February 22, 2010 - Daily Star - Calls to end sectarianism fall on deaf ears

By Mirella Hodeib

BEIRUT: The uproar witnessed on the Lebanese political scene following calls to abolish political sectarianism is unprecedented. Speaker Nabih Berri’s January call to form a National Higher Commission to Abolish Political Sectarianism received an angry reception from March 14 Forces, even from the speaker’s allies in the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM).

But Berri’s call to form the commission is not the first one; President Michel Sleiman has also raised the issue. In a speech to mark Lebanon’s 66th anniversary of independence last November, the president called for the establishment of such a commission, “to encourage vast participation in political life.”

The Future Movement of Prime Minister Saad Hariri did not voice any objections to the proposal either.

The Maronite Church, however, seems to be strongly opposed to the idea, with Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir arguing, on several occasions, that sectarianism ought to be “removed from the souls before being removed from the texts.”

Former Head of the State Shura Council Youssef Saadallah al-Khoury explains that sectarianism cannot be ultimately removed from the souls, while stressing that the Lebanese could be safeguarded from its negative repercussions through constitutional texts.

Middle East commentator Rannie Amiri told The Daily Star that the sectarian distribution of seats in Parliament and within the Cabinet “was always meant to be temporary, as Section G of the Taif Accord clearly indicates.”

“This distribution, as outlined by Taif, did serve a useful purpose in helping to end the even more skewed disproportional representation which existed prior and was one of the causes of Lebanon’s long Civil War,” he said.

According to Amiri, Lebanon has now evolved beyond this transitional period and current calls to abolish political sectarianism have been “primarily due to the paralyzing nature of sectarian politics.”

It took Prime Minister Hariri more than five months to form a Cabinet which complied with all the requirements of the sectarian quota system, and which was not necessarily based on merit or qualifications.

“Because Lebanon is already quite familiar with this vicious cycle, it is important to recognize that allocating seats [and power] based on one’s religious group must end,” he said.

Speaker Berri’s adviser Ali Hamdan said political systems are created in order to serve the public’s interests and not vice-versa. He added that Berri was a firm believer that the current system was “outdated, and rigid.”

“We endorse critical thinking in order to find a remedy to develop a political system capable of promoting unity and building trust among the Lebanese,” he added.

Berri also defends the timing for his call, saying the main motive behind the call, besides the constitutional obligation, is “the unprecedented wave of reconciliations and the return of confidence building among the Lebanese.”

Berri also hopes that the work of the commission would be as fruitful as that of the National Dialogue Committee he had formed for back in March 2006.

Dialogue sessions at the Parliament gathered the leaders of Lebanon’s main factions to openly discuss problematic issues and succeeded in reaching an agreement on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon to try those who assassinated former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, the Palestinian file in Lebanon as well as ties with Syria.

Currently, National Dialogue is headed by President Sleiman and mainly works on outlining a defense strategy for the country.

Associate Professor of History at the Lebanese American University Habib Malik said one of the possibilities why Berri raised the issue of political sectarianism could be to distract attention from Hizbullah’s growing arsenal.

Hamdan responded that the Speaker was the one to suggest including the discussion of Hizbullah’s weapons during National Dialogue sessions.

Malik further argued that Berri’s initiative was a “very dangerous step in the context of Lebanon and a way of undermining rather than promoting democracy and offers no protection for minorities.”

Malik argued that abolishing political sectarianism opened the way for totalitarian rule and ensured no rights for minorities. “The current system ensures the right of minorities,” he added, referring to the dwindling number of Christians in the country.

Recent research conducted by the Center for Arab Christian Research and Documentation at Beirut’s Universite Sainte Joseph indicates that one-third of the nation’s Christian population has left since the beginning of the 1975-90 Civil War, and a recent surge in emigration means Christians now make up just 34 percent.

Amiri, meanwhile, maintained that Lebanon’s history as a multi-confessional country is unlikely to lead to the “tyranny of the majority” as some may fear. “It is very clear all groups must be adequately represented for the country to thrive,” he said.

Hamdan said the Constitution looked after the rights of minorities by calling for the formation of a Senate, where all the sects would be represented. He added that the Christians were the most affected by the current political structure.

“Immigration rates among the Christians are a clear example,” he said.

Hamdan argued that Berri’s proposal has convinced an increasing number of politicians. “Those who oppose the call, oppose examining means to promote Lebanon’s strong points want to keep Lebanon a weak country that could be targeted easily.”

Meanwhile Speaker Berri’s opponents had also described his call to form the commission as “ironic” in light of Berri’s role during the 1975-90 Civil War as the head of the Shiite Amal Movement.

Hamdan, who is well aware of the accusations, said the call to form a committee to abolish political sectarianism coming from a former warlord “gains more significance.”

“Nabih Berri has experienced and suffered more than anyone else the curse of sectarianism,” Hamdan said, adding that Berri was part of the sectarian game and therefore “is aware of all its rules and components and how to treat those.”