CJI calls for full implementation of the human rights and democracy clause in Article 2 of the Lebanese-European Association Agreement
Campaign for Good Governance in Lebanon
CJI calls for full implementation of the human rights and democracy clause in Article 2 of the Lebanese-European Association Agreement first: Justice must come before tax increases and fiscal reform
CJI Lebanon
Campaign for Judicial Integrity
04/21/2006
Beirut, April 21, 2006: The Campaign for Judicial Integrity (CJI), a Lebanese policy and advocacy group active in promoting reform of the Lebanese judiciary and legal profession urged the European Union to give the highest priority for the full implementation of the human rights and democracy clause in Article 2 of the Lebanese-European association agreement before fiscal reform and tax increases. A delegation from the group called on the EUC ambassador to Beirut, Patrick Renauld, on Thursday, April 20, 2006, and handed him the following letter:
To the European Union Delegation to Lebanon
Greetings. We wish to let you know that the people of Lebanon welcome the association agreement because of the priority it gives, under its Article 2 to the principles of human rights and democracy. Hence we call for this priority to be respected and carefully translated into action at all times and in every sphere of possible European-Lebanese cooperation. If not, we believe the people of Lebanon may well turn against this agreement and reject any and all of its fruits which are not built on the cornerstone of human rights, justice and the rule of law. Fiscal reform, through more borrowing and raising more taxes, is not a national priority for the Lebanese, who look at it with grave suspicions. The priority is human rights and democracy, that can only be achieved through a major overhaul of the judiciary and the bar associations in order to enhance the rule of law and accountability. Over fifty billion dollars have been incurred as a public debt in the absence of the rule of law. If the EU facilitates the incurring by Lebanon of more debt in the billions then the new money will go the same way as the old money and the people of Lebanon will incur the ultimate liability but without the possibility of judicial oversight and bringing the abusers to account.
Please relay our message to your governments. Justice, the right of free expression and the rule of law must be insured and fully upheld before any new money is allowed to flow to Lebanon in the form of new loans, credits or other financial assistance.
