Liberty Front
Liberty Front (in Arabic جبهة الحرية) is a Lebanese political movement launched in April 2007 by Fouad Abou Nader, the first one to organize free and democratic internal elections.
Foundation and politics
After the withdrawal of the Syrians from Lebanon, Fouad Abou Nader restarted his public activities in launching the Liberty Front.
The Liberty Front considers itself a defender of Lebanon sovereignty, independence and freedom, heir of the "Front for Freedom & Man" (in Arabic جبهة الحرية والإنسان pronounced Jabhat al Hurriyah wal Insan) founded in 1975 by Dr. Charles Malik who evolved later on to the Lebanese Front and the political offspring of the Resistance of the Front’s parties and movements fighters who cooperated together in the "Lebanese Forces Command Council" since 1976 before uniting their forces in 1980 in the Lebanese Forces under the leadership of President Bachir Gemayel and fought against the Palestinian organizations and the Syrian army between 1975 and 1986.
- Principles and project
Principles
Nation-state and citizen identity: Citizenship should always take precedence on any other affiliation, religious or sectarian or other. The Lebanese political society is composed of several religious minorities, with no chance that any minority might ever rule alone. Relying on the help of foreign powers, and allowing them to intervene in Lebanese internal affairs has often ruined democracy and repeatedly destroyed Lebanon, its economy and the notion of common destiny. A large majority of the Lebanese long for freedom, security, dignity, stability and equal opportunity. That can be only delivered by a modern, truly independent, and sovereign civil state. A comprehensive political project could bring a solution to the permanent national crisis Lebanon has been experiencing for decades. This project is proposed as a base for negotiations among the Lebanese people and their different communities. A national debate around this proposal should be created in order to discuss it with any individual or community in good will.
The project
This project has many aspects; starting with the political basis and then the economy, education, health care, freedom of expression, women’s rights and other aspects of public life.
In Politics
1. New social contract with a unified code of Personal Status, law applied to all and social advancement as reward for work, efforts and skills: The negotiation and adoption of a new modern and realistic national charter among the Lebanese communities, which should take into consideration the fact that any one community is a minority no matter how big a minority it is. Define clearly the relations between the citizen and the state regardless of a citizen’s community, religion, color, race or beliefs. (Equal rights and Universal Declaration of Human Rights drafted for the United Nations by Charles Malek, founder of the Front for Freedom and Man in Lebanon). Declare the fact that Lebanon is a state that is here to stay as a perennial home for its citizen, all its citizen. Should be set up: a unified civil code of Personal Status, a State of Law and Justice recognizing the citizen rights, whilst demanding from them duties and applying the same laws to all and a State of skills in which everyone would have a chance and could attain social success, because social advancement will be the reward for their work, their efforts and competence.
2. Regionalism and governance 2.0: The notion that every region of Lebanon is as important to its citizen as is Beirut the capital leads to the concept of regionalism, meaning that local representatives are elected to run the daily business of their region, deciding of local development projects, education, health, urbanism, tourism, hydro-electric resources, industry and agriculture planning, environment – particularly garbage collection and treatment –, ecological and other protections of natural sites. The advantage of regionalism is to give every region and its inhabitants the possibility of maintaining their cultural inheritance and the specific aspects and traditions of their daily life. It also enhances the accountability of regionally elected officials due to their proximity with their electoral base. Bringing development to the citizen within his region will ultimately allow him to stay in the land of his ancestors and bind him to his land. To make up for the shortcomings of the Central State, regionalism must be established, that is to say local governance, extensive decentralization and decisions taken by the first parties concerned. Just as the rivalry between the Phoenician cities made the prosperity of Phoenicia, a healthy economic and social competition between the regions are today needed in order to boost Lebanon’s development in all its regions. In the framework of its fight against corruption, Lebanon should go to governance 2.0, that is to say e-government and e-administration. For that, it could start at the local level with e-municipalities.
3. International recognized positive & permanent neutrality: An internationally recognized, permanent and positive neutrality. This means that Lebanon should not take sides in inter-regional conflicts, that it will adopt a positive stance when Arab countries have a common policy, will always try to have good relations with western or other countries, and will always be in the Arab camp in case of a conflict with neighboring Israel. An internationally recognized, permanent and positive neutrality will prevent Arab and foreign countries from interfering in Lebanon’s internal affairs, that it will also prevent Lebanese parties and communities from seeking the support of foreign powers and drawing their strength from these powers. Lebanon’s independent foreign policy is recognized in the Alexandria Protocol which led to the formation of the League of Arab States.
4. Electoral system: Responsible, representative governance requires clear representation of electorate’s will, and that can be achieved by adopting the principle of single electoral districts, one district for each electoral seat (one man one vote). This is what is called: first-past-the-post segment of the polls.
5. Conflict with Syria: Concerning the former state of conflict between Lebanon and Syria, and in order to normalize relations between the two countries, it is required to organize the return of all detainees presently in Syrian jails, and complete information about those who died in detention in Syria, and the return of their remains to their families.
6. Displaced people: Displaced people within Lebanon have to return to their homes, without any further delay. The government of Lebanon and the regional leaders should understand that this is a legal and humanitarian issue, it is also a crucial step on the road to internal reconciliation among the Lebanese communities.
