Surrender of Former SLA Members in Jezzine

Reports state that 203 former SLA members abandoned their posts following the evacuation of Jezzine on 3 June 1999 (IsraelWire 20 June 1999; The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs July/Aug. 1999; L'Orient-le-jour 27 June 1999; The Jerusalem Report 18 Nov. 1999). However, The Daily Star and Xinhua stated that 220 SLA militiamen had surrendered in Jezzine (27 Aug. 1999; 16 Sept. 1999). Of those who surrendered "most are natives of Jezzine with families there" (The Jerusalem Report 18 Nov. 1999). In a 27 June 1999 report, L'Orient-le-jour reported that of the 203, 160 surrendered voluntarily, individually or in small groups, to the Lebanese army, while in a 18 November 1999 article, The Jerusalem Report stated that 180 of them had "turned themselves over to the authorities" after the withdrawal. Following their arrests, the former SLA members were sent to the Lebanese Army Intelligence Branch in Saïda where they were received cordially and then interrogated without legal representation (L'Orient-le-jour 27 June 1999; ibid. 30 Sept. 1999). Three of them were released and returned to Jezzine (ibid.). L'Orient-le-jour indicated that the former SLA members bore no signs of coercion or ill-treatment following their arrests by the Lebanese security forces (27 June 1999). The same report quoted the lawyers representing the ex-militiamen as stating that their clients were well treated.

On 30 September 1999, L'Orient-le-jour stated that more than half of the 203 former SLA members had surrendered at the Kfarfalous, Bisri and Yater checkpoints.

L'Orient-le-jour reported that Nadim Salem, an MP for the region of Jezzine, and Albert Moukheiber, president of the Rassemblement pour la République, had complained that the slow pace of the trials involving former SLA members from Jezzine was starting to create financial strains on their families (12 Oct. 1999; ibid. 26 Oct. 1999). Two Lebanese newspapers indicated that former SLA members who surrendered to the Hezbollah had been immediately released and not subjected to ill-treatment, while former SLA members who surrendered to the Lebanese authorities had been jailed in the Roumieh prison (The Daily Star 10 Aug. 1999; L'Orient-le-jour 26 Oct. 1999).

Reactions of Hezbollah and Attitude of the Population

Regarding Hezbollah's attitude on the Jezzine withdrawal, Joseph Matar commented that

In a smart move, Hizballah gave clear instructions to its followers and sympathizers to refrain from entering Jezzine after the SLA withdrawal, or from expressing any joy at the "liberation" of the town. And for the time being at least, Jezzine has gained back something of the reputation it had before the civil war as a model of Christian-Muslim coexistence (The Jerusalem Report 18 Nov. 1999).

This assessment is shared by Sallie Shatz in The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs when she pointed out that

Hezbollah has publicly stated that the residents of Jezzine have nothing to fear. In a bill introduced by Hezbollah's members of parliament last year, Hezbollah called for amnesty to all SLA fighters who defected within three months of the bill's passing. So far the bill has not been passed. In the meantime, the Hezbollah political leaders have called for the Lebanese government to try these men fairly, in hopes of encouraging other SLA militiamen to quit (July/Aug. 1999).

On the aftermath of the retreat from Jezzine, Shatz comments:

The next day the town of Jezzine came to life. Then some of the surrendering 203 former SLA militiamen allowed themselves to be interviewed by foreign journalists under the trees on the edge of the square (ibid.).

Regarding the attitude of the population towards ex-SLA members, Shatz provided the following statement:

There seems to be a call from the people of Lebanon to be lenient with these men (ibid.).

Police Presence

The Lebanese authorities "sent an additional 35 gendarmes, members of the regular police" in Jezzine to join the 25 police officers already deployed in the town (The Jerusalem Report 18 Nov. 1999; The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs July/Aug. 1999).

Legal Proceedings and Sentencing

The defence team is composed of 32 lawyers who work collectively under the supervision of Youssef Gebrane and the Legal Aid Commission of the Beirut Bar Association (L'Orient-le-jour 27 June 1999). The Daily Star indicated that the sentences imposed on the convicted have been considerably more lenient than the seven-year sentences proposed by the indictments (27 Aug. 1999).

Providing a general assessment of the sentencing as of September 1999, Xinhua indicated that "most of the militiamen put on trial have got light sentences except three senior SLA officials, with two getting 15 years in prison and a third receiving seven years (16 Sept. 1999).

The Jerusalem Report stated that

the Military Tribunal in Beirut has accused more than 60 of the 180 SLA deserters of collaborating with Israel. Eleven over the age of 70 have been allowed to await trial out of jail on grounds of their health and age, along with another seven in poor health (18 Nov. 1999).

