Information on a political party called Al Mou'Tamar could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, some sources did refer to parties called "al-mu'tamar al-watani al-lubnani, or the Lebanese National Congress (LNC)" and "al-mu'tamar al-sha'bi al-lubnani, the Lebanese Popular Congress (LPC) (AI 1997) or the Lebanese People's Congress" (Leftist Parties of the World 1 July 2003).

According to Amnesty International, the LNC was formed by the "followers of former military leader General Michel' Aoun" (AI 1997). The same source reported the arrests of several LNC members by the Lebanese government in August 1996 during the parliamentary elections and in September (ibid.). No other information on the LNC could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

The LPC is a Nasserite organization (AI 1997; Leftist Parties of the World 1 July 2003) that is, a supporter of the policies of late Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser (AP 24 Sept. 2000), and a "predominantly Sunni, leftist, Arab nationalist party" (MEIB 2000). The LPC was founded in 1975 and, at that time, "provided social services" (ibid.). Kamal Shatila (Chatilla) is reported to be its leader (MEIB 2000; AP 24 Sept. 2000). According to the Associated Press (AP), the slogan of the party is "'The Homeland First'" (24 Sept. 2000). The Research Directorate could not obtain information on the current relationship of this party with the government. However, according to AI, two members of the LPC were arrested in 1995 and 25 throughout 1996 (AI. 1997). In 1997, the Lebanese government closed the Voice of Beirut (Sawt Beirut), a radio station owned by the LPC (ibid. 1998).

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. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Amnesty International (AI). 1998. Amnesty International Report 1998. http://www.amnesty.org/ailib/aireport/ar98/mde18.htm [Accessed 30 July 2003]

_____. Amnesty International Report 1997. http://www.amnesty.org/ailib/airport/ar97/MDE18.htm [Accessed 30 July 2003]

Associated Press (AP). 24 September 2000. "Leftist Leader Returns to Lebanon After 16 Years in Exile." (NEXIS)

Leftist Parties of the World. July 2003. "Lebanon." http://www.broadleft.org/lb.htm [Accessed 30 July 2003]

Middle East Intelligence Bulletin (MEIB) [New York]. 5 October 2000. Vol.2, No. 9. "Shatila Returns from Exile." http://www.meib.org/articles/_lb.htm [Accessed 30 July 2003]

Dialog

IRB Databases

Lebanon Report

Political Handbook of the World 1999.

Political Parties of the World, 2002.

Internet sites including:

Beirut Times Weekly

CIA World Factbook 2002

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, 1999-2002

Free-Lebanon.com

Human Rights Watch

Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND)

Lebanese Center for Policy Studies

Lebanese World

Lebanon Wire

Middle East Times

L'Orient/Le Jour

Political Resources on the Net

La Revue du Liban

WNC

Search engines, including:

Copernic

Google