Aoun pays homage to Gebran Tueini and Francois al-Hajj: No tutelage, no occupation in Lebanon

On the eve of the 20th anniversary of the assassination of Gebran Tueni, and 18 years since the assassination of Francois al-Hajj, President Joseph Aoun paid homage to both the journalist and the officer, in which he stated that public officials in Lebanon should sacrifice for Lebanon and its people, not for their own interests.

Aoun also used his memorial message to defend the actions of the Lebanese Army, responsible for disarming non-state groups in Lebanon, and facing unsupported accusations by Israel of not doing enough in this regard.

"Our consolation, after all these years, is that Gebran’s cry was heard, and that his word came true: no tutelage, and no occupation, as well as no sovereignty over our land except that of the Lebanese state alone," Aoun stated.

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The government committed in August to regain the monopoly over weapons, which means disarming Hezbollah and other Palestinian camps and other militias.

Gebran Tueni — a Lebanese politician and the former editor and publisher of daily paper Al-Nahar — was a strong critic of Syrian tutelage over Lebanon. He was assassinated in 2005 during a series of attacks blamed on the Syrian Assad regime in Lebanon.

Aoun added that the "sacrifice of François [al-Hajj] has blossomed and borne fruit: an army that extends its authority day after day, and yard after yard, in a steady, unwavering progression — not retreating, not slowing, not hesitating," before slamming the "allegations" claiming that the Lebanese Army is not doing enough to disarm Hezbollah.

Hajj was assassinated on the same date in 2007 in a car laden with explosives in Baabda. Prior to his death he had been in charge of the deadly military operation against the Fatah al-Islam organization in the Palestinian camp of Nahr al-Bared from May 20 to July 2.

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Aoun pointed out that both these assassinations were perpetrated "on the same day, as if bearing the signature of the same killer. Or because the target was the nation itself," as for him, both victims embodied "Lebanon's anthem [which states the words] ‘Our sword and the pen.’"

"Gebran’s pen, the word of truth, and François’s sword, the power that defends truth and its word."

In the face of both their sacrifices, the president claimed that political and official figures have a "duty" to "act with the conviction that the purpose of public service is to achieve the good of all people, not to secure the power of politicians and officials."

He concluded his statement with the words "Forever and ever," a part of the vow pronounced by Tueni during his March 14, 2005 national unity pledge to a huge crowd.

The sentence was repeated by the crowd stated that: "We swear by Almighty God, Muslims and Christians, to remain united forever and ever, in defense of great Lebanon."