The Director of State Security Gen. Tony Saliba is received by President Michel Aoun. (Credit: Dalati and Nohra)
It is as if nothing happened on Aug. 4, 2020. Not only is the investigation into the port explosion led by judge Tarek Bitar completely hampered by judicial and political shenanigans, but the cabinet has re-appointed Gen. Tony Saliba, who is close to the president, as director-general of State Security, “in a civilian capacity.”
Saliba is accused of failing in his duties, and implicated in the probe into the 2020 port explosion that killed more than 200 people and devastated entire neighborhoods in Beirut.
Last week, the government of Prime Minister Najib Mikati convened in the presence of President Michel Aoun to make the appointment official — a decision that the families of those killed in the explosion are not taking lying down.
“This is an insult to the memory of our martyrs,” said Rima Zahed, whose brother died in the explosion. “The political class no longer gives the slightest importance to our cause.”
Paula Yaacoubian, an independent MP from Beirut, went even further than this in comments made to L’Orient-Le Jour, saying, “The political class is actively working to bury the truth, exonerate and protect themselves.”
Sources from Baabda, however, claim that they never intended to offend the victims’ families and relatives.
“Gen. Saliba’s appointment was only made to ensure the continuation of administrative work,” a source in the presidential palace said.
But did the president believe that Saliba performed up to the Lebanese people’s expectations when he was in office?
“It is not up to us to evaluate this question,” the source said.
For his part, Alain Aoun, MP for the Free Patriotic Movement, believes that the controversy is irrelevant. “What about the principle of presumption of innocence? We don’t even know what Gen. Saliba is accused of,” he said, indignantly.
“Also, there are many people who have been detained and were finally cleared in the investigation,” he added.
Saliba, however, is far from being the only special case in the probe.
Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim, close to Hezbollah, is also implicated in the investigation, and was supposed to appear before Bitar for questioning. This never happened. Ibrahim remains in his position as the director-general of General Security.
MPs Ghazi Zeaiter and Ali Hassan Khalil, both close to Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, are standing in the May legislative elections, although both were charged with criminal negligence in relation to the port explosion.
Legal appointment?
Saliba’s reappointment poses a legal problem. “Not only is his appointment an insult to the victims’ relatives, but it is also illegal,” said Michel Pharaon, a former Greek Catholic MP from Beirut. Notably, the position of the head of State Security is usually held by a Greek Catholic.
According to Pharaon, Article 32 of the 2017 Salary Scale Law prevents former military personnel, such as Gen. Saliba, from assuming first and second positions in the administration.
“It’s not like there are no other Catholics to fill that position,” he said deridingly.
In fact, Article 32 of the law stipulates that “first and second rank positions cannot be reserved for former military personnel,” an argument brushed aside by Saliba’s entourage.
“Saliba was appointed as a civilian and not as a military officer,” a close associate of the State Security head said. “It’s a political argument.”
Saliba’s appointment as a civilian will allow him to retain his post longer, until he retires at the age of 64, the age at which civilians are forced to retire from government posts by law.
Al-Sharif Suleiman, a lawyer and political activist, does not seem to concur with Pharaon’s claim.
“Article 32 of the salary scale law does not prohibit former military personnel from holding any position,” Suleiman argued.
“It is simply an amendment to Article 152 of the National Defense Law, whereby priority is given to the military in appointments made by cabinet,” he explained, adding, “According to the salary scale law, civilians and military personnel are equal and appointment is made on the basis of competence.”
For her part, Yaacoubian said, “Saliba’s tenure was far from a success story.”
This article was originally published in French in L'Orient-Le Jour. Translation by Sahar Ghoussoub.
