Samir Geagea

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Samir Farid Geagea (Arabic: سمير فريد جعجع,also Samir Ja`ja`, born October 25, 1952 is the leader of the right wing Lebanese Forces (LF) political party.

Samir Geagea during his first speech after being released on 26 July 2005‎.

He is known informally amongst his followers as Hakim (حكيم, the Physician as well as the Sage or Wise man in Arabic).

In 1994, Geagea was accused of ordering the bombing of Saydet Al-Najet church and the assassination of some Lebanese politicians during the war. He was acquitted in the church's case but given four life sentences in other cases.

Members and followers of the Cedar Revolution considered Geagea trials and sentences as being unjust and politically motivated, mainly orchestrated by the regime that ruled Lebanon during the Syrian hegemony period to oust Geagea from the political scene and dismantle the Lebanese Forces party; and therefore when the Cedar Revolution won the majority in the 2005 parliamentary elections, they formulated an amnesty law to be Geagea fastest way to freedom from his disputed sentences.

He is currently one of the leaders of March 14 Alliance alongside Saad Hariri, Walid Jumblatt and Amine Gemayel.

1 War period
2 Lebanese Forces
- 2.1 Revenues and Taxes
3 The post-war period
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] War period

Geagea was born in Ain el-Remmaneh in Beirut in 1952 to parents from the Maronite town of Bsharri in the mountains of Northern Lebanon. While studying medicine at the American University of Beirut, he became an active member of the right-wing Phalangist Party, which became the main Christian fighting force upon the outbreak of the Lebanese Civil War in 1975. He steadily rose through the ranks and led several daring operations at the request of Bashir Gemayel, then commander of the Phalangist militia. In 1978, following the murder of a Phalangist party leader in the North Lebanon called Joud el Bayeh in a power struggle with former president Suleiman Frangieh, Bachir Gemayel ordered Geagea to lead a unit to capture the suspects who were taking cover in Frangieh's mansion in Ehden. The convoy was ambushed on the way and Geagea was hit and admitted to Hotel Dieu hospital in Achrafieh where ironically he was doing his internship, his right hand was partially paralyzed and he never continued his formation while the military operation resulted in the murder of Tony Frangieh and his family.

Geagea was appointed head of the Lebanese Forces' militia northern Front in the early 1980s, where he commanded around 1,500 battle-hardened soldiers, drawn mainly from his native town of Bsharri and other towns and villages in Northern Lebanon. This loyal following would later ensure this warlord's ascension. Geagea led his men in fierce battles against the Syrian Army during the siege of Zahle in 1980-1981. In 1982-1983, Geagea commanded the Lebanese forces in the war against Walid Jumblat's PSP militia, the Palestinians, and the Syrians.

[edit] Lebanese Forces

In March 1985, Geagea and Elie Hobeika orchestrated an internal coup in order to end the leadership of Fuad Abu Nader in the Lebanese Forces. Abu Nader was considered to be too close to his uncle, president Amine Gemayel whose policies were not accepted by most LF leaders. In 1986, Geagea became head of the Lebanese Forces after overthrowing Hobeika, who was widely accused of treachery in the Lebanese Christian sector for agreeing to a Syrian-sponsored accord (the Tripartite Agreement). During the following year, Geagea meticulously rebuilt the LF into an organized, well trained and equipped military force. He also established social security and public services to fill the void that was created by the war-crippled state administration.

Samir Geagea as Commander of the Lebanese Forces militia in the 1980s

[edit] Revenues and Taxes

[edit] The post-war period

Aoun was exiled to France on 13 October 1990 after leaving the Baabda presidential palace because it was under attack by Syrian and LF troops. This date is considered to mark the end of the civil war. Geagea was subsequently offered ministerial portfolios in the new Lebanese government several times, he refused them under the basis that the government was under Syrian control. There was increased pressure by Syria on Geagea to accept the Syrian presence or face persecution. Prior to his arrest, he was contacted by several sympathetic politicians and warned about the forthcoming proceedings and offered safe passage out of Lebanon. Geagea refused to leave. In 1994, a bomb exploded in the Church of Sayyidet Al Najet and killed several worshippers. Geagea was suspected and arrested on charges of attempting to undermine government authority by "maintaining a militia in the guise of a political party", of instigating acts of violence, and of committing assassinations during the Lebanese Civil War. He was accused of the assassinations of Former Prime Minister Rashid Karami, Dany Chamoun and his family, and Elias Al Zayek. He was also accused of attempting to kill Minister Michel Murr.

The Lebanese Parliament passed a law unanimously in the form of an amnesty bill on 18 July 2005 to free Samir Geagea. It was subsequently signed by President Emile Lahoud. A similar bill was signed for Geagea's erstwhile opponent, General Michel Aoun.[1]

Geagea was released from prison on 26 July 2005 and left Lebanon for medical tests. He returned to Lebanon on October 25 (his birthday), and lived in the Cedars region in northern Lebanon until 11 December 2006, after which he moved to Bzoummar in Keserwan. He is officially the head of the executive comity of the Lebanese Forces.