The Guardians of the Cedars Party issued the following communiqué:

While Lebanon is struggling with a dangerous crisis, perhaps the most dangerous in its modern history, and while it is being subjected to an onslaught that threatens its existence and fate; while international mediators are shuttling in every direction and making every effort to find a solution that keeps this country from falling and collapsing; and while our valiant army is fighting the big battle of the country on behalf of all the Lebanese…

At that same time, politicians are sidetracked into their little battles for their own narrow interests, in which the Lebanese people jump in with unprecedented enthusiasm as though this was for them the ultimate battle; as if by-elections here and there will bring about salvation and deliverance, or will secure their daily livelihoods, their medical bills, school tuitions for their children, or the electricity that has been cut off for decades… As if these petty battles will bring back wellbeing to their dying country!!

The fact is that democracy in Lebanon no longer exists except in form, having being stripped down to a mere luxury without any of the higher interests of the nation. Elections are no more than a superficial manifestation for which instincts and fanaticisms are mobilized, hatreds and malicious emotions are incited, where people are blackmailed, and a tearing apart of the Lebanese as a community in general occurs, which spreads down through the regions, the sects and even members of one political persuasion.

Which is why we call on those concerned, during these difficult times, to put aside their personal interests, just once, and put the more important ahead of the important, in order to provide for an environment that will not sidetrack the Army into side battles and away from its primary battle against terrorism and terrorists.

We also beseech them to spare the country and the people new divisions and even more hatreds, if only to preserve what is left of the people’s sanity. Otherwise, we wish that the Lebanese would boycott the elections this one time to protest all the political wrongs that have taken place, and that are taking place, on their soil, which have destroyed their dreams of a normal country like all other countries, and which have brought them to a state of slow death whose last chapters they may be living now.

Lebanon, at your service
Abu Arz
July 27, 2007