1) A Muslim coalition called the Lebanese National Movement
(comprised of Druze and other Muslims) fought the Phalangists
during the civil war of 1975/76. [ Henry Degenhardt,
Revolutionary and Dissident Movements, London: Longman Group
UK Ltd., 1988, p. 219.] No information on Hezbollah operations
against Christians in the Chouf Mountains in 1976/7 is presently
available to the IRBDC at this time. According to The Minority
Rights Group (MRG) (in
Lebanon: A Conflict of Minorities),
between 1975 and 1982, both the Christians and the Druze had
"consciously prevented Civil War from entering their area [the
Chouf Mountains]". [ David McDowall,
Lebanon: A Conflict of
Minorities, (London: Minority Rights Group, Report No. 61,
1986), p. 17.] In addition, according to this source, Hezbollah was
not among the officially constituted groups taking part in the
1975-77 Civil War (please refer to p. 14 of the MRG attachment).
2) Kamal Jumblatt, the Druze leader, was assassinated by unknown
gunmen on 16 March 1977. [
The Middle East and North Africa
1983-84, (London: Europa Publications Limited, 1983),
p. 449.] He was the founder of the Progressive Socialist Party
(PSP) in 1948/9, a party whose "ethno-religious heartland" is the
Chouf Mountain region east of Beirut. [ Henry Degenhardt,
Revolutionary and Dissident Movements, London: Longman Group
UK Ltd., 1988, p. 219.] He had been heavily involved in leading the
(Druze) Progressive Socialist Party fight against Christians in the
preceding months.
3) Amnesty International information on the battle in the Chouf
mountains from September 1983 was forwarded to you 21 August. Also
refer to p. 17 of the MRG attachment. In this report, it is
estimated that at least 300 victims were massacred by each side in
the battle between the Druze and the Phalangists. [
Lebanon: A
Conflict of Minorities, p. 17.]
4) In general, Christians leaving Beirut have experienced
difficulties finding safe routes out. Muslim and Druze militias, as
well as Syrian troops control different zones around Beirut, and
the most sure method of escape appears to be the ferry to Cyprus.
One article from 7 August 1989 mentions that the hydrofoil, Santa
Maria, to Cyprus from the Christian port of Jounieh (just north of
Beirut), is the only escape route for Lebanese Christians. [ "Baby
sisters drown as Syria shells boat",
The Globe and Mail
[Reuter], 7 August 1989.] Other articles suggest that, with the
mass exodus from the city (measured in the hundreds of thousands in
the past few months), many Beirutis leave through the south, and
that thousands of Beirut residents "jammed the coastal highway
south" following some of the heaviest shelling in the history of
the 14-year war at the end of July 1989. [ "8 people killed, 92
hurt during shelling in Lebanon",
The Globe and Mail, 1
August 1989.]
5 and 6) The requested documents were faxed to your office on 21
and 22 August 1989.
Attachments:
-
David McDowall, Lebanon: A Conflict of
Minorities, London: Minority Rights Group, Report No. 61,
1986.
-
The Middle East and North Africa
1983-84, London: Europa Publications Ltd., 1983.
