Lebanese President: We Will Continue to Press for Accountability in Beirut Port Explosion - Jordan News
Following his inauguration pledge to safeguard judicial independence, President Aoun was echoed by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who stated in his first speech that the government would exert 'all possible efforts to ensure justice for the victims of the Beirut Port explosion and their families.'
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Jordan Times
5 hours ago
- Jordan Times
Lebanon president promises justice 5 years after Beirut port blast
BEIRUT — Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Monday vowed that "justice is coming", five years after a catastrophic explosion at Beirut's port for which nobody has been held to account. The blast on August 4, 2020 was one of the world's largest non-nuclear explosions, devastating swathes of the Lebanese capital, killing more than 220 people and injuring over 6,500. The explosion was triggered by a fire in a warehouse where tonnes of ammonium nitrate fertiliser had been stored haphazardly for years after arriving by ship, despite repeated warnings to senior officials. Aoun said that the Lebanese state "is committed to uncovering the whole truth, no matter the obstacles or how high the positions" involved. "The law applies to all, without exception," Aoun said in a statement. Monday has been declared a day of national mourning, and rallies demanding justice are planned later in the day, converging on the port. "The blood of your loved ones will not be in vain," the president told victims' families, adding: "Justice is coming, accountability is coming." After more than a two-year impasse following political and judicial obstruction, investigating judge Tarek Bitar has finished questioning defendants and suspects, a judicial official told AFP on condition of anonymity. Bitar is waiting for some procedures to be completed and for a response to requests last month to several Arab and European countries for "information on specific incidents", the official added, without elaborating. Impunity The judge will then finalise the investigation and refer the file to the public prosecution for its opinion before he issues an indictment decision, the official said. President Aoun said that "we are working with all available means to ensure the investigations are completed with transparency and integrity." Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, a former International Court of Justice judge, said on Sunday that knowing the truth and ensuring accountability were national issues, decrying decades of official impunity. Bitar resumed his inquiry after Aoun and Salam took office this year pledging to uphold judicial independence, after the balance of power shifted following a devastating war between Israel and militant group Hezbollah. Bitar's probe stalled after the Iran-backed group, long a dominant force in Lebanese politics but weakened by the latest war, had accused him of bias and demanded his removal. Mariana Fodoulian from the association of victims' families said that "for five years, officials have been trying to evade accountability, always thinking they are above the law." "We're not asking for anything more than the truth," she told AFP. "We won't stop until we get comprehensive justice." On Sunday, Culture Minister Ghassan Salame said the port's gutted and partially collapsed wheat silos would be included on a list of historic buildings. Victims' families have long demanded their preservation as a memorial of the catastrophe.
Al Bawaba
12 hours ago
- Al Bawaba
Lebanese president Aoun marks Beirut port blast, ‘Justice will take place'
ALBAWABA - Lebanese President Joseph Aoun marked the fifth anniversary of the Beirut port blast, August 4, and stressed that justice will not die, local media reported Monday. Also Read Lebanon questions ex-minister Nohad Machnouk in Beirut port blast Aoun affirmed that the Lebanese state, with all its institutions, is committed to uncovering the entire truth, "regardless of the obstacles and regardless of the position held." He added, "Justice knows no exceptions, and the law applies to everyone without discrimination." Lebanese National News Agency cited the Lebanesed president, "On this painful day, August 4, we commemorate together the fifth anniversary of the Beirut Port explosion, that major crime that shook the conscience of the nation and the world, claimed the lives of more than 200 martyrs, wounded thousands of innocent people, and destroyed entire neighborhoods of our beloved capital." Lebanese Civil Defense staff marking the fifth anniversary of the Beirut port blast. (X/Lebanese Civil Defense) On the other hand, the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon released a statement on the Beirut port blast anniversary, saying: "The UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, expressed her solidarity with all those affected by this explosion, many of whom are still courageously seeking justice." Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert noted: "Five years on, the tragedy continues to fester, with a glaring absence of justice. The victims, the survivors, and their families deserve full accountability. And they deserve it now." Lebanese Civil Defense posted images on social media showing workers placing flowers on the memorial of the martyrs of the Port of Beirut.
Jordan News
12 hours ago
- Jordan News
Lebanese President: We Will Continue to Press for Accountability in Beirut Port Explosion - Jordan News
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stated on Monday that the Lebanese government will continue to exert pressure on all relevant authorities to ensure that those responsible for the Beirut Port explosion are brought to justice—regardless of their positions or affiliations. اضافة اعلان In a statement marking the fifth anniversary of the explosion, which falls on Monday, Aoun affirmed the government's commitment to uncovering the full truth, 'no matter the obstacles or how high the positions involved.' He added, 'Justice recognizes no exceptions, and the law applies to everyone without discrimination.' He went on to stress that 'justice will not die, and accountability is inevitable,' noting that since assuming his constitutional duties, he has prioritized holding those responsible for this 'grave crime' accountable. 'No one who contributed to this humanitarian disaster through negligence, misconduct, or corruption should escape punishment,' he said. From the outset, Lebanese authorities attributed the explosion to the storage of large quantities of ammonium nitrate at the port without proper safety measures, following a fire whose cause remains unknown. It was later revealed that officials at various levels were aware of the risks posed by the stored materials but failed to take action. In the aftermath of the explosion, authorities appointed Judge Fadi Sawan as the lead investigator. However, he was dismissed in February 2021 after charging then-Prime Minister Hassan Diab and three former ministers with 'negligence, misconduct, and causing death and injury to hundreds.' His successor, Judge Tarek Bitar, faced similar obstacles, especially after announcing his intention to question Diab and launching legal proceedings against several former ministers—including MPs—as well as security and military officials. Both the President and Prime Minister pledged in their initial addresses to uphold the independence of the judiciary and prevent interference in its work, in a country plagued by a culture of impunity. Following his inauguration pledge to safeguard judicial independence, President Aoun was echoed by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who stated in his first speech that the government would exert 'all possible efforts to ensure justice for the victims of the Beirut Port explosion and their families.'
