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LEBANON
Government failuresBishops slam mishandling of security, economy, censorship
Lebanon’s Maronite Catholic bishops have criticized the country’s government for its mishandling of the economy, security issues, and censorship.
“The strangling economic situation has become unbearable. . . . Stagnation might lead to an explosion if it is not treated as soon as possible,” the bishops warned after their July monthly meeting. The economy has been stumbling due to mounting government debts and a chronic budget deficit as well as a sharp 50 percent rise in gasoline prices over the previous two months.
The bishops also blasted the government’s failure to deploy security forces to southern Lebanon following the withdrawal of Israeli forces in May. They said the power vacuum allowed the Muslim Hezbollah rebels to take hold and threaten the civilians in the region. “The situation of the south is still creating great concern because the government did not fix its presence there yet,” they said. “Under the pretext of claiming security responsibility in the south, men of armed parties enter houses where they detain and kidnap residents of that area as if there is no government and no law.”
The government also received criticism for a ban on some foreign publications last month, saying it showed ignorance of modern media which is freely available through other channels such as the Internet. State Security said it banned seven publications because they contained articles insulting to the late Syrian president Hafez al-Assad. Syria is the main political power broker in Lebanon, exercising almost complete control over policies and politicians.
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