Dokument #1302754
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Autor)
No information regarding the fate of
Phalangist Party members subsequent to the expiration of Amin
Gemayel's term as President is currently available to the
IRBDC.
The Phalangist Party - also known as
Al-Kata'ib or the Lebanese Kata'ib Social Democratic Party - was
established by Pierre Gemayel in 1936. Although it advocates a
nationalist line, Al-Kata'ib failed to establish itself as a
non-sectarian party, and remains a predominantly Maronite Christian
party. [George Delury, World Encyclopedia of Political systems
and Parties, Second Edition, (New York: Facts on File
Publications, 1987), p. 669.] It is described as a nationalist,
reformist, democratic social party, which had about 100,000 members
in 1986. [ Europa Year Book, 1988, (London: Europa
Publications Ltd., 1988), p. 1680.] Under Bashir Gemayel, the party
won the Presidential elections in 1982 (his brother Amin Gemayel
succeeded him). Following the dissolution of the national assembly
in late 1988, the main militias have had effective control of
different regions of the country.
The Lebanese Forces (LF) is the armed wing
of the Phalangist Party in Lebanon. It was formed during the 1970s,
and under the leadership of Bashir Gemayel, played a major part in
the 1975-76 civil war. [ Henry Degenhardt, ed, Revolutionary and
Dissident Movements, (Essex: Longman, 1988), p. 211.] Following
the assassination of Bashir Gemayel in September 1982, three men
competed for control of the Lebanese Forces (Phalangist Militia):
Fouad Abou Nader, Samir Geagea, and Elie Hobeika. Geagea and
Hobeika have vied for control of the Lebanese Forces since March
1985, when Geagea (anti-Syrian) took control of the LF from Fouad
Abou Nader, a pro-Syrian leader of the Phalangist militia. [ Henry
Degenhardt, ed, Revolutionary and Dissident Movements,
(Essex: Longman, 1988), p. 212.] In May 1985, Elie Hobeika was
placed in charge of the unit. On 28 December 1985, Hobeika signed a
peace accord with the Syrian government, the Druze militia (PSP),
and Amal (pro-Syrian Shi'a militia). The agreement included
provisions for the disbandment of Lebanese militia forces and for
the initiation of political reforms which would end Christian
domination of Lebanese institutions (parliament, army, etc.). [
Keesing's Record of World Events, Volume XXXII, January
1986, p. 34132.]
Geagea reassumed command of the LF on 15
January 1986, after his anti-Syrian faction, which did not support
the December accord, defeated the pro-Syrian faction led by
Hobeika. Conflict between Hobeika and Geagea continued throughout
1987. In September 1987 a bomb went off near Hobeika's headquarters
in Zahle. [ Keesing's, Volume XXXIV, January 1988, p.
35672.] Forces under the command of Geagea reportedly detained
scores of people in 1987, many of whom were suspected of being
Hobeika supporters. [ Amnesty International Report 1988, p.
246.] More recent information on the fate of Hobeika supporters is
not currently available to the IRBDC. According to news reports,
Geagea was still in charge of the Lebanese Forces in 1989. [ For
example, see the article from Keesing's Record of World
Events, February 1989.]
Please find attachments which corroborate that the Lebanese Forces
is the armed wing of the Phalangist Party:
-
Henry Degenhardt, Revolutionary and
Dissident Movements, London: Longman Group UK Ltd., 1988.
-
U.S. Department of State, Country
Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1988, Washington: U.S.
Government Printing Office, February 1989.
-
The Middle East and North Africa
1989, London: Europa Publications Limited, 1989.
-
George E. Delury, World Encyclopedia of
Political Systems & Parties, New York: Facts on File
Publications, 1987.
-
Keesing's Record of World Events,
February 1989, p. 36476.