Marada Movement
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Marada Movement (Arabic: تيار المردة), is Lebanese political party and a former militia active during the Lebanese civil war under the name of Marada Brigade. The Marada was named after the legendary Marada or Mardaites warriors of the early Middle Ages. At its height it had about 3,500 fulltime members[1]. The Marada Brigade was the militia of Suleiman Franjieh, president of Lebanon at the outbreak of the war. They were also known as the "Zgharta Liberation Army" after Franjieh's home town of Zgharta.
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[edit] Motto, Flag and Logo
[edit] Motto
El Marada: The modernity of heritage The evolving legacy Clarity of purpose Firm attitude Pride, glory, potency, depth
[edit] Flag Explanation
The Sword: Symbol of justice
Lighting: Creativity and sharpness
Red Color: Symbol of Sacrifice
Green Color: Cedar of Lebanon
Blue Color: Blue Horizon [1]
[edit] Logo Explanation
Pi: Unity of purpose, Depth in justice, Core values, Perseverance through adversity, Resilient stands,
Circle: Unshakable loyalty, Evolving dynamism, Genuine relations, Eternity of being,
Compass: Right direction, Clear decision, Safety value, Genuine legacy
Green Color: Eternity of life, Versatility of nature, Promise of prosperity, Power of giving, Color of safety, Bounty flow.[2]
[edit] Principles of The El Marada Movement
POSTULATES AND PRINCIPLES OF EL MARADA[3]
In defence of Lebanon’s unity, sovereignty, independence, freedom of decision and conformation of its belonging to the Arab environment, El Marada Movement started with the late President Sleiman Frangieh’s values and thoughts to turn into a popular political current in Lebanon and abroad enjoying an organizational framework and a developed structure based on democracy and effective participation.
THE POSTULATES
- Lebanon, final homeland to all its citizens and having, as a guarantee, the national commitment of the society and the State to keep away from strives and crises aiming at turning spiritual families into conflicting sects and communities.
- Lebanon, a sovereign, free and united country, rejecting all kinds of partitions and federations, of Arab indenty and belonging, open to all States of the world.
- Rejection of all plans to permanently settle Palestinian refugees while insisting on their right to return to their homeland.
- Lebanon is committed to the Arab League stands and to Arab concerns, along with the confirmation of the legitimacy of the national resistance in order to attain a fair and global peace in the region.
- Lebanon, founding member of the United Nations Organization committed to its Charter and its international human values.
- El Marada long for Lebanon to be a state that ensures freedom, in words and action, as a global and unifying value, a sovereign state enjoying free decision opposed to all forms of guardianship.
THE PRINCIPLES
- Lebanon, state of institutions where all resources and skills shall be valued and all sorts of quotas and favouritism are rejected.
- Lebanon, state of social justice and balanced development so that all citizens’ rights are secured, the internal migration and its consequences reduced and emigration and its causes controlled.
- Lebanon, state of free economy in continual modernisation and consistent with the worldwide growth, provided that the public sector assets are maintained and managed by private administrations.
- Lebanon, state of independent justice that embraces the citizens’ and groups’ rights and dignity, and optimizes the belonging of citizens to their homeland and fostering their confidence in the State.
- Lebanon, state of consensual democracy making way to a secular State that guarantees the rights of all Lebanese. A state that enjoys a democracy of consensus experienced by countries with ideal political stability.
- Democracy of entente reflecting the will of the Lebanese people longing for coexistence far from all kinds of hegemonies.
- After having achieved the stability following the consensual democracy, strive to set up the secular State able to safeguard the rights of all, with a presidential regime enjoying wider powers.
- Adopt a fair electoral law that would not change to suit certain political motives, but would rather be based on national standards.
- Establishment of a free democratic regime of entente, the respect of freedom of expression, together with continuous updating of the educational curricula and exercising efforts to completely eliminate illiteracy.
- Supporting public schools and Lebanese universities so that education is within all citizens’ reach.
- Backing both agricultural and industrial sectors according to an up-to-date plan.
- Backing the tourism sector, protecting monuments, safeguarding the heritage and laying down a tourism map.
- Respecting and preserving the environment, so as to safeguard natural, vegetal, water and animal wealth.
