Jumblatt: Using the arms domestically is destructive to national unity

Commenting on Sunday’s rally by March 14 supporters against the non-state weapons Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt said in remarks to be published Tuesday:

“No one agrees to using arms domestically because such an action is destructive to national unity and all achievements fulfilled following the Taif Accord.”

Jumblatt added in his weekly article in PSP’s Al-Anbaa weekly that arms directed toward Israel must be considered from a different perspective.

Jumblatt also voiced the importance of speeding up the revival of the national-dialogue committee to achieve a defense strategy to suitably integrate the Resistance’s arms.

“It is important for everyone to resort to dialogue and communication to discuss means of strengthening and protecting civil peace and resolve economic and social problems instead of being distracted by speeches that only lead to sectarian tension.”

Jumblatt’s statement comes after Progressive Socialist Party official website commented on Sunday’s rally by saying: “The Half of Lebanon that was in the rally could not be ignored or allowed to be unnoticed despite the slogans and some of the provocative remarks that were made”.

PSP website which reportedly described the gathering as a huge demonstration said “we cannot ignore their demands specially with regards to the use of arms internally for securing political gains “.

In a country of 4 million people, more than one million Lebanese of all faiths… Christians, Druze , Muslim Shiites and Sunnis demanded that Hezbollah be disarmed as they rallied to mark the sixth anniversary of the Cedar Revolution, the uprising which inspired the recent revolts in the Middle East, International news agencies reported.

The theme at Sunday’s rally was simple:” We want one state …one army to defend the country …lets unite the country and get rid of all the other states and armies .” the organizers said in reference to Hezbollah’s state within the state of Lebanon and the non-state ( illegal) arms.

Jumblatt announced last week that he planned to boycott the rally ( even though he was not invited) but many of his supporters within his PSP and the Druze community were there according to local reports.