According to IsraelWire and Xinhua, 17 former SLA members were sentenced to jail terms ranging from two to 18 months (17 Sept. 1999; 16 Sept. 1999). From June to September 1999, the Lebanese Military Court tried 151 former SLA militiamen (IsraelWire 17 Sept. 1999; Xinhua 16 Sept. 1999). Xinhua also indicated that 17 former pro-Israeli militiamen received "prison terms ranging from two to 18 months for collaboration with Israel." (ibid.).

L'Orient-le-jour reported that 27 new verdicts, ranging from not guilty to 18 months in jail, were rendered in the cases of former SLA members from Jezzine (9 Sept. 1999). According to Xinhua, on 26 August 1999, Lebanon's military tribunal "gave 29 former pro-Israeli militiamen prison terms ranging from six months to two years for collaboration with Israel." (27 Aug. 1999). Commenting on the same information, The Daily Star indicated that

The cases are heard by the Military Tribunal, which holds weekly sessions in Beirut under Brigadier General Maher Safieddine, the presiding judge. The trials have usually opened on a Wednesday afternoon and ended around midnight with the handing down of verdicts and sentences. Relatives of the militiamen have complained that the sentences are too harsh. Defense lawyers have argued that the defendants were victims of circumstance, not traitors, who joined the militia under duress or financial straits. (27 Aug. 1999).

By the end of August 1999, 92 former SLA members who remained in Jezzine after the SLA withdrawal had stood trial (IsraelWire 29 Aug. 1999; Xinhua 27 Aug. 1999). In June, 60 of them had been deferred to a military judge and were in contact with their lawyers (L'Orient-le-jour 27 June 1999). Ten of the ex-militiamen were released due to their old age and health status but assigned to residence (ibid).

Impact on and Assistance to SLA Families

L'Orient-le-jour reported on 25 September 1999 that a group of parents of the former SLA members who surrendered in Jezzine were involved in a sit-in in front of the Jezzine municipal hall during a visit by Mgr. Antonio Veglio, a representative of the Vatican. The parents were demanding Mgr. Veglio's assistance in obtaining answers on the long term fate of their family members held in the Roumieh prison while awaiting their trial (ibid.). Located in the village of Roum, the Roumieh prison is a "few kilometers west of Jezzine" (The Jerusalem Report 18 Nov. 1999).

In an article that appeared in The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, Sally Shatz stated that the number of Jezzine residents who, over the years, were members of the SLA is 600 (July/Aug. 1999). Out of these 600 people,

200 already have been cleared, 157 are dead, 203 are surrendering to the Lebanese government and approximately 100 have stayed with the SLA and withdrawn with Israeli forces deeper into Israel's "security zone." (There are about 40 who are unaccounted for).

Shatz indicated that

As early as May 27 [1999], SLA militiamen had started to move their families from the Jezzine area to vacant houses in Marjayoun, closer to Israel. Then, on May 29 [1999], SLA commander Antoine Lahad announced the pullback from the Jezzine area (ibid.).

On 2 June 1999, Radio Lebanon reported "that 164 families of the Lahdist [for SLA Commander Antoine Lahd] personnel have left Jezzin, including 50 families of personnel of the banned group Samir Ja'ja' [Lebanese Forces]." The Jerusalem Report indicated that "an estimated 60 to 70 SLA militiamen who are natives of Jezzine took up the Israel offer of moving with their families into the Israeli-controlled security zone." (18 Nov. 1999). On 2 June 1999, the IDF and the SLA began a civilian aid programme:

The Israel-allied Southern Lebanese Army (SLA) and IDF civilian aid began on Sunday to give grants to tens of families of SLA soldiers who left the Jezzine area north of the security zone and moved into the security zone. Each family will receive an average of $10,000 as a one-time grant. Also, the SLA provided tens of low-rent houses to the families, to be used for several months until they families can re-establish themselves in their new surroundings.

A senior officer in the IDF northern command stated that it was important that the families know that the SLA and the government of Israel support their relocation, and would not let them flounder.

The exact amount to be given to each family will be determined by length of service in the SLA, family financial status, and the families' ability to support themselves in the future (IsraelWire 8 June 1999).

Brief Historical Background on Jezzine

In a long report on Jezzine, Joseph Matar, writing for The Jerusalem Report, provided a brief historical background on what was called the "Jezzine Enclave":

The Jezzine enclave was never officially a part of the Israeli-controlled security zone in South Lebanon, but was an appendage of it that enjoyed a special status. When Israel began pulling out of areas of Lebanon in 1985, Gen. Antoine Lahad, the commander of the SLA, feared for the safety of the area's mostly Christian population and insisted on "protecting" it. And indeed, when Christian-Druse massacres spread through the mountains following the 1985 Israeli pullout, Jezzine was spared. Israel itself has maintained a low profile in the area, its troops appearing only occasionally in person (18 Nov. 1999).

