|  FPM members Arrested... -
3rd November 2004
BEIRUT: Arrests targeting members of the Free Patriotic Movement took place on Saturday in Zghorta, the hometown of new Interior Minister Suleiman Franjieh, as a late response to flyers distributed a month ago by FPM members in the area.
The arrests were carried out by members of the Internal Security Forces, and they arrested FPM members George Sankary and George Jamil. After interrogating them for several hours, the ISF then released the detainees pending further questioning.
"We were arrested because we distributed flyers welcoming UN Security Council Resolution 1559," said Jamil. "Apparently, calling for Lebanon's independence and sovereignty annoys the authorities and is considered a breach of 'their' law."
Resolution 1559 was issued on Sept. 2, and calls - among other things - for the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Lebanon.
Jamil said interrogators told them they were arrested for allegedly damaging Lebanon's relation with "sisterly Syria," and provoking the president.
"The flyers only contained the text of the resolution, and the UN logo with words 'sovereignty, liberty and independence' written underneath," said Jamil. "I don't understand how calling for Lebanon's independence would threaten Lebanon's relations with any country."
Riad Ghazale, the FPM official in Zghorta, questioned the timing of the arrests, explaining that the flyers were distributed a while ago.
"The flyers were distributed following the issuing of UN Resolution 1559," Ghazale said. "Why would they make the arrests right now?" he asked.
According to Ghazale, the move was intended to threaten FPM members in the area, and most probably to convey a message by Franjieh that the area is well under his control.
"It is not surprising that, shortly after Franjieh took office, such arrests have taken place," Ghazale said. "It goes to say that the new Cabinet will go on with the policy of intimidating people and suppressing them."
Moreover, Ghazale said that although Jamil and Sankary were released, there was no legal justification for their arrest in the first place.
"Such an arrest is illegal," Ghazale said. "If UN resolutions are against the law, then they should try calling UN Secretary General Kofi Annan for interrogation," he said. | 
