| Major General Ghazi Kanaan: former Head
of the Syrian Intelligence in Lebanon.
Allows us to give a brief history of General Kanaan and his
atrocities, against Lebanon and the Lebanese people as a whole.
General Kanaan is the true power maker in Lebanon; nothing gets done
without his approval even the Lebanese President has to get his ok
before making any decisions.
Kanaan aged 58 was born to an Alawite family near Kerdaha town of
the late President Hafez Al-assad in the mountains overlooking the
seaport city of Latakia. Kanaan is not related to Hafez Assad at
all, but the two families have a history of ties for a long time in
Syria.
Kanaan is credited with slowly tightening Syria’s grip over the
Lebanese government starting from 1980 by cultivating alliances with
certain militia groups in Lebanon. In 1983 Kanaan ordered his
militia allies to torpedo the May 17th agreement between
Israel and Lebanon brokered by former U.S. Secretary of State Mr.
George Shultz. Kenaan went as far as Masterminding the Feb
6th mutiny in West Beirut which led to the breakdown of
the Lebanese central government and the withdrawal of the
multinational peacekeeping forces, including the U.S. Marines from
Lebanon.
Kanaan most significant achievement happened during 1980 were
through his cunning tactics in luring collaborators within the
predominantly Christian Lebanese Forces. This process began in 1985
with the defection of LF Commander Elie Hobeika who was directly
responsible for the Palestinian massacre of Sabra and Shatila camps
in Beirut.
After ousting the only constitutional government of interim Prime
Minister General Michel Aoun in Oct of 1990 Kanaan took complete
control of the Lebanese political system, since than Kenaan has
literally become the " King Maker " of Lebanon from election of the
President to installing the Parliamentary deputies one by one, it is
all subject to his official approval regardless.
In Oct of 1995 Just weeks before the expiration of Lebanese
President Elias Hrawi’s term in office, Kenaan attended a party
hosted by former Prime Minister Umar Karami and announced to the
numerous MPs present that they were to amend article 49 of the
Lebanese constitution and extend Harawi’s tenure for three more
years, such demand goes against the Lebanese constitution and
practices of government, but Mr. Kanaan forced his will on the MPs
by fear as he has done before. Kanaan went as far as altering the
Lebanese election law in person, which strongly preordains the
election of Pro-Syrian candidates in Lebanon’s Parliamentary
election last August.
Kanaan powers in Lebanon extends beyond the political system due
to the extensive network of Syrian intelligence which exceeded
25,000 officers directly under his command, nothing happens in
Lebanon without his prior knowledge. The commander of Lebanon’s
General Security Directorate, Major General Jamil Sayyed reports
directly to Kenaan, often bypasses the civilian leadership of the
Lebanese regime, since Kanaan has the power to order the arrest of
any Lebanese and without any cause for indefinite detention and
torture. He is the most feared man in Lebanon today. One Lebanese
who spoke to Human rights watch recalled being arrested by Syrian
intelligence in 1993, tortured and brought directly before Kanaan
and pressured to collaborate.
Kenaan has used his influence for personal gain as well. His
involvement in narcotics production and trafficking in the Bekaa
Valley, counterfeiting and other illegal activities have made him a
very wealthy man. With the shadow of Syrian power lurking behind
him, few in Lebanon are willing to stand up to him in dispute. One
did his name is Yahya Shamas a former member of Parliament and a
long term associates of Kanaan’s who made a mistake of buying a
piece of property from him, and when he refused to sell it back
after its price went up, he was jailed on drug trafficking in 1994
and imprisoned for no reason, no one dares to challenge him on the
false charges against the former MP.
Honorable members, it is our intention to open your eyes on what
has taken place in Lebanon, and the amount of suffering and agony
the Lebanese people are enduring as a result of this man. He is
responsible for a lot of suffering and torture of innocent Lebanese
still detained in Syria today for no reason at all. It is our hope
that you take a stand against vicious monsters such as Mr. Ghazi
Kanaan and charge him with war crime against Lebanon and its people;
it is our hope that you take a stand and help innocent people
against tyrants like Ghazi Kanaan where ever they are. Hundreds of
innocent civilians have lost their lives because of him. Please
charge this man with war crime and have him stand trial before the
whole world as you did with Mr. Moloshovitch, there should not be
any difference between the two, murder is murder no matter who does
it, killing and torturing innocent civilians for personal gain
cannot be tolerated, and should not go unpunished.
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