[LCM Articles] Parliament approves draft law to phase out military service within 2 years

[Loai Naamani]

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Copyright (c) 2005 The Daily Star


 


Thursday, January 27, 2005


Parliament approves draft law to phase out military service within 2 years


 


 


By Rita Boustani 
Daily Star staff


 


BEIRUT: Parliament approved a draft law Wednesday to phase out the military service gradually, within a maximum period of two years,
during which a six-month service period will be required. 

The approval came after a debate during the first day of the extraordinary legislative session the day after the proposal was
announced by Deputy Speaker Michel Murr. 

Chaired by Speaker Nabih Berri, the session was marked by the first appearance of Chouf MP Marwan Hamade at Parliament since the
assassination attempt on Oct. 1. He was greeted with a warm round of applause. 

Attending the session were Premier Omar Karami, Deputy Premier Issam Fares, 13 ministers and former Premier Rafik Hariri in his
Beirut MP capacity. 

While the Zghorta MP called for the immediate cancellation of the military service under the pretext that it has caused youth
immigration, Baalbek-Hermel and former Speaker MP Hussein Husseini protested such complete cancellation and hoped the issue would be
reconsidered. 

The cancellation cannot be implemented immediately as it would reduce the number of army troops by 10,000, which would weaken its
power and hinder its performance, said Murr on Tuesday. 

Karami described the voting as "hasty yet popular," adding: "We support the cancellation, but hasty and emotional decisions harm the
army's interest." 

Karami said the cancellation proposal came after consultations with the army command and hoped the agreement would not be sabotaged.


For his part, Berri said army commander General Michel Suleiman informed him that the army needed 8,000 troops. 

Aley MP Akram Chehayeb said military service has not achieved national unity, adding: "We should cancel the military service and
define the role of intelligence services and what kind of army we want." Chehayeb denounced the fact that some members of military
intelligence worked in politics and received salaries in return. He also said an army capable of defending the country should be
experienced and have sufficient troops. 

Parliament approved the payment of LL240 million in outstanding dues to the National Social Security Fund for the year 2003-2004,
after the fund's members accused the current government of failing to pay its debts.


 



Copyright (c) 2005 The Daily Star

 

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