An Appeal to the Lebanese People by Dr.
Muhamad Mugraby:
When Mr. Hariri
became prime minister, he made lavish promises to the Lebanese people. Today, six years
later, there is no electricity and no running water, but the state budget rose ten fold
and so did the public debt which stands at over 18 billion dollars, and increasing at the
rate of one billion dollars per quarter.
To finance this huge debt they have invested
most of the funds of banks, which belong to depositors, in treasury bonds and so did the
general public enticed by high interest rates.
The result is total economic stagnation, lack
of liquidity in the marketplace, staggering drop in living standards, rising unemployment,
widespread corruption and general decline in industry, agriculture and commerce.
At the same time, and:
Under the banner of encouraging investment
they are bringing in Gulf businessmen to enter into lucrative negotiated contracts with
the public sector, which should have been awarded only to the Lebanese through public
bidding. These businessmen bring along Asian managers and laborers, depriving the Lebanese
of job opportunities. Needless to say, the Lebanese do not enjoy reciprocal treatment in
those Gulf countries that deny them travel visas to begin with.
Under the banner of repatriating the displaced
Lebanese, the Fund of the Displaced has been looted. The scandal came in the open as a
result of recent public exchange of accusations between the minister for the displaced and
the prime minister.
Under the banner of reconstructing the old
city of Beirut, the city was expropriated and turned over to a private company with the
object of selling property to foreigners. This procedure is meant to be repeated all over
the country.
Justice, freedom and human rights are no where
to be seen.
Indeed, these are not examples of good
governance!
Fellow Lebanese:
Change must take place today, for your lives
and the lives and future of your children are in jeopardy. Most Lebanese have been
impoverished and are getting poorer every day the Hariri government remains in office.
Do not say to yourselves that the government
comes and goes as a result of a foreign will. Do not allow yourselves to be deceived into
believing that the future of the government depends on international and regional
decisions.
It is within your grasp to dismiss this
government. Kick it out of office! Tell Mr. Hariri and company to go home, that is to any
one of his many homes.
Demand a clean national government that will
stop this decline and reconsider all the fancy projects involving waste and conversion of
public monies as we are told in newspapers. A government that will restart the economy,
reduce the public debt, restore independence and combat corruption.
We need clean hands in government!
Everybody: write on the front door of your
home or place of work and on your car: Kick This Government Out Of Office!
Turn this into a chain letter. Make copies and
distribute to your friends in Lebanon and abroad.
Kick it Out, Kick It Out!
Six years and 18 billion dollars are more than
enough.
Dr. Muhamad Mugraby, Attorney at
law.
Beirut, July 11, 1998.
Dr. Mugraby can be reached at:
Tel. +961-1-341060
Fax +9611-341061
P. O. Box 113-6310
Beirut, Lebanon
E-mail: mugraby@cggl.org
