Tripoli commemorates 40 days since murder of Maj.Gen. Wissam Hassan

The Future Movement organized Sunday a mass festival to commemorate the passage of 40 days since the martyrdom of Major General Wissam Hassan and his companion Sergeant Ahmad Sahyouni at the Rachid Karami International Fair Complex.        

The family of late Major General Wissam Hassan thanked President Michel Sleiman for standing by them and for his “bold stances” following Hassan’s martyrdom. The family also thanked Hariri former PM Saad Hariri, the ISF information division’s officers and Major General Ashraf Rifi for standing by their side.         

For his part, MP Nuhad al-Machnouk said that there were two calls for dialogue; “one made in Syria on the martyrs’ bodies and another one in Lebanon on the blood of late Wissam Hassan; the two have one thing in common: exposing us to the criminal.” Al-Machnouk stressed that his party will not return to the dialogue table unless the government resigns.   

Addressing PM Najib Mikati, he said that there is no centrism between the criminal and the victim, between lies and the truth. “What did you do about the international investigations into the assassination of Wissam Hassan?” he asked, adding “We will avenge you Wissam, both in Lebanon and in Syria.”      

Al-Machnouk said that the statements of Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah do not convince him.       

In turn, MP Samir al-Jisr said that they killed Major general Wissam Hassan because he served the nation and because he strengthened the security apparatus to protect the nation.

“They want the country to be exposed to dangers. They thought that by killing him, they would terrify the free people; but they forgot that the hand of betrayal has never and will never thwart out determination.”

Al-Jisr considered that the state project is for all the Lebanese from all sects and religions. “The blood of Hassan is a new blood in Lebanon’s march of pride and dignity; you will not terrify us with murder or death; to us, death is a right”.

In this regard, Sheikh Osama Rifai stressed that Major General Wissam Hassan offered a lot to Lebanon. “He unveiled networks of criminals and spies; he protected the country’s leaders and security. He sought to protect Lebanon from sectarian strife”, he said.