Liberty Front
Liberty Front (in Arabic جبهة الحرية) is a Lebanese political movement launched in April 2007 by Fouad Abou Nader and his companions in the Lebanese Forces Veterans Group, trying to establish an independent more reconciliatory movement within the Lebanese Christians.
Foundation and politics
After the withdrawal of the Syrians from Lebanon, Fouad Abou Nader restarted his public activities in launching, with his former companions, the "Lebanese Forces Veterans Group", the Liberty Front, after leaving the Kataeb party disenchanted with its policies at the time.
The Liberty Front is made up of elements from the Kataeb Social Democratic Party who left the party and membership from other Christian parties and movements. The Liberty Front considers itself a social-democratic party and a defender of Lebanon sovereignty, independence and freedom, heir of the "Front for Freedom & Man (in Arabic جبهة الحرية والإنسان) founded in 1975 by Dr. Charles Malik who evolved later on to the Lebanese Front and the political offspring of the Resistance of the Front’s parties and movements fighters who cooperated together in the "Lebanese Forces Command Council" since 1976 before uniting their forces in 1980 in the Lebanese Forces under the leadership of President Bachir Gemayel and fought against the Palestinian organizations and the Syrian army between 1975 and 1986.
- Christian unity
The Liberty Front calls for the Christian unity. It rejects the division of the Christians who are become followers of Muslims (“Sunni Christians” and “Shiite Christians”) and a pawn of foreign powers (Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Iran, Syria, etc.) and thinks the Christians should play a rapprochement role (a bridge) among the Muslims instead of quarreling at the expense of the Sunni and Shiite row. As slogan, the Front uses the quote of Dr Charles Malik: “the unity of Lebanon from the unity of the Christians”. In October 2007, he was elected as general coordinator of the movement for one year. In October 2008, Fouad Abou Nader was re-elected as general coordinator of the Liberty Front.
- Principles and project
The Front believes in the principles of democracy and alternation underlying the movement. It also believes in the dialog that should not lead to a new compromise to cope with the paralysis (following the departure of the Syrians) of the political formula of Taef agreement, but to a peaceful and definitive solution organizing consensual democracy respecting the cultural plurality of the Lebanese people and basing on Universal Declaration of Human Rights. And, it believes in a real reconciliation through a National Congress for forgiveness, reconciliation and unity to put a definitive end to the war, avoid the repetition of the same mistakes & tragedies and allow the return of displaced and exiled people.
The main points of the Liberty Front project for the establishment of a strong State of law and competences are: -uninominal law for the first round & proportional law for the second round of the legislative elections with the vote of the Lebanese abroad; -regionalism as State’s organization; -positive neutrality of Lebanon with an international guarantee; -participation of the civil society in the democratic process and at the local level and then, the development of an engaged citizenship; -social contract assuring dignity, role for women and the youth, productive society based on agriculture and industry and developing historical, cultural and religious tourism and banking system based on secret but no more on the debt of the State but on investment banking under supervision to avoid uncontrolled crisis; -secularization of the State step by step; -rejecting the Palestinian implantation and disarming the Palestinians inside and outside of their camps; -restructuration of the armed forces and creation of a national guard (organized regionally) under a law on internal security and national defense to be able to fight terrorism, protect all citizens, avoid self-defense and defend the entire territory; -and, replacement of the Treaty of Brotherhood with Syria who is hegemonic and uneven for Lebanon by specific and balanced relations between the two sovereign states with a diplomatic representation exchange, the liberation of the Lebanese detainees in Syrian jails and the demarcation of the borders.