The Guardians of the Cedars Party issued the following weekly communiqué:
All evidence indicates that the effect of the dose of sedatives that was administered to Lebanon at the Doha Conference is beginning to wear off. Political and security conditions are headed towards an escalation, which augurs for their return to the status quo prior to the Conference. Similarly, the collapse of the truce in the media, the faltering birth of the new government, and the diminishing optimism felt by people, are all confirming that the Doha Conference was a mere truce that addressed only the surface, and not the roots, of the crisis.
We have long argued that the crisis of Lebanon, indeed its many crises, are primarily domestic because the external forces would not have a free hand in interfering in the affairs of this country and controlling its destiny if the domestic front was strong and cohesive and the political milieu impenetrable. Therefore, we accuse the political class of colluding with outsiders against Lebanon’s highest interest, and we blame it for all the political, material and moral destruction into which the country has devolved.
We also believe that the biggest mistake made by the international and Arab initiatives vis-à-vis the Lebanese crisis is that they looked for solutions with those who caused the crisis, and tried to save Lebanon through those who sold the country for 30 silvers, crucified it and wagered on its remains.
We also hold the opinion that forming a “national unity” government is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, in addition to the fact that it is a waste of time, political heresy and an early squandering of the new regime’s political capital. To gather both loyalists and the opposition into one government is like mixing water with fire, and to divvy up the ministerial portfolios like spoils of war between them will inevitably be at the expense of the people and the nation.
Accordingly, we suggest to those concerned to undertake a last ditch initiative consisting of freeing the hands of the President in forming a new government of technocrats who are not affiliated with any of the political parties, whose Prime Minister and Ministers are chosen by the President himself, and which will embark on implementing the provisions elaborated by the President at his swearing-in ceremony, foremost of which is addressing the people’s economic and livelihood issues, and ending with overseeing the next parliamentary elections.
Short of this, giving birth to a new government will remain faltering and arduous, because in trying to please everyone, one might very well end up angering everyone.
Lebanon, at your service
Abu Arz