For an overview of the situation in Jezzine, please consult the attached transalation from French to English of an 16 September 1999 article published in L'Orient-le-jour.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate 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.

References

The Daily Star [Beirut]. 20 December 1999. "SLA Members Ask Jewish State to Grant Them Asylum." Daily Internet Edition. http://www.dailystar.com.lb/ [Accessed on 20 Dec. 1999]

_____. 27 August 1999. "Another 29 Surrendered Collaborators Sentenced." Daily Internet Edition. http://www.dailystar.com.lb/ [Accessed on 27 Aug. 1999]

_____. 10 August 1999. "Jezzine: MP Salem Critizes Handling of SLA Prisoners." Internet Edition. http://www.dailystar.com.lb/ [Accessed on 10 Aug. 1999]

IsraelWire. 17 September 1999. "17 SLA Troops Convicted by Lebanese Court." http://www.israelwire.com/990917/99091728.html [Accessed on 26 Sept. 1999]

_____. 20 June 1999. "203 SLA Forces Turned Themselves In-Hizbullah Promising Clemency." http://www.israelwire.com/New/990620/99062015.html [Accessed on 16 Dec. 1999]

_____. 29 August 1999. "Former SLA Soldiers Sentenced by Lebanese Court." http://www.israelwire.com/New/990829/9908298.html [Accessed on 16 Dec. 1999]

_____. 8 June 1999. "$10,000 for Each SLA Family." http://www.israelwire.com/New/990608/99060818.html [Accessed on 16 Dec. 1999]

The Jerusalem Report. 18 November 1999. Joseph Matar. " Summertime in Jezzine." http://www.jrep.com/Mideast/Article-2.html [Accessed on 16 Dec. 1999]

L'Orient-le-jour [Beirut]. 26 October 1999a. "Le Député de Jezzine en Appelle à Lahoud." Internet Edition. http://www.lorient-lejour.com.lb/htdocs/ [Accessed on 26 Oct. 1999]

_____. 26 October 1999b. "Jezzine: Le Projet d'Amnistie des Lahdistes Mis en Hibernation." Daily Internet Edition. http://www.lorient-lejour.com.lb/htdocs/ [Accessed on 26 Oct. 1999]

_____. 12 October 1999. "Moukheiber Plaide la Cause des Ex-Miliciens en Prison." Daily Internet Edition. http://www.lorient-lejour.com.lb/htdocs/ [Accessed on 12 Oct. 1999]

_____. 30 September 1999. "Jezzine: Le Ministre de la Justice s'est Rendu Hier dans la Ville." Daily Internet Edition. http://www.lorient-lejour.com.lb/htdocs/ [Accessed on 30 Sept. 1999]

_____. 25 September 1999. "Liban-Sud: Une Aube de Paix se Profile à l'Horizon, Selon le Nonce Apostolique." Daily Internet Edition. http://www.lorient-lejour.com.lb/htdocs/ [Accessed on 25 Sept. 1999]

_____. 9 September 1999. "Justice: Ex-Miliciens de l'ALS: 27 Nouveaux Verdicts." Daily Internet Edition. http://www.lorient-lejour.com.lb/htdocs/ [Accessed on 9 Sept. 1999]

_____. 27 June 1999. "Jezzine: 60 Repentis Déjà Déférés Devant le Juge d'Instruction Militaire." Daily Internet Edition. http://www.lorient-lejour.com.lb/htdocs/ [Accessed on 27 June 1999]

Radio Lebanon [Beirut, in Arabic]. 2 June 1999. "Roundup on Situation in Jazzine, Military Activities." (FBIS-NES-1999-0602 6 June 1999/WNC)

The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs. July/August 1999. Sallie Shatz. "As Israel's Armed Proxies Withdraw From Jezzine, SLA Fighters Watch Treatment of Those Who Stay Behind." http://www.washington-report.org/backissues/0799/9907015.html [Accessed on 16 Dec. 1999]

Xinhua News Agency. 16 September 1999. "17 Lebanese Pro-Israeli Militiamen Convicted." (NEXIS)

_____. 27 August 1999. "Another 29 Pro-Israeli Militiamen Sentenced." (NEXIS)

Attachment

L'Orient-le-jour [Beirut]. 6 September 1999. Louis Honeine. "Jezzine, Two Months Following the Retreat of the SLA." http://www.lorient-lejour.com.lb/htdocs/ [Accessed on 16 Sept. 1999]