
The families of the victims of the deadly explosion on Aug. 4, 2020, at the Beirut port organized their traditional sit-in in front of the capital's port area. Photo provided by the families.
BEIRUT — The families of victims of the deadly Aug. 4, 2020, explosion at the Beirut Port conducted their traditional sit-in beneath the Emigrant statue, facing the port area of the capital, for the second consecutive month, after it was halted for more than two months due to the war between Hezbollah and Israel, from last September until the cease-fire took effect on Nov. 27.
These families, who lost loved ones in this tragedy that claimed the lives of 235 people and injured more than 6,500 others, have been part of this ritual gathering for over four years, as the investigation aiming to determine responsibilities for this disaster has yet to be concluded, hindered or even paralyzed by numerous obstacles and interferences. This is their first gathering since the election of Joseph Aoun as President of the Republic and the appointment of Nawaf Salam as Prime Minister. They have called on both men to ensure justice can do its work.
"We, families of the port explosion victims, categorically reject the fragmentation of the case! We will not accept that only the ordinary employee, the hall guard, or the sergeant is brought to justice while the minister or the prime minister responsible for the offense slips away and evades judgment," the protesters said in a statement. "This crime will not go unpunished without its perpetrators, however important they may be, being held accountable to deliver justice to the families of the victims and martyrs," they added.
The participants expressed their hopes in the commitments made by President Joseph Aoun, elected on January 9 after more than two years of leadership vacuum in the state. In his oath of office, the new president notably promised to work with the next government to strengthen the independence of the judiciary.
"We know that all the Lebanese people count on his promises and his oath, through the independence of the judicial system, the pursuit of wanted persons, and the accountability of criminals, emphasizing that no one is above the law and that a promise is a religion," the families further stated. They also expressed their hopes in the actions of designated Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who has to form a government to replace Najib Mikati's, and ultimately "to achieve justice for the victims."
Finally, the families praised Tarek Bitar, the investigating judge with the Court of Justice, in charge of the investigation into the Beirut port explosion. Mid-month, he took a decisive initiative to advance his investigations by filing charges against twelve security officials and port employees, summoned for hearings set to start on Feb. 7.
"We commend Judge Bitar, who elevated the name of the judiciary, challenged difficulties, and carried the port case that others did not dare to tackle, facing all pressures and obstacles from the worst discriminatory public prosecutor and the worst Minister of Justice Lebanon has ever known," the families continued to assert.