- Granting priority to hygiene and hospitalization and providing social securities, especially old age annuity.
- Emphasising woman’s rights as a key partner in an integrated Lebanese society.
- Stressing the child’s right to a secure and solid future.
- Communicating with the Lebanese abroad and thoroughly involve them in the national, economic and cultural life.
- Striving for the achievement and the consolidation of the concept of citizenship as to reinforce the culture of belonging to Lebanon.
- Backing and spreading culture: publications, theatre, motion pictures and various arts.
- Fostering sports and laying down a comprehensive plan intended to encourage sporting clubs in all districts, by resorting to public sector donations and to civil society resources.
[edit] Marada in Lebanese History
During the Lebanese civil war, Zgharta being the frontline and Christian stronghold of the north, it was the frontline in the war for northern Lebanon as the Zgharta-based Marada Brigade militia successfully repulsed and responded with attacks on Muslim and PLO militias from neighboring Tripoli.
They were initially allied with the Kataeb but in 1978 the year when Suleiman Franjieh's son Tony Frangieh was murdered, Franjieh became firmly pro-Syrian and stopped attending meetings with the Lebanese Front. After the killing of a Kataeb member in the district of Zgharta Zawie, the latest being Jude Al Bayeh, the Kataeb party decided to react. On 13th of June 1978, at 4am while everyone was sleeping, the Kataeb, launched a surprise attack on Tony's summer mansion in Ehden and attempted to capture Ehden to secure it as a Kataeb Lebanese Forces base. Yet even with Israeli support they could not achieve their objective. About 28 innocent bystanders were killed. About 10 Kataeb members were killed in the attack. The Kataeb Lebanese Forces, aspiring to be the self-proclaimed saviours of the Maronite community, wanted to murder other Christian leaders in order to secure control of the community for themselves. Instead, they ended up earning the status of villains and murderers during and after the Lebanese war. The Marada commander, Suleiman Franjieh's son Tony, his wife Vera and their 3-year-old daughter, were also murdered by the Kataeb milita gangs. Kataeb member (at the time) Samir Geagea was the leader of the attacking and murdering group. Samir Geagea denies that he took part in the murder. He claims he was injured in his right hand before getting to the castle and was taken to the hospital. Elie Hobeika has always denied taking part in the killing although this also was never proven. Bashir Gemayel who ordered the attack denied being responsible for the killing.
There are many current political identities who admitted to the fact that Bashir Germayel was the one who ordered the attack on their allies[citation needed]. This was one of the first bloody attacks Germayel ordered on his former allies which lead to a weaker and divided Maronite Front.
The attack in Ehden began the break up of the united Maronite militias known as the Lebanese Front. Suleiman Frangieh swore revenge for the death of his son and his family. Massive persecutions and revenge actions followed the assassination. All Kataeb members fled the region or were extremely secretive about it.
The murder of Tony Frangieh was one of the factors which many commentators blame for the longevity of Lebanon's war and was the start of strong division between Christians. Recently, there has been great popular support for renewed Maronite solidarity which existed before 1978[citation needed].
After Tony's assassination, Tony's brother Robert took control of the Marada and nowadays Suleiman Frangieh, Jr, Tony's son, controls the Marada. He is a close personal friend of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad[citation needed]. He was serving as Interior Minister, one of the most powerful positions in the Lebanese government, when Rafiq al-Hariri was assassinated on 14 February, 2005.
After the 2005 legislative elections, the Marada became member of the opposition alliance together with Hizbullah and the Free Patriotic Movement.
In June 2006, the Marada Movement was officially launched as a political party during a ceremony attended by thousands of supporters and representatives of Hizbullah, Amal Movement, the Free Patriotic Movement, and many other prominent Lebanese political figures.
[edit] References
- ^ El Marada Logo. http://www.elmaradaaustralia.org
- ^ El Marada Logo. http://www.elmarada.org
- ^ El Marada Principles. http://www.elmaradaaustralia.org/?q=about
[edit] External links
- el-Marada.com
- El Marada Movement - Australia
- Martyrs of 13 June 1978, Ehden
- Lebanese civil war 1977 Full of Pictures and Information
- Zgharta.com
- Pro-Syrian Al-Marada party re-surfaces with a revised platform
