Trials in Beirut soon for ’collaboration’

Press, 24 October 1978, Page 8

Trials in Beirut soon for ’collaboration’

NZPA-Reuter Beirut The controversial commander of the Christian militia in south Lebanon and his former second-in-com-mand are to be tried before a military court shortly for: “collaboration with Israel and inducement to mutiny.” This action against Major Saad Haddad and Major Sami Chidiac, announced in Beirut yesterday, was considered long overdue by foreign observers. But it is expected to aggravate tensions in the deeply-divided country. For many Lebanese Christians, Majors Haddad and Chidiac are heroes defending the country against foreign “occupiers” — Palestinians and Syrians. For other Lebanese — Christians as well as Muslims — they are traitors who backed the Israeli invasion of Lebanon last

spring, attacked the regular Lebanese Army as it was trying to move south last summer, and even assaulted the headquarters of United Nations peace-keeping forces this month. For Israel, they have been partners who were entrusted with the buffer zone in south Lebanon since the final withdrawal of Israeli troops on June 13. The two Lebanese officers will be tried, probably in absentia, under the military code on charges of dealing with the Israeli enemy, as well as for firing on the Lebanese Army, according to official sources., Defence Ministry sources indicate that sanctions had to be taken against the two rebel Christian officers before Muslims could co-oper-ate in rebuilding a national army. The announcement of a decision to prosecute them was taken after the meeting

of Arab Foreign Ministers the week-end before last which recommended, among other things, “the application of the law against those who are dealing with the Israeli enemy and condemnation of all forms of dealings (with Israel) on the grounds of Lebanese security.” It is generally believed that Majors Haddad and Chidiac are the scapegoats in an attempt to reach a settlement between the powerful Right-wing Christian parties known as the Lebanese Front and the Syrian peacekeeping forces in Beirut. The Lebanese Front leader, the former President, Mr Camille Chamoun, is known to have close, discreet relations with Israel, and the front’s militia receive most of their arms, munitions, and training from Israel; but no-one expects Mr Chamoun to be taken before the courts.