Al-Ahram Weekly | Region | The cruelty of memory

		19 - 25 September 2002 Issue No. 604 Region	Current issue Previous issue Site map
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The cruelty of memory
Thousands marched in Beirut this week to commemorate the memory of the lives lost in the Sabra and Shatila massacres, and to remind the world of Sharon's past. Zeina Abu Rizk reports

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Lebanese and Palestinian demonstrators marked the 20th anniversary of the Sabra and Shatila massacre in Beirut
A particularly bitter atmosphere prevailed over the memorial services of the 1982 Sabra and Shatila massacres in Lebanon. Some 3,000 people joined a silent march to the Shatila cemetery in Beirut's southern suburbs to mark the 20th anniversary of the Sabra and Shatila massacres. Undoubtedly, poignant memories were to a great extent responsible for the gloomy atmosphere. In 1982, under then- Israeli Defence Minister Ariel Sharon, the Israeli army sealed off the two Beirut-based camps. Allowing Israeli allies, members of the Lebanese Christian militias, enter the camps and carry out the massacres which resulted in the deaths of some 3,000 Palestinians.
Moreover, the fact that current Israeli Prime Minister Sharon was behind the genocide that occurred 20 years ago, and is responsible today for daily bloodshed against Palestinians in the occupied territories, accentuated the general feeling of despair. But other elements also affected this year's service, including remaining tensions in the Palestinian refugees camps in Lebanon. In recent months, there have been several security incidents, including internal fighting among various factions and clashes with the Lebanese army.
Moreover, the assassination earlier this year of former Lebanese Minister and MP Elie Hobeika reduced chances of seeing the Sabra and Shatila case finally clarified. Hobeika, who was once head of the now disbanded Christian Lebanese Forces, had been accused of being one of the main perpetrators of the massacre. He consistently denied these charges. A few months before his death, Hobeika promised to reveal evidence of his innocence, and of Sharon's direct involvement in the 1982 massacres. Hobeika intended to present this information to the Belgium court where charges against Sharon had been pressed. Hobeika was killed a few days after he held a meeting with delegates from Belgium regarding the case and Sharon.
The camps of Sabra and Shatila are different now than they were 20 years ago. The camps are no longer restricted to Palestinians. Syrians and Lebanese looking for low-cost housing also live in the camps. One of the remnants and constant reminders of the massacres 20 years ago is the collective cemetery. White roses were planted to honour the memory of the deceased. Non- governmental organisations from Italy, France, Norway, Spain, Denmark, the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia took part in the commemorative march.
Earlier last week, a number of the international participants visited the Sabra and Shatila camps. One of the conferences carried the slogan "from Sabra and Shatila 1982 to Jenin 2002". Jenin has been the sight of some of the worst atrocities to take place in the Palestinian territories since the massacres of 1982.
Torhild Stro, a member of the Palestine Committee in Norway, said, "I came here to participate in this memory. (Sharon) is legally elected by his people but he is responsible for the genocide that occurred here 20 years ago and the international community must press charges against him." Members of the Italian delegation held a banner that read: "Sharon and Bush: Criminals".
On Monday, the international participants visited Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, who asserted that "it is not a coincidence that this massacre happened at a time when Sharon was leading Israeli troops. Today he is Israel's prime minister and commits daily crimes of unprecedented savagery against the Palestinians."

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