Saniora Plays Monopoly with Money of People
Source: Al-Manar, 07-02-2008
The head of the unconstitutional government Fouad Saniora failed in refuting facts stated on Al-Manar about spending money allocated to those affected from the 2006 "Israeli" aggression in the wrong place. Furthermore, facts showed that what has been spent so far does not even exceed 27% of the total amount of money devoted for the rebuilding process. It should be also noted that owners of around 50% of the damaged homes didn't receive the first payment of compensation until this very moment.
The donations are spent according to the wishes of the donors, Saniora confidently says.
But Saniora himself violated this principle as the minutes of Cabinet meeting number 91 - resolution number 118 on 27/10/07 show. This resolution saw the shift of $3.5 million from a total of $30 million donated by the International Bank for the purpose of rebuilding damaged infrastructure, to another purpose according to a proposal submitted by Finance and Interior ministries.
Saniora estimated according to the minutes of the session that there would be an excess of $3.5 million from the rebuilding process in afflicted villages! How can Saniora estimate something such as "excess" of money when the rebuilding process is not over yet?
Dahiyeh (Beirut's southern suburb) residents lashed out at Saniora expressing their feeling of betrayal and being punished for their political choice. For some, the July war isn't over yet.
"We are not asking for anything other than our rights. I haven't received my first payment of compensation money yet," one Dahiyeh resident said.
The head of the Higher Relief Council (HRC) Yehia Raad stated clearly that the remaining funds from donor countries are not enough to pay appropriate compensations for the owners of homes partly damaged. But how can this be?
Saniora's unconstitutional government, and instead of fulfilling its promises, took advantage of a sum of $110 million from the donations to support its own projects; projects that are not related to the "Israeli" aggression.
This was simply done through resolutions Saniora and his ministerial bloc were taking during regular Cabinet meetings. They include:
* Resolution 49 endorsed on 12/09/07 which saw the shift of $40 million from Saudi funds to finance the Arab Highway project thus covering for the increase in prices of building materials between 2004 and 2007.
* Resolution 168 endorsed on 25/05/07 which saw the shift of $15 million from the International Bank donation to support a water project in the Bekaa region decided before the July aggression.
* Resolution 188 also endorsed on 25/05/07 which saw the shift of another $5 million from the International Bank donation to finance an "advisory services project" for the electricity sector.
** Resolution 40 endorsed on 25/06/07 which saw the postponement of a decision to accept a European donation of $26 million for rebuilding purposes.
Resolution endorsed on 27/10/07 which saw the shift of $3.5 million from the same International Bank donation to finance some municipalities in the north.
* Resolution 26 endorsed on 27/10/07 which saw the shift of a Turkish donation of $20 million to finance the establishment of a hospital in Saida instead of Ghaziyeh in southern Lebanon.
Therefore, the sum of money improperly used by Saniora's unconstitutional government reached $110 million; a sum of money Saniora deprived its rightful owners from.
Saniora didn't find in all the presented details supported by documents more than a "political slander". Speaking at the opening of a special meeting at the Grand Serail on energy saving, Saniora told participants that his government "dealt with the issue with a high level of conscience and ethics".
However, Al-Manar unveils the minutes of one session held by the Higher Relief Council confirming the decision to assign the amount of L.P. 2 billion for the second payment of compensations. This raises a big question mark about the intention of declaring the HRC's bankruptcy by its chief Yehia Raad.
The session under question took place on 16/07/07. Saniora, who was presiding over the meeting stated, according to the official minutes, that 97% of the compensations file for the South was accomplished in a ten months period. He added that L.P. 393 billion were spent as first payment, and the remaining L.P 200 billion will be spent as second payment.
Thus, according to Saniora's statement, L.P. 200 billion were dedicated to the South alone, so where did all this money go leading Raad to declare bankruptcy?
During the mid-July 2007 session, eleven resolutions were endorsed; none of which was related to the regions affected by the "Israeli" aggression of 2006. The resolutions included compensations for those affected by explosions at the rate of 50% for stores and 100% for cars and residential units.
It should be noted here that Saniora refused to compensate for the destruction and damage of more than 5,300 cars and thousands of partially damaged stores in south Lebanon.
At the same meeting, a resolution was endorsed to deposit L.P. 439 billion in the account of the Ministry of Displaced to "evacuate" one street in northern Lebanon. Other similar resolutions were taken in other meetings. For instance, on 29/03/07, a resolution was endorsed to spend L.P. 250 million to complete evacuations in different areas through which a highway financed by the Islamic Bank passes. All this money was spent from the safe of the HRC that received millions of dollars dedicated to the affected people from the "Israeli" aggression of July 2006... Nevertheless, these people didn't get their complete rights until now.
