Lebanese groups hail prisoner swap "victory"
Source: Daily Star, 05-07-2008
BEIRUT: The Follow-Up Committee for the Support of the Lebanese Detainees in 'Israeli' Prisons (FCLD) and the Khiam Rehabilitation Center for the Victims of Torture held a news conference on Friday after a prisoners swap deal was reached between Hizbullah and 'Israel' earlier this week.
The two organizations congratulated the resistance for "this great victory."
FCLD secretary general Mohammad Safa said the files of detainees would not be closed until all Palestinian and Arab prisoners were released.
"The committee is a partner in the resistance's big victory," he said. "It is the unknown soldier in the liberation process of Samir Kintar and his friends and in all previous exchange deals."
The 'Israeli' government on Sunday approved a deal to hand over five Lebanese militants to Hizbullah in return for two 'Israeli' soldiers whose capture caused 'Israel' to launch the 2006 war.
Among the Lebanese to make a triumphant homecoming is Samir Kintar, the longest-serving Arab prisoner in an 'Israeli' jail who had been convicted in 1980 to 542 years in jail for the killing of an 'Israeli' civilian and his daughter, as well as an 'Israeli' policeman.
Safa noted that the committee has been staging sit-ins, issuing statements and holding meetings in favor of the detainees' cause since 1982.
"In 1997, it declared April 22, the date when Kintar was detained, a day for the Arab prisoner," he said.
Safa also added that the committee's "struggle" would enter a new phase. "It is the phase of issuing complaints against 'Israel' and asking it to offer compensations and apologies to 10,000 Lebanese detainees who were illegally imprisoned in its jails," he said. "The file of the missing and detainees will not be closed as long as the local and international accountability has not taken its course."
Tackling the issue of Lebanese detainees in Syria, Safa said: "It is the duty of the Lebanese government and society to discover their fate."
He also called on all the Lebanese people to participate in what he described as "the liberation wedding ceremony of Samir and his friends" and strengthen this victory by promoting civil peace and national unity and rejecting violence, war and sectarianism.
Bassam Kintar, Samir's brother, praised the committee for its continuous efforts to achieve the freedom of detainees.
"The biggest thanks for the committee will be offered soon by Samir Kintar himself," he said.
BEIRUT: The Follow-Up Committee for the Support of the Lebanese Detainees in 'Israeli' Prisons (FCLD) and the Khiam Rehabilitation Center for the Victims of Torture held a news conference on Friday after a prisoners swap deal was reached between Hizbullah and 'Israel' earlier this week.
The two organizations congratulated the resistance for "this great victory."
FCLD secretary general Mohammad Safa said the files of detainees would not be closed until all Palestinian and Arab prisoners were released.
"The committee is a partner in the resistance's big victory," he said. "It is the unknown soldier in the liberation process of Samir Kintar and his friends and in all previous exchange deals."
The 'Israeli' government on Sunday approved a deal to hand over five Lebanese militants to Hizbullah in return for two 'Israeli' soldiers whose capture caused 'Israel' to launch the 2006 war.
Among the Lebanese to make a triumphant homecoming is Samir Kintar, the longest-serving Arab prisoner in an 'Israeli' jail who had been convicted in 1980 to 542 years in jail for the killing of an 'Israeli' civilian and his daughter, as well as an 'Israeli' policeman.
Safa noted that the committee has been staging sit-ins, issuing statements and holding meetings in favor of the detainees' cause since 1982.
"In 1997, it declared April 22, the date when Kintar was detained, a day for the Arab prisoner," he said.
Safa also added that the committee's "struggle" would enter a new phase. "It is the phase of issuing complaints against 'Israel' and asking it to offer compensations and apologies to 10,000 Lebanese detainees who were illegally imprisoned in its jails," he said. "The file of the missing and detainees will not be closed as long as the local and international accountability has not taken its course."
Tackling the issue of Lebanese detainees in Syria, Safa said: "It is the duty of the Lebanese government and society to discover their fate."
He also called on all the Lebanese people to participate in what he described as "the liberation wedding ceremony of Samir and his friends" and strengthen this victory by promoting civil peace and national unity and rejecting violence, war and sectarianism.
Bassam Kintar, Samir's brother, praised the committee for its continuous efforts to achieve the freedom of detainees.
"The biggest thanks for the committee will be offered soon by Samir Kintar himself," he said.
Comments
- Related News
