Lebanon Abstains from Voting on UN Resolution to Establish Independent Institution for Missing Persons in Syria
Lebanon has faced criticism for abstaining from voting on a UN resolution that aims to establish an independent institution focused on learning the fate of around 130,000 missing or forcibly disappeared persons during the civil war in Syria. The resolution was adopted by the UN General Assembly with 83 votes in favor, 11 against, and 62 abstentions, including some Arab states.
Many Lebanese citizens have condemned their country’s decision, as there are still Lebanese individuals missing, with some believed to have been detained in Syrian jails. Despite the end of the Lebanese Civil War and the withdrawal of Syrian troops in 2005, the issue of missing persons remains unresolved.
Nizar Saghieh, a Lebanese lawyer and human rights activist, emphasized that the Lebanese Commission for the Missing and Forcibly Disappeared is an independent commission and can therefore collaborate with the independent institution established by the UN General Assembly. He stated that Lebanon’s vote is not important now since the UN resolution has become binding. Saghieh believes that the Lebanese state cannot prevent the national commission from communicating with the UN institution and that the independence of the Lebanese national commission was necessary to ensure it can fulfill its responsibilities.
The Lebanese Commission for the Missing and Forcibly Disappeared held caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and the Cabinet accountable for Lebanon’s abstention from voting in favor of the resolution. The commission’s statistics indicate that there are currently 622 missing and forcibly detained Lebanese people, including Lebanese soldiers. The commission demands that their fate be revealed and that the remains of the deceased be returned to their families. It also called on the foreign affairs minister to resign immediately and apologize to the families of the missing and forcibly disappeared.
The Foreign Ministry justified Lebanon’s decision by stating that it was made after consultations with caretaker Premier Najib Mikati and in accordance with the semi-Arab consensus to refrain from voting. The ministry emphasized that Lebanon remains committed to resolving the issue of missing persons through dialogue and understanding between Lebanon, Syria, and the concerned Arab and international parties. It also reiterated Lebanon’s respect for implementing legitimate international resolutions.
Families of the missing and disappeared in Lebanon and Syria have been protesting for decades, demanding to know the fate of their loved ones. Despite Syria’s attempts to close the file, the regime does not acknowledge the presence of missing and disappeared individuals in its prisons.
Ali Abou Dehen, a former detainee and head of Lebanese Political Detainees in Syrian Prisons, believes that the UN resolution is a political document imposed by powerful forces to pressure Syria. He was not surprised by Lebanon’s decision, as the state has never inquired about the 622 missing people in Syrian prisons. Abou Dehen added that there are also hundreds of people who died under torture and were buried in mass graves.
Former Lebanese Minister of Justice Ashraf Rifi criticized Lebanon’s abstention, calling it a moral and national setback and a way to avoid responsibility. He stated that the Syrian regime committed abduction and torture crimes in Lebanon and Syria.
Parliamentarian Georges Okais expressed shame over Lebanon’s decision but was pleased that the UN resolution was adopted by the majority of member states. He called on the Lebanese National Commission for the Missing and Forcibly Disappeared to communicate with the international committee and request the inclusion of the fate of Lebanese individuals who disappeared in Syrian prisons within its jurisdiction.
Reformist MP Ibrahim Mneimneh argued that Lebanon’s foreign minister’s decision violates the constitution and Lebanon’s international obligations, including the UN Convention against Torture. He believes that the decision goes against Lebanon’s historical role and places the country among those that support punishment and lawless states. Mneimneh emphasized the importance of considering Lebanon’s interest, including the case of Samir Kassab, a Lebanese journalist who disappeared in Syria during the civil war, and the disappeared Lebanese in Syrian prisons. He believes that the national commission can contribute to revealing their fate by collaborating with the international committee.
In conclusion, Lebanon’s abstention from voting on the UN resolution has sparked criticism from Lebanese citizens and human rights activists. The issue of missing persons from the civil war in Syria remains unresolved, and the establishment of an independent institution aims to shed light on their fate. The Lebanese Commission for the Missing and Forcibly Disappeared has called for accountability and action from the government, emphasizing the importance of revealing the fate of missing individuals and returning the remains of the deceased to their families.