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The "Lebanese Forces" was created as a
result of excruciating circumstances in Lebanon in late seventies when
the Lebanese Christian community felt the need to defend itself
against impending internal and external dangers and threats. These
dangers were amplified by the fact that the government with its entire
infrastructure proved to be impotent in containing the Palestinian
military presence in Lebanon, which threatened Lebanon’ sovereignty
and independence. The resistance forces consisted of several separate
factions: the Phalangists, The National Liberal Party, Al-Tanzeem
Party and the Guardians of The Cedars, who took a multi-lateral
decision on August 1976 to consolidate the war efforts and to
establish a unified resistance military council under the command of
the late Lebanese president "Bashir Gemayel".
Bashir Gemayel founded the "Lebanese
Forces". He created it, organized the cadres and he molded it with his
own patriotic spirit, hopes and aspirations. He transformed it to play
a dual role in the Christian community, a defensive military machine
(30,000 fighters) and a sophisticated infrastructure that served the
Christian community politically, economically, socially and by
providing it with both radio and TV stations. He continued to serve in
that capacity until he was elected president of Lebanon in 1982, and
consequently his assassination by the enemies of Lebanon on September
14, 1982.
After the assassination, the "Lebanese
Forces" went into a state of shock and paralysis that lasted few years
until January 15, 1986 when Dr. "Samir Geagea" assumed its
leadership. On that day the winds of change started blowing and the
march of rebuilding, reform and modernization started moving forward.
The "Lebanese Forces" became the institution holding a historical
political proposition for the Lebanese Christian community aiming
at:
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Ensuring a sovereign, free, and secure
Lebanon for all its citizens equally.
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Establishing a system of government
whereas the superstructure (the government) is congruent with the
infrastructure (the society) resulting in a fair, true and balanced
political participation.
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Promoting a political system built on
three basic principles: diversity, freedom to foster development and
democracy representative of the diversity that exists in the
Lebanese Society.
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Halting support to any ideology or
movement that works directly or indirectly to joining Lebanon to
another country.
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Adopting a neutral foreign policy to
provide for internal security and to allow for freedom to build
foreign international relations.
The "Lebanese Forces" peaked in its
organization and modernization. After the signing of the "TAEF Accord"
on October 24, 1989 with international and regional blessings, it
transformed its military resistance into a political resistance.
Hence, the "Lebanese Forces Party", with its 30,000 members not
counting their families, was formed on September 10, 1990 based on
three undisputed principles:
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Safeguarding Lebanon’s independence, sovereignty and
distinct identity within its
Internationally recognized borders.
Founding the Lebanese Government on
the basic principles of human rights.
Establishing a democratic system
whereas freedom and Human Rights of every citizen are protected and
guaranteed.
Post "Taef Accord", and after
dismantling its military machine and surrendering its weapons, the
Lebanese Forces Party attempted to control the dangerous digression in
the implementation of the Taef Accord due to the Syrian regime,
single-handedly taking control of the "Lebanese File". This scenario
manifested on the Political arena as a result of two factors: the
international/regional powers that accommodated the Syrian regime and
the refusal of the Lebanese Muslims to respect and abide by the "Taef
Accord".
The "Lebanese Forces Party" refused the
status quo and used every democratic means to realize its political
ambition on one hand and to prevent Syria from annexing Lebanon, on
the other hand. As a result, the ruling regime in Lebanon launched a
persecution and terror campaign against the "Lebanese Forces Party"
starting with the government decision to disband it on March 23, 1994
and to falsely accuse and imprison its leader "Dr. Samir Geagea" on
April 21 of the same year. The waves of arrests began soon after and
continued to target Lebanese Forces officials and hundreds of its
members to date. The government confiscated all assets and equipment
belonging to the Lebanese Forces Party and took over all of its
social, educational and media institutions.
The direct result of this persecution
and terror campaign was the forced emigration of a large number of
"Lebanese Forces Party" members to Europe, United States and Australia
where representative political offices have been established for
years.
In spite of all the pressures exerted
upon it and the false imprisonment of its leader, the "Lebanese Forces
Party" is still the most organized party on the Lebanese political
arena. This is proven by the official results in the last municipal
elections of 1998 (300 "Lebanese Forces Party" officials elected).
Furthermore, the "Lebanese Forces Party" enjoys a strong presence and
a wide area of influence on the educational level within student
organizations in universities and schools and also within many labor
unions representing doctors, lawyers and engineers to mention a few.
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