Lebanon, A graveyard of International Justice
July 17, 2006: Day of International Justice
Justice Without Frontiers,
Beirut
Lebanon
Today marks the day when the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court came into force. It is day when most of the world commemorates their efforts to advance the cause and principles of international justice. Today, most local, regional, and international NGOs organize activities, meetings, and seminars celebrating this new system of justice. As for Lebanon, we had, for the first time, prepared for a number of activities celebrating this important day. But, instead of being a day commemorating the advance of international justice, international justice met its grave in Lebanon on July 17, 2006.
Lebanon has produced some of the most important pioneers in the field of developing the principles of human rights; they played an important role in drafting a number of international declarations such as the universal declaration of human rights, as well as in the discussions around the drafting of the Rome Statute, despite not being a signatory to it. Yet, today, unfortunately, Lebanon finds itself all alone facing daily war crimes and crimes against humanity perpetrated by Israel. The conscience of the international community remains shamefully silent and unable to take any decision to halt the aggression and collective punishment being meted out by Israel to Lebanon and its people.
Lebanon today is crying tears of blood, the blood of tens of children, women, men, and the elderly who were innocent victims of Israeli weapons. These weapons have burnt and destroyed entire villages, torn apart hundreds of families, and maimed tens of children. Israel remains undeterred in its campaign to burn entire villages, destroy the basic infrastructure of Lebanon from buildings to bridges to highways to electric power stations to gas stations to every port on the long Lebanese coast and damage and shut down the Rafiq al-Hariri international airport, and impose a complete siege of Lebanon by sea, air, and land.
One can only conclude that perhaps this is a result of the impunity and lack of accountability that Israel enjoys; for they realize that they will not be held accountable for any of their actions and that no punishment awaits them. If the Israeli government does not seem to value human life, our lives then, nor do they seem to matter to the international community. Notwithstanding the gravity and horror of the crimes being committed, the media, it seems to us, only supports Israel, turning a blind eye to its ongoing violations and daily killing of hundreds of civilians.
While the international community outwardly invokes every principle of human rights and international justice, it remains silent on Israel's crimes. Here, the international community shows its true colors: it is an impotent community, incapable of taking any decision to stop the crimes Israel is committing against the people of Lebanon. Indeed, it is exposed as an accomplice in these crimes.
During the past four days, the number of the dead and wounded as a result of Israeli strikes into Lebanon is steadily growing and practically all of them are civilians. In light of the fact that Israel is using certain banned weapons against civilians, one must consider that it is violating a number of the basic principles of human rights, international humanitarian law, and the Geneva conventions. However, unfortunately, the same countries who talk about the principles of justice and human rights have failed to reach a clear and definite decision to demand that Israel stop this aggression and bring the ongoing crimes to a halt. Both the UN Security Council as well as the Council of Arab Foreign Ministers have failed to take a united stand firmly condemning Israel for committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Lebanon. Yet, a number of these countries are celebrating the day of international justice claiming that they are committed to international humanitarian law and human rights conventions. What bitter irony!
Today, we ask you, on behalf of Justice Without Frontiers, on behalf of the dead in Lebanon, on behalf of every Lebanese man, woman, and child, we ask you to support the Lebanese people and stand in solidarity with them by pressuring your governments in the name of international justice, to stand by Lebanon and condemn Israeli crimes on Lebanese soil. We ask you to urge your governments to take a strong, effective, and clear stance condemning and punishing Israeli actions and to put a stop to the grave crimes in Lebanon that international conscience should not be able to tolerate. We beseech you to demand that your governments undertake the necessary investigations around the crimes Israel is committing in order to hold Israel accountable for them and end its impunity.
The humanitarian crisis in Lebanon is deteriorating with every passing day. So, let your solidarity with Lebanon be effective and active and not through mere declarations of disapproval or horror. And let your solidarity be one of urging your governments to condemn Israeli violations against the isolated Lebanese people and of creating networks to cooperate on and coordinate the provision and distribution of basic medical and food aid to the children, the sick, the injured, and to those who have been displaced from their villages. Those numbers have crossed one million and are only growing every day. And may your solidarity with Lebanon constitute a revolution against the regimes of injustice, irresponsibility, and impunity. May it be a humanitarian revolution honoring the souls of the dead children, women, men, and elderly who believed in their country and their right to life, and believed in freedom, sovereignty, and human and humanitarian rights.
