Document #1034115
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
According to the Arab Press Service, Samir
Geagea, the leader of the now disbanded Lebanese Forces (LF) has
been living "as a recluse" in a fortified headquarter that he had
set up in the mountain village of Ghedrass, north of Beirut, at the
end of the war in 1990 (13 Nov. 1993). Geagea apparently rarely
emerges from the village but has kept contact with Premier Hariri
and President Hrawi (ibid.). The leader of the LF militia also met
with the Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on 8 November
1993, for the first time since the beginning of the war (APS 13
Nov. 1993; The Lebanon Report Dec. 1993). The Christian Science
Monitor reports that Geagea apparently declared in August 1993
that "all his movement's resources were at the state's disposal in
the struggle for Lebanon's integrity and sovereignty" (2 Aug.
1993). Also, in September 1993, the Arabic-language daily
al-Hayat reportedly quoted sources as saying that Geagea had
lost his Israeli support and that his position had been undermined
by the Israeli-PLO accord (The Jerusalem Post 26 Sept.
1993). Furthermore, according to an article published in the
November 1993 issue of The Lebanon Report, Geagea avoided
discussing regional politics during a recent speech before his
party cadres to avoid being accused of awaiting an advantageous
regional conjuncture to re-establish his power. Further information
on the situation of the disbanded Lebanese Forces is currently
unavailable to the DIRB.
Information on the attitude of the Syrians toward Samir Geagea's supporters in Lebanon is currently unavailable to the DIRB. However, Reuters reports Geagea visited Syria in January 1994 to offer condolences to President Hafez al-Assad on the death of his son (26 Jan. 1994). According to political sources, Geagea has tried to smooth ties with Damascus recently (ibid.).
Information on the attitude of the Lebanese
government toward Geagea's supporters is scarce. However, according
to a representative of Middle East Watch in Washington, there has
been disagreements and infighting (for example, kidnappings)
between the members of the Phalange party and the Lebanese Forces
in Lebanon for at least a year (8 Feb. 1994). At its November 1993
congress, the Phalange party has further distanced itself from
other Christian political groups by moving closer to Damascus and
put an end to its link with the Lebanese Forces (APS 25 Dec. 1993).
Also, following the bomb explosion at the Phalange party
headquarter in Beirut on 20 December 1993 a number of activists of
both groups were arrested by the government (8 Feb. 1994; APS 25
Dec. 1993; The Jerusalem Post 21 Dec. 1993).
This response was prepared after
researching publicly accessible information currently available to
the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does
not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular
claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find attached the list of
sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Arab Press Service (APS). 25 December
1993. "Blast At Phalange HQ." (NEXIS)
. 13 November 1993. "Berri-Geagea
Talks." (NEXIS)
The Christian Science Monitor. 2
August 1993. Jim Muir. "Israeli Attacks Unite Lebanese."
(NEXIS)
The Jerusalem Post. 21 December
1993. David Rudge and news agencies. "Phalange Headquarters Bombed
in Beirut." (NEXIS)
. 26 September 1993. Dougals Davis and
news agencies. "Hisbullah and Sunnis Join Forces Against
'Zionists'. Two SLA Men Slain in Weekend Exchange of Fire."
(NEXIS)
The Lebanon Report [Beirut].
December 1993. Vol. 4. No. 12. "Chronology of Events: November
1993."
. November 1993. Vol. 4. No. 11. Joseph
Bahout. "The Political Gains of a Christian Return."
Reuters. 26 January 1994. "Geagea Offers
Condolences to Syria's Assad." (NEXIS)
Arab Press Service (APS). 25 December
1993. "Blast At Phalange HQ." (NEXIS)
. 13 November 1993. "Berri-Geagea
Talks." (NEXIS)
The Christian Science Monitor. 2
August 1993. Jim Muir. "Israeli Attacks Unite Lebanese."
(NEXIS)
The Jerusalem Post. 21 December
1993. David Rudge and news agencies. "Phalange Headquarters Bombed
in Beirut." (NEXIS)
. 26 September 1993. Dougals Davis and
news agencies. "Hisbullah and Sunnis Join Forces Against
'Zionists'. Two SLA Men Slain in Weekend Exchange of Fire."
(NEXIS)
The Lebanon Report [Beirut].
December 1993. Vol. 4. No. 12. "Chronology of Events: November
1993."
. November 1993. Vol. 4. No. 11. Joseph
Bahout. "The Political Gains of a Christian Return."
Reuters. 26 January 1994. "Geagea Offers
Condolences to Syria's Assad". (NEXIS)