STL New Scandal: Website Leaks Witness List

Local Editor

A new online group that calls itself "Journalists for the Truth" published Tuesday the identities of 163 witnesses to Lebanon's tribunal set up to investigate the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

The group's website provides photos of witnesses who may testify before the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) alongside their names, place and year of birth, city of residence, and profession. The list was posted in both English and Arabic.

The list briefly appeared Tuesday morning on the website of Lebanese daily al-Mustaqbal, which belonged to the slain premier. The paper released a statement saying its website had been hacked.

The authenticity of the list could not be independently confirmed. But if the information proves accurate, the incident is the latest leak of classified material in a case whose operations are shrouded in secrecy and corruption.

The group says its mission is to expose corruption in the tribunal and provide "judicial support to the witnesses who face daily temptation or pressure by the STL and its personnel," according to its website.

The website also lists "instructions" for witnesses who feel they are being intimidated or coerced to provide statements.
Among the witnesses is the Future head MP Saad Hariri's consultant Hani Hammoud, whose name was captioned by "covered by the witness protection program in the international tribunal."

The Tribunal was set up in 2007 and inaugurated two years later to investigate the killing of the former premier and 22 others in a massive explosion in 2005.

Source: al-Akhbar, Edited by moqawama.org