7. The Lebanese Diaspora: Lebanese expatriates should have the right and possibility to participate in the Lebanese electoral process in their respective countries of residence and get members in the Lebanese Parliament. Lebanese expatriates who participate in a very consistent manner to the economy of Lebanon through money transfers and deposits in Lebanese banks should be encouraged and motivated to invest in economic development projects in Lebanon through proper legislation. A legal mechanism should be created to give back Lebanese citizenship to those expatriates who for some reason have lost it, and give them good reasons to do so.
8. Defense and security: The Lebanese armed forces and other government security agency should have the exclusive right to bear and use weapons insides Lebanese territory. No other military or para-military organization should be allowed to do so. To solve the problem of existing Lebanese para-military organizations, a regional National Guard should be created under the authority of the national government of Lebanon, and to gradually absorb all those different groups into one National Guard’s corps.
9. Resettlement of Palestinians: The resolution of the Palestinian tragedy can not take place at the expense of Lebanon. A solution outside Lebanon has to be found for the fate of more than 500,000 Palestinians living in dire conditions in Lebanon. Palestinian passport should be granted to them as it was given to the Palestinians of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. The Lebanese society cannot and should not absorb this number of Palestinians, this is a question of national security. Decree No. 5247 which was illegally issued on June 20, 1994, granting Lebanese nationality to Palestinians, Syrians and other Arabs, should be annulled. As for the Palestinian armed groups inside Lebanese territory, as per the decision of the Parliament to cancel the Cairo Agreement, they should be completely disarmed, and the security of Palestinian refugee camps handed over to the Lebanese armed forces. No other authority except that of the Lebanese state should be tolerated on Lebanese territory.
10. The Taëf agreement: Formulas, such as the National Pact (1943) and the Taef agreement (1989), could not save us from war, occupation and bankruptcy. The provisions of the Taëf agreement created an imbalance in the structure of constitutional powers in Lebanon. That, this agreement was signed under duress. That its provisions have to be reviewed and rewritten by duly elected representatives of the Lebanese people meeting in congress, and on Lebanese soil, without the intervention of any foreign power. The paragraphs pertaining to the fraternity between Syria and Lebanon as nil and without any effect since Syria was not a signatory of the Taëf agreement. The Fraternity Treaty signed between Lebanon and Syria during the Syrian occupation should be cancelled.
11. Lebanese Syrian relations: Relations with neighboring Syria should be normalized, and all issues still holding back this normalization resolved. A solution outside Lebanon has to be found for the fate of more than 1,500,000 Syrians living in dire conditions in Lebanon. The Lebanese society cannot and should not absorb this number of Syrians, this is a question of national security. The Lebanese government should be the only authority allowed to negotiate future relations with Syria. Since Lebanon has no pretention to any parts of Syrian territory and does not allow itself to get involved in Syrian internal affairs, then there is no reason for delaying the final and official drawing of border lines between the two sovereign countries.
12. Conclusion: The ultimate goal is to put a final end to the power struggle among Lebanon religious communities. The political mentality of the Lebanese has matured enough to be able to sit together around a table in all free will and decide together how to shape a future democratic and neutral Lebanon.
The Economy
1. Regional development in Lebanon is required to support the economy in general. Adopting regionalism will give the different regions of Lebanon the legal tools to proceed with their own development within general development guidelines sit by the government of Lebanon.
2. The Lebanese legislator should start enacting laws allowing and giving incentives for micro-credit banking, investments in small and medium sized businesses, agricultural transformation industry, high-tech industry and tourist industry. And those specific incentives should be created for those investments in above said sectors if they are located in regions outside the Beirut belt.
Environment, education and health care
Lebanese are looking forward towards a free education and medication for all.
1. Education: Amend legislation no. 686 in the compulsory and free education to include the youth up to the age of 16 years rather than the age of 12, and the obligation to ensure its resolute application. Establish a mutual fund for needy families to help them cover school fees for their children.
2. Hospitalization: Establish a Health Care cooperative to cover for citizens who do not enjoy any security or cooperative or private insurance.
3. Environment: Adopt renewable energy, provide the incentives to municipalities to encourage adoption of solar energy, recycling of waste, especially paper, glass and plastic materials. Recycling will provide an additional financial pipeline for municipalities.
4. Water supply: Develop a comprehensive plan to solve the water crisis via the establishment of dams and water wells, lakes and the rationalization of the public not to waste water.
Information Technology, High Tech, Digital, Gaming, Programming
Lebanon should be turned into a leading hub in the Middle East for high tech, for digital, for gaming, for information technology and for programming companies by means of passing relevant laws that will secure protection of intellectual property, financial incentives and tax reductions. These companies will provide graduating students thousands of new jobs opportunities.
The youth and national commitment
The foundation of a modern civil state starts by building up a good and committed citizen. It is necessary to amend both, school and university curriculums to include applied civil programs which will gradually transform the student into a qualified and dedicated citizen. It allows him to engage in the civil society and the public sector. A project should be established in order to secure education loans for students similar to “kafalat” project whereby the terms of the loan are encouraging.
Women’s rights
Based on the ratification by Lebanon of the Fourth World Conference on Women (Action for Equality, Development and Peace) convened by the United Nations (UN) in Beijing (China) and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) of the UN, women should get all of their rights in line with the modern requirements of the times, and to set apart, as the first stage, a quota of “30%” of total parliament representations. Giving women their rights, will reflect to the world Lebanon’s cultural and civilized image.
Freedom of expression through a free press
Freedom of expression is the most prominent attribute that has differentiated Lebanon from its neighbors, since old times. Free media should be supported and protected to keep it the true expression of Lebanon’s realities.