Rifi dubs victims of Indonesian boat tragedy martyrs

Former Internal Security Forces Chief Major General Ashraf Rifi said Monday that Akkar is “the symbol of loyalty and patriotism that has lost many of its residents who drowned off the coast of Indonesia during their search for a better life and better future.”

During a visit to the Akkar town of Qabiit, Rifi noted that the state has been reluctant in treating the issues of North Lebanon in general. “Services in the said region are non-existent while the economic and social situations are not improving,” he said.

On the Indonesian boat tragedy, Rifi said that the Lebanese government failed in assuming its responsibilities regarding the issue, stressing that “the necessary measures must have been taken within the 24 hours that followed the incident, not after a week.”

In this context, Rifi called on the government to recognize the victims of the boat disaster as Lebanese martyrs, stressing the need to grant their families necessary compensations.

On Friday September 26, dozens of Lebanese nationals hailing from the towns of Akkar were reported dead after a boat carrying them to Australia sank off the coast of Indonesia.

Preliminary information showed that an Iraqi national known as Abou Salah was in charge of transferring the persons to Indonesia before reaching Australia.