Five Years After Beirut Port Blast, Lebanon's President Vows Justice
Nobody has been held accountable for the Aug 4, 2020 blast, one of the world's largest non-nuclear explosions, which devastated much of the Lebanese capital, killing more than 220 people and injuring over 6,500.
Authorities say the explosion was triggered by a fire in a warehouse where tonnes of ammonium nitrate fertiliser had been stored for years, despite repeated warnings to senior officials.
Judge Tarek Bitar resumed his investigation earlier this year, after a power shift following the Israel-Hezbollah war that weakened the Iran-backed militant group. Hezbollah had previously led efforts to remove Bitar from the case.
Aoun said the Lebanese state "is committed to uncovering the whole truth, no matter the obstacles or how high the positions" involved.
"The law applies to all, without exception," he said in a statement.
Monday was declared a national day of mourning. Rallies demanding justice were planned later in the day, converging on the port.
INVESTIGATION MOVES AHEAD
Bitar has now finished questioning defendants and suspects, a judicial official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. Those questioned include former prime minister Hassan Diab, as well as several military and security officials.
Some former ministers refused to appear for questioning, the official added.
Bitar is awaiting responses to requests sent to several Arab and European countries for information on related incidents. Once received, he will finalise the investigation and send the file to the public prosecution before issuing an indictment.
President Aoun said, "We are working with all available means to ensure the investigations are completed with transparency and integrity."
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, a former International Court of Justice judge who took office earlier this year, called the investigation a matter of national importance, denouncing a legacy of official impunity.
Despite the scale of the tragedy, no one is currently in custody over the case.
VICTIMS DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY
Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International said in a joint statement that "despite the resumption of the investigation, the road to justice remains littered with political and legal challenges".
They called for an "unobstructed investigation that establishes the facts and full chain of responsibility" for the explosion, whether domestic or international.
Mariana Fodoulian, from the association of victims' families, said officials had spent five years dodging accountability.
"We're not asking for anything more than the truth," she said. "We won't stop until we get comprehensive justice."
Culture Minister Ghassan Salame said on Sunday that the destroyed wheat silos at the port would be added to a list of historic buildings, a demand long made by victims' families.
"The silos are the only witness to what happened on August 4," Fodoulian said.
United Nations special coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, on Monday urged authorities to "take all necessary action to expedite progress in judicial proceedings".
The US, British and French embassies also called for accountability. The European Union welcomed recent steps forward, stressing that 'ending impunity is essential for Lebanon's recovery.'
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CNA
11 hours ago
- CNA
Five Years After Beirut Port Blast, Lebanon's President Vows Justice
BEIRUT: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Monday (Aug 4) vowed justice and accountability five years after the catastrophic Beirut port explosion, as the investigating judge concluded questioning key defendants, a judicial official said. Nobody has been held accountable for the Aug 4, 2020 blast, one of the world's largest non-nuclear explosions, which devastated much of the Lebanese capital, killing more than 220 people and injuring over 6,500. Authorities say the explosion was triggered by a fire in a warehouse where tonnes of ammonium nitrate fertiliser had been stored for years, despite repeated warnings to senior officials. Judge Tarek Bitar resumed his investigation earlier this year, after a power shift following the Israel-Hezbollah war that weakened the Iran-backed militant group. Hezbollah had previously led efforts to remove Bitar from the case. Aoun said the Lebanese state "is committed to uncovering the whole truth, no matter the obstacles or how high the positions" involved. "The law applies to all, without exception," he said in a statement. Monday was declared a national day of mourning. Rallies demanding justice were planned later in the day, converging on the port. INVESTIGATION MOVES AHEAD Bitar has now finished questioning defendants and suspects, a judicial official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. Those questioned include former prime minister Hassan Diab, as well as several military and security officials. Some former ministers refused to appear for questioning, the official added. Bitar is awaiting responses to requests sent to several Arab and European countries for information on related incidents. Once received, he will finalise the investigation and send the file to the public prosecution before issuing an indictment. President Aoun said, "We are working with all available means to ensure the investigations are completed with transparency and integrity." Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, a former International Court of Justice judge who took office earlier this year, called the investigation a matter of national importance, denouncing a legacy of official impunity. Despite the scale of the tragedy, no one is currently in custody over the case. VICTIMS DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International said in a joint statement that "despite the resumption of the investigation, the road to justice remains littered with political and legal challenges". They called for an "unobstructed investigation that establishes the facts and full chain of responsibility" for the explosion, whether domestic or international. Mariana Fodoulian, from the association of victims' families, said officials had spent five years dodging accountability. "We're not asking for anything more than the truth," she said. "We won't stop until we get comprehensive justice." Culture Minister Ghassan Salame said on Sunday that the destroyed wheat silos at the port would be added to a list of historic buildings, a demand long made by victims' families. "The silos are the only witness to what happened on August 4," Fodoulian said. United Nations special coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, on Monday urged authorities to "take all necessary action to expedite progress in judicial proceedings". The US, British and French embassies also called for accountability. The European Union welcomed recent steps forward, stressing that 'ending impunity is essential for Lebanon's recovery.'
