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Document #1413623
ACCORD – Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation (Author)
In response to your above request we may provide you with the following information:
The village called Bazouriye (also written Al Bazoriyah, Bazouriye, Al Bazouriye, Al Bazouriya, Bazourieh and Al Bazuriyah) is located 75 km south of the Lebanese capital Beirut, 16 km north of the Israelian border, or, to be more precise, six km south-east of the coastal town of Sur and three km north of the UN-Mission UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) operation borders (Microsoft Encarta Professional 2003; UN SC, 20 January 2005).
According to the “Gurardian”, Hizbollah (also written Hizballah, Hezbollah, Hizbullah and Hisbollah) is still controlling the south of Lebanon, calling itself a “guardian force” (Guardian, 13 March 2005). Although UN-resolution 1559, passed in 2004, calls for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Lebanon and the disarming of militias (BBC Online, 9 March 2005), nothing such has happened until now, as the New York Times writes (New York Times, 10 march 2005). Hizbollah is holding an estimated number of 20.000 troops, the Lebanese National Army 72.000 troops, the Syrian National Army is holding 14.000 troops in Lebanon and UNIFIL 3.000 troops (New York Times, 10 March 2005). Hizbollah’s deputy secretary general Naim Qassem said that Hizbollah intended to play a more active political role in the country’s internal politics - but while retaining its weapons (Guardian, 13 March 2005).
As for Bazouriye, no precise information could be found whether Hizbollah forces are controlling the village. Bazouriye is, as cited above, situated in the south of Lebanon. There is one Article of the News Agency “United Press International” (UPI, 14 March 2004) that mentions civil Hizbollah defense forces in Bazouriye:
“The Lebanese Hezbollah group Sunday found the remains of two Palestinian fighters who were killed in 1978 during an Israeli invasion of southern Lebanon. The guerrilla group said in a statement its civil defense forces found the two skeletons dressed in Palestinian fighting gear behind a public high school in al-Bazouriya in south Lebanon.” (UPI, 14 March 2004)
Besides, according to Lebanon Wire, the Secretary General of Hizbollah, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, was born and partly raised in Bazouriye (Lebanon Wire, 1999-2003).
The USDOS says that the government lacks complete control over parts of the country (USDOS, 28 February 2005).
“However, the Government has not attempted to disarm Hizballah, a terrorist organization operating in the region, nor have the country’s armed forces taken sole and effective control over the entire area.
[…]The Government’s overall human rights record remained poor; although there were some improvements in a few areas, serious problems remained. The right of citizens to change their government remained significantly restricted by the lack of complete government control over parts of the country, shortcomings in the electoral system, the flawed 2000 elections, and Syrian influence.” (USDOS, 28 February 2005)
USDOS (USDOS, 28 February 2005) reported that three UNIFIL observers were injured and that the Hizbollah-perpetrators were not arrested and brought to trial, although the government assured that this would happen.
“On several occasions, Hizballah operatives interfered with the freedom of movement of U.N. Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) personnel. According to the U.N. Secretary General’s report, at year’s end, no action had been taken against the 15 Hizballah operatives who injured 3 UNIFIL observers in April 2002, despite government assurances that the perpetrators would be arrested and brought to trial.” (USDOS, 28 February 2005)
According to the USDOS some human rights groups reported harassment and intimidation by government, Syrian, or Hizbollah forces (USDOS, 28 February 2005).
According to an analysis of the BBC, the influence of Hizbollah in Lebanon is immense:
“It now has an important presence in the Lebanese parliament and has built broad support by providing social services and health care. It also has an influential TV station, al-Manar. But, it still has a militia that refuses to demilitarise, despite UN resolution 1559, passed in 2004, which calls for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Lebanon and the disarming of militias.” (BBC Online, 9 March 2005)
Since the killing of former Libanese prime minister Rafik Hariri and during the following turbulences, the Hizbollah has again shown its strength and support within the Libanese population, as the Washington Post reports:
“The biggest challenge involves the Shiite militia, Hezbollah. If anyone had forgotten that this was crucial, they got a noisy reminder Tuesday when the group’s leader, Hasan Nasrallah, pulled 500,000 of his followers into the streets of Beirut. Calling it a "pro-Syria" rally was a misnomer; this was a pro-Hezbollah demonstration -- a statement that Nasrallah has the ability to sabotage the democracy movement if he chooses.” (Washington Post, 11 March 2005)
According to the “Neue Zürcher Zeitung”, International pressure forced Syria to announce the complete withdrawal of its troops from Lebanon within the next months (Neue Zürcher Zeitung, 14 March 2005). International and national pressure also forced the Lebanese pro-Syrian prime minister Omar Karami to resign, but he was re-elected by the parliament only a few days later, as the “Financial Times Deutschland” writes (Financial Times Deutschland, 10 March 2005).
Muhammed Fneisch, leader of Hizbollah’s parliamentary party, says in an interview with the TAZ (TAZ, 9 March 2005), that the withdrawal of the Syrian troops does not weaken the Hizbollah, because Syria supports Hizbollah politically and logistically.
For the future relationship of the Lebanese Government and Hizbollah, the Washington Post analyses:
“So here’s a simple agenda for Lebanese democrats and their supporters around the world: First, Syrian troops must leave Lebanon, and Assad must set a clear and unambiguous timetable for their withdrawal. Second, negotiations should begin on finding ways to adapt the Lebanese political formula to the reality of Hezbollah’s power.” (Washington Post, 11 March 2005)
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the ACCORD 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:
Bazouriye:
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