Organizers expect massive turnout for February 14th Hariri commemoration

By Malek Mohamed Misbah in Beirut
For Al-Shorfa.com
2010-02-08

[JOSEPH BARRAK/AFP/Getty Images] Lebanese wave flags during last year's rally in Beirut.

Saleh Farroukh, general coordinator for the Future Movement, says that popular participation on February 14th to commemorate the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri will be massive and everyone will be surprised by its size.

Farroukh, who is in charge of preparations for the event and for coordinating with all the parties of March 14, told Al-Shorfa that his office is filled with representatives from these parties who were holding many meetings to organize the event.

Al-Shorfa: It appears that you are deeply immersed in preparations for this year's commemoration?

Farroukh: Yes, this is how it's been for us during the last three weeks, and it will continue like this until February 14, the date of the commemoration. This year has a special flavour. First, because it's the first year that Saad Hariri is prime minister, and this will have to be taken into consideration during the preparations, especially after all that's happened in recent years.

Second, it's an event where the parties of March 14 are taking part in order to reaffirm their continuation as a group. This is an important thing for us, especially since Prime Minister Hariri has stated that the Future Movement is part of March 14, and [he] will not abandon any one of my allies in it. We will not give up on Lebanon's sovereignty, its independence and its freedom.

And third, popular participation during the commemoration for five years confirms that the mission will go on.

Al-Shorfa: There is talk about the weakening of March 14, its disintegration and withering away.

Farroukh: This is not accurate. March 14 is not about its leadership. Rather it's about the million people who marched at Freedom Martyrs' Square on March 14, 2005. And these people still have the same principles and they are not linked to an individual, regardless whether they stay in March 14 or leave it. Ninety percent of the people in March 14 do not play party politics. Rather they are with the free, sovereign Lebanon of the future.

No one can underestimate this population and trivialize them. The people are better than us, and they've surpassed us. The people give more than is asked of them. They love Rafik Hariri and Lebanon, and someone who loves you can't abandon you, and that is why they do not wait for an invitation in order to take part in the commemoration.

Al-Shorfa: Then why there are big billboards on the roads and a huge TV campaign?

Farroukh: This campaign has a message, which is that of continuity. Every year has its message. In the past years, we used to have the slogan "You will never harm our martyrs". This year, we have slogans that fit the current political atmosphere like "For the sake of Lebanon" and "For the sake of those who passed away" and "For your sake, we are coming".

This means that we revere the martyrs who are gone, and at the same time we stick firmly to co-existence, and this is exactly what Lebanon has witnessed this year in terms of co-existence and a successful year for tourism.

Al-Shorfa: What about the size of participation this year?

Farroukh: The participation will surprise everyone. As I told you, the people are better than us, and they are ahead of us. Everyone will be surprised by the number of people that will march down to Freedom Martyrs Square on February 14.

Al-Shorfa: What about the preparations and the schedule for the event?

Farroukh: The preparations are well under way in coordination with our allies all over Lebanon. There are three committees that have been set up for organising the event. The first one will be responsible for the press and TV coverage in order to facilitate the broadcasting of sound and images to all the journalists who want to cover the event from Lebanon and other countries. The second one is responsible for facilitating the arrival of the masses to the square. The third one is responsible for the reception of officials.

Also, there are huge events that will accompany the commemoration, as there are preparations to build several stage sets for artistic displays and political speeches in addition to preparations on the ground regarding the people taking part in the demonstration in the square. There will be an artistic show from 10 in the morning till noon, where a group of artists will celebrate the event, including Ragheb Alameh, Abdel Karim Al Shaar, Raneen Al Shaar, Tania Qassis and Joseph Atiya.

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