I am pretty much with the right for Lebanese living abroad to vote provided:
1-There could be a limited number of seats representing them in parliament.
2-The vote takes place only in countries where no Lebanese Party is alienated.(A country where HA for example is banned or considered as terrorist should not be allowed to vote.)
But for the time being,i am with postponing such procedure,only for technical reasons.But a proper plan should be set to prepare for this eventuality within not so long.
Let me make myself clear:
It's not about HA,or any particular group or Party.It's about
equal rights and citizenship.
For example,If it's easy for someone to campaign and vote for his party in the US,it is forbidden for someone else to do so,if he supports a party like HA.
If we want people to
vote,it should be only on equal ground and with equal rights...
If we want people to
campaign,it should be only on equal ground and with equal rights...
Not some campaigning and voting freely and even helped by external governments,while others are chased and harassed or even put in jails for their choices.
Again,
The secrecy of votes,is not the only issue to consider here.Elections are a much more complicated and an ongoing process.
The problem goes beyond the secrecy of votes.
Because elections also mean campaigning and fund raising and involves so much activities,associations,groups...ect...ect...
So a foreign country where all the expats don't have the exact rights and the exact margin of manoeuvrings, should simply not be allowed to vote.
Again and again,and to make my thoughts clearer,
It's not about any particular group or Party.It's only about equal rights and citizenship.
Elections are legitimate and legal...Only and only if,they are run on equal ground and with equal rights among voters. Elections Cannot take place in without the full respect of the constitutional right of equality. For example:
Let's say that you're a candidate,running against another candidate,but:
1-You are not given the right to campaign,while your opponent can.
2-You are not given the right to raise funds,while your opponent can.
3-Your asset is frozen as soon as discovered,while your opponent is funded freely.
4-Your electoral base is constantly harassed and threatened of jail and arrestation,while your opponent's electoral base is helped at every state level.
5-You are running the risk to be imprisoned for merely declaring your political affiliation,while your opponent is a friend of the regime.
ect...ect...
Clearly,both candidates are not benefiting of the same conditions.One is deliberately handicapped while the other is rather benefiting from a push.
Under these conditions,no elections can or should ever be held,because it's a blatant breach of basic democratic rules,one of the most important,being the "equality among citizens". If such elections happen,you can bet that any independent observer will tell you that elections were unfair and illegal.
In any way,you or any other citizen can file an opposition claim,and have such elections nullified and canceled by the competent court.
It's simple.
Nobody ever tackled the issue from that angle,but you can bet that sooner or later,when it will eventually come to organizing elections abroad,each country (electoral district),will have to treat voters and candidates equally,or no elections should be held in it.
A country where a candidate is a friend of the system,and another one is a terrorist,will never be able to offer the required conditions for fair and legal elections process to take place.
Btw,
Not allowing votes to be casted in such countries,is in itself,the application and respect of the principle of equality among all citizens.
Equal rights=Equal chances
2nd September 2008
2nd September 2008