The head of the unconstitutional government Fouad Saniora failed in refuting facts stated on Al-Manar about spending money allocated to those affected from the 2006 "Israeli" aggression in the wrong place. Furthermore, facts showed that what has been spent so far does not even exceed 27% of the total amount of money devoted for the rebuilding process. It should be also noted that owners of around 50% of the damaged homes didn't receive the first payment of compensation until this very moment.
The donations are spent according to the wishes of the donors, Saniora confidently says.
But Saniora himself violated this principle as the minutes of Cabinet meeting number 91 - resolution number 118 on 27/10/07 show. This resolution saw the shift of $3.5 million from a total of $30 million donated by the International Bank for the purpose of rebuilding damaged infrastructure, to another purpose according to a proposal submitted by Finance and Interior ministries.
Saniora estimated according to the minutes of the session that there would be an excess of $3.5 million from the rebuilding process in afflicted villages! How can Saniora estimate something such as "excess" of money when the rebuilding process is not over yet?
Dahiyeh (Beirut's southern suburb) residents lashed out at Saniora expressing their feeling of betrayal and being punished for their political choice. For some, the July war isn't over yet.
"We are not asking for anything other than our rights. I haven't received my first payment of compensation money yet," one Dahiyeh resident said.
The head of the Higher Relief Council (HRC) Yehia Raad stated clearly that the remaining funds from donor countries are not enough to pay appropriate compensations for the owners of homes partly damaged. But how can this be?
Saniora's unconstitutional government, and instead of fulfilling its promises, took advantage of a sum of $110 million from the donations to support its own projects; projects that are not related to the "Israeli" aggression.
This was simply done through resolutions Saniora and his ministerial bloc were taking during regular Cabinet meetings. They include:
* Resolution 49 endorsed on 12/09/07 which saw the shift of $40 million from Saudi funds to finance the Arab Highway project thus covering for the increase in prices of building materials between 2004 and 2007.
* Resolution 168 endorsed on 25/05/07 which saw the shift of $15 million from the International Bank donation to support a water project in the Bekaa region decided before the July aggression.
* Resolution 188 also endorsed on 25/05/07 which saw the shift of another $5 million from the International Bank donation to finance an "advisory services project" for the electricity sector.
** Resolution 40 endorsed on 25/06/07 which saw the postponement of a decision to accept a European donation of $26 million for rebuilding purposes.
Resolution endorsed on 27/10/07 which saw the shift of $3.5 million from the same International Bank donation to finance some municipalities in the north.
* Resolution 26 endorsed on 27/10/07 which saw the shift of a Turkish donation of $20 million to finance the establishment of a hospital in Saida instead of Ghaziyeh in southern Lebanon.
Therefore, the sum of money improperly used by Saniora's unconstitutional government reached $110 million; a sum of money Saniora deprived its rightful owners from.
Saniora didn't find in all the presented details supported by documents more than a "political slander". Speaking at the opening of a special meeting at the Grand Serail on energy saving, Saniora told participants that his government "dealt with the issue with a high level of conscience and ethics".
However, Al-Manar unveils the minutes of one session held by the Higher Relief Council confirming the decision to assign the amount of L.P. 2 billion for the second payment of compensations. This raises a big question mark about the intention of declaring the HRC's bankruptcy by its chief Yehia Raad.
The session under question took place on 16/07/07. Saniora, who was presiding over the meeting stated, according to the official minutes, that 97% of the compensations file for the South was accomplished in a ten months period. He added that L.P. 393 billion were spent as first payment, and the remaining L.P 200 billion will be spent as second payment.
Thus, according to Saniora's statement, L.P. 200 billion were dedicated to the South alone, so where did all this money go leading Raad to declare bankruptcy?
During the mid-July 2007 session, eleven resolutions were endorsed; none of which was related to the regions affected by the "Israeli" aggression of 2006. The resolutions included compensations for those affected by explosions at the rate of 50% for stores and 100% for cars and residential units.
It should be noted here that Saniora refused to compensate for the destruction and damage of more than 5,300 cars and thousands of partially damaged stores in south Lebanon.
At the same meeting, a resolution was endorsed to deposit L.P. 439 billion in the account of the Ministry of Displaced to "evacuate" one street in northern Lebanon. Other similar resolutions were taken in other meetings. For instance, on 29/03/07, a resolution was endorsed to spend L.P. 250 million to complete evacuations in different areas through which a highway financed by the Islamic Bank passes. All this money was spent from the safe of the HRC that received millions of dollars dedicated to the affected people from the "Israeli" aggression of July 2006... Nevertheless, these people didn't get their complete rights until now.