Straits Times
11 hours ago
- Straits Times
Hundreds gather to mark five years since Beirut blast, but justice still elusive
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox BEIRUT - Hundreds of Lebanese gathered solemnly near Beirut's coast on Monday to commemorate a half-decade since the cataclysmic port blast of 2020, when more than 200 people were killed in one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history. Carrying Lebanese flags and portraits of some of the victims, many of those standing said they felt deeply disappointed that no one has been held to account for the devastating explosion. "Can someone tell me why five years on we're still standing here? If everyone stands with this cause, then who's against us?' said William Noun, whose brother Joseph, a firefighter, was killed by the blast. "This file needs to close. It's been five years and we don't want to have a sixth," Noun said from a stage set up near the port. The blast destroyed large swathes of Beirut, leaving tens of thousands of people homeless. The names of all those killed were read out as protesters stood facing the wreckage of the Beirut grain silos, which were heavily damaged in the blast and continued to deteriorate and collapse for years after. At 6:07 p.m. - the time of the blast five years ago - the few hundred gathered stood for a moment of silence. "I'm here because I find it crazy that five years later, we still don't know exactly what happened," said Catherine Otayek, 30. "I had hope for answers in 2020. I didn't think we'd still be here." Although she did not lose anyone herself, the Lebanese expatriate living in France said she made it a point to return to Beirut every year for the commemoration as a duty to fellow Lebanese. The port blast came nearly a year into Lebanon's catastrophic economic collapse, and was followed by a political crisis that paralysed government and a devastating war between Hezbollah and Israel starting in 2023. INVESTIGATION STYMIED The blast is thought to have been set off by a fire at a warehouse on the evening of August 4, 2020, detonating hundreds of tonnes of ammonium nitrate. Lebanese officials promised at the time that an investigation into the blast's root causes would be completed in five days. But years of political interference stymied the probe, with judicial officials and then-ministers continually raising legal challenges against the investigating judges, effectively paralysing the investigation. Some Lebanese have drawn hope from pledges by President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam - both of whom came to power at the beginning of this year - to prioritize justice for blast victims. On Monday, Aoun pledged to hold those responsible for the blast accountable, regardless of their position or political affiliation. "Justice will not die, and accountability will inevitably come," he said. The president and prime minister did not attend Monday's commemoration. Judge Tarek Bitar resumed his investigation earlier this year and has questioned several officials in recent months - but he has yet to issue a preliminary indictment, which many Lebanese were hoping for ahead of the fifth anniversary. "We want a preliminary indictment that is complete and comprehensive," said Paul Naggear, whose three-year-old daughter Alexandra was killed in the blast. "We want to know who was supposed to evacuate our neighbourhoods, so that we could get to the hospital, and so my daughter could have survived." Naggear and his wife Tracy have been among the most vocal advocates for accountability for the blast. Rights groups have pressed for a full investigation that will establish the full chain of responsibility. "Justice delayed is justice denied," said Reina Wehbi, Amnesty International's Lebanon campaigner. "The families of those killed and injured in the Beirut explosion have waited an intolerable five years. They must not be forced to endure another year of impunity." REUTERS
CNA
2 days ago
- CNA
Germany says 'very insufficient' aid entering Gaza
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