Festive Lebanon 'Declares War Against War'

Festive Lebanon 'Declares War Against War'

AFP - April 13, 2005
Lebanon on Wednesday marked the 30th anniversary of its 1975-1990 civil war with a newly born spirit of Christian-Muslim national unity in the wake of ex-premier Hariri's assassination, which unleashed a tidal public drive that is terminating Syria's 3-decade-old tutelage.It was the first time since the guns fell silent that the tragic anniversary of a war that claimed 150,000 lives and wreaked $25 billion worth of destruction was observed in a festive mood under the sponsorship of Hariri's sister, Bahia Hariri, who dubbed the event as 'Lebanon's National Unity Day.'Cheered by massive crowds of onlookers, girl equestrians paraded on horseback at Rafik Hariri's graveside, brandishing Lebanese colors in Beirut's downtown Martyrs Square. The parade set the stage for day and nightlong open-air musical concerts, art exhibits, backgammon competitions at sidewalk cafes and singing performances by celebrity artists Magida Roumi and Hibba Kawass.A giant Lebanese flag made up of 18 pieces of cloth symbolizing the nation's 18 religious communities finished a 3-week nationwide tour at which it was signed by the country's mayors and city-council members prior to planting it to flutter over Hariri's tomb.
"Today, we declare war against the war," said opposition leader Marwan Hamadeh, the senior-most aide of Walid Jumblat and a close Hariri associate, who miraculously survived a car-bomb assassination attempt at the doorsteps of his Beirut house Oct. 1.
The 15-year sectarian conflict also left 13,000 missing, 60,000 maimed for life with a total of 2640 car bombs that leveled residential neighborhoods. Some 2,000 women were raped then killed.
In northern Lebanon, some 15,000 youth formed a human chain stretching from Tripoli to Zgharta under the flutter of Lebanese flags to mark what they called the birth of new Lebanon.
The former Czech president and democracy leader Vaclav Havel sent a message of greeting to those "pursuing goals similar to the ones that we in Central Europe set ourselves more than 15 years ago." "The path of freedom and independence, complete withdrawal of the occupying troops and renewal of the democratic system are of greatest value," said Havel, an emblematic figure of the downfall of communism.