General Aoun evokes the assault of Syrian troops and talks of "divine justice" with regard to Kanaan's suicide.
Beirut (AsiaNews) A mass in memory of martyrs who fell on 13 October 1990, when Syrian troops attacked the forces of General Michel Aoun, was celebrated yesterday for the first time, since the event took place. The mass was held in the church of the Resurrection in Mtayleb, northern Beirut. Aoun gave a speech in which he criticized the silence of those commanding the Lebanese army in the face of the disappearance of military personnel after the clashes 15 years ago. Arrested by Syrian troops, they were never heard of again.
The Schi'ite Member of Parliament of Byblos, Abbas El Hachem, present at the ceremony, affirmed that "the history of Lebanon will inscribe 13 October as a date which marked the rediscovery of sovereignty and national dignity."
General Aoun recalled the massacres perpetrated on 13 October 1990 in some regions of Lebanon. At the end, he referred to the suicide of Ghazi Kanaan, Minister for the Interior of Damascus, who for 20 years was the incarnation of Syrian domination in Lebanon: "Yesterday, Wednesday, divine justice made itself felt. The man who was responsible for the elimination of many Lebanese and numerous politicians committed suicide."
Before the ceremony, a candlelight procession headed for the Dahr El Wahch neighbourhood.
Another religious ceremony took place at the convent of the Antonian priests of El Kalaa, to commemorate the memory of two religious who disappeared on 13 October 15 years ago, Fr Albert Cherfan and Fr Souleiman Abi Khalil.