Brigitte Chelebian
President of Justice Without Frontiers
Coordinator of the Lebanese Coalition for the International Criminal Court
July 17, 2006: Day of International Justice
Justice Without Frontiers,
Beirut
Lebanon
Today marks the day when the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court came into force. It is day when most of the world commemorates their efforts to advance the cause and principles of international justice. Today, most local, regional, and international NGOs organize activities, meetings, and seminars celebrating this new system of justice. As for Lebanon, we had, for the first time, prepared for a number of activities celebrating this important day. But, instead of being a day commemorating the advance of international justice, international justice met its grave in Lebanon on July 17, 2006.
Lebanon has produced some of the most important pioneers in the field of developing the principles of human rights; they played an important role in drafting a number of international declarations such as the universal declaration of human rights, as well as in the discussions around the drafting of the Rome Statute, despite not being a signatory to it. Yet, today, unfortunately, Lebanon finds itself all alone facing daily war crimes and crimes against humanity perpetrated by Israel. The conscience of the international community remains shamefully silent and unable to take any decision to halt the aggression and collective punishment being meted out by Israel to Lebanon and its people.
Lebanon today is crying tears of blood, the blood of tens of children, women, men, and the elderly who were innocent victims of Israeli weapons. These weapons have burnt and destroyed entire villages, torn apart hundreds of families, and maimed tens of children. Israel remains undeterred in its campaign to burn entire villages, destroy the basic infrastructure of Lebanon from buildings to bridges to highways to electric power stations to gas stations to every port on the long Lebanese coast and damage and shut down the Rafiq al-Hariri international airport, and impose a complete siege of Lebanon by sea, air, and land.
One can only conclude that perhaps this is a result of the impunity and lack of accountability that Israel enjoys; for they realize that they will not be held accountable for any of their actions and that no punishment awaits them. If the Israeli government does not seem to value human life, our lives then, nor do they seem to matter to the international community. Notwithstanding the gravity and horror of the crimes being committed, the media, it seems to us, only supports Israel, turning a blind eye to its ongoing violations and daily killing of hundreds of civilians.
While the international community outwardly invokes every principle of human rights and international justice, it remains silent on Israel's crimes. Here, the international community shows its true colors: it is an impotent community, incapable of taking any decision to stop the crimes Israel is committing against the people of Lebanon. Indeed, it is exposed as an accomplice in these crimes.
During the past four days, the number of the dead and wounded as a result of Israeli strikes into Lebanon is steadily growing and practically all of them are civilians. In light of the fact that Israel is using certain banned weapons against civilians, one must consider that it is violating a number of the basic principles of human rights, international humanitarian law, and the Geneva conventions. However, unfortunately, the same countries who talk about the principles of justice and human rights have failed to reach a clear and definite decision to demand that Israel stop this aggression and bring the ongoing crimes to a halt. Both the UN Security Council as well as the Council of Arab Foreign Ministers have failed to take a united stand firmly condemning Israel for committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Lebanon. Yet, a number of these countries are celebrating the day of international justice claiming that they are committed to international humanitarian law and human rights conventions. What bitter irony!
Today, we ask you, on behalf of Justice Without Frontiers, on behalf of the dead in Lebanon, on behalf of every Lebanese man, woman, and child, we ask you to support the Lebanese people and stand in solidarity with them by pressuring your governments in the name of international justice, to stand by Lebanon and condemn Israeli crimes on Lebanese soil. We ask you to urge your governments to take a strong, effective, and clear stance condemning and punishing Israeli actions and to put a stop to the grave crimes in Lebanon that international conscience should not be able to tolerate. We beseech you to demand that your governments undertake the necessary investigations around the crimes Israel is committing in order to hold Israel accountable for them and end its impunity.
The humanitarian crisis in Lebanon is deteriorating with every passing day. So, let your solidarity with Lebanon be effective and active and not through mere declarations of disapproval or horror. And let your solidarity be one of urging your governments to condemn Israeli violations against the isolated Lebanese people and of creating networks to cooperate on and coordinate the provision and distribution of basic medical and food aid to the children, the sick, the injured, and to those who have been displaced from their villages. Those numbers have crossed one million and are only growing every day. And may your solidarity with Lebanon constitute a revolution against the regimes of injustice, irresponsibility, and impunity. May it be a humanitarian revolution honoring the souls of the dead children, women, men, and elderly who believed in their country and their right to life, and believed in freedom, sovereignty, and human and humanitarian rights.
Brigitte Chelebian
President of Justice Without Frontiers
Coordinator of the Lebanese Coalition for the International Criminal Court