for its allies as March 14, which has parliamentary majority,"
says Carlos Edde, head of National Block party. Edde has left March 14 but says
he still adheres to its underlining principles.
"March 14 is based on the principles of sovereignty, democracy and
self-determination for Lebanon," says Michael Karam, editor-in-chief of Now
Lebanon, an online media close to March 14. "In light of what we have had to
contend with in the last three years, whether the assassinations [mainly
targeting March 14 members], the sit-in, sabotage of the presidential election
[which was postponed for more than six months], the May 7 coup d'้tat [by
Hezbollah that led to the fighting] and the current continuous obstruction
process, the fact that March 14 is still able to operate is a miracle."
Not everyone thinks it is operating very well. "The cohabitation between the
state and Hezbollah's armed organization is rendering the March 14 mission of
nation-building impossible," says Fares Soaid, head of the March 14
secretariat. Hezbollah is the only Lebanese faction allowed its own arsenal
under the resistance banner.
"Hezbollah's weapons are tied to a regional strategy, as witnessed in the
recent speeches of Iranian officials stressing that stability in Lebanon,
Palestine and Iraq can only be achieved through an international agreement on
Iran's nuclear dossier," says Soaid.
Edde believes that the March 14 movement has been going downhill because it
relied on a tactical approach without developing long-term policy. Soaid says
March 14's first mistake was to believe that Hezbollah's decision to start a
war with Israel in 2006 was purely Lebanese. "We need to focus our slogans and
approach on the problem of Hezbollah's weapons," he says.
"March 14's diversity is reflective of the country's," says Karam. As with
Lebanon itself, that may be its greatest weakness, and strength. For the latter
to prevail, the movement must strengthen its cohesion, defend a clearly
delineated program and start campaigning, says Karam.
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