Opposition parties and forces pursue April 13 appeal in Zgharta and launch Ousos: To assume responsibility for elections as opponents are supported by money, weapons, and sectarianism

Opposition parties and forces continued the initiative and appeal of April 13, stressing in a press conference held in Zgharta, at the headquarters of the Zgharta Al Zawiya Tantafed group, that the importance of the October 17 revolution is “how the tremendous youth and popular yearning for change actually materialized.” They pointed out to the importance of “bringing people back to the state, and restoring this state from its thieves, the destroyers of its institutions, and the robbers of its public resources,” and reiterated their demand for “an independent and transitional government as the only solution to stop the financial and economic collapse, and to prepare for transparent and democratic parliamentary elections.”

The opposition parties and forces added that “our call today is to unite all efforts and capabilities in order to restore the Lebanese state, which will only be restored by changing all this ruling class,” confirming that “what the Lebanese are waiting for today in Lebanon and abroad is that we assume a great deal of responsibility in the process of preparing for the elections (municipal and parliamentary), especially that our opponents are supported by money, some media, weapons, and sectarianism.”

They emphasized the necessity of grasping this historical responsibility with a high spirit of patriotism because the people will not forgive us if we fail to assume this responsibility or if we remain inactive.

The participating parties and forces were the following: Zgharta Al Zawiya Tantafed / Ousos, National Bloc, People's Observatory Against Corruption (Marsad Shaabi), Beirut Madinati, Tahalof Watani, Thuwar Beirut, Minteshreen, STREET, 7ello 3anna-Youth of October 17, Naqabiyoun Ahrar, Shabeb Trablous, Liqaa Al Bekaa Al Thawri, Homat Al Dustur, Zahleh Tantafed, Watani Haweyati, LIQAA Teshrin‎, Hajar w Bashar, Aamieh 17 October, Union of North Lebanon Revolutionaries, Koulouna Watan, and Thuwar Baalbek.

Read the full statement below:

Distinguished audience,

I am honored to welcome you here, in the name of the youth, elders, women, and men of Zgharta's uprising, both in the city of Zgharta and Al Zawiya.

We are a group of people who sought and are working towards a different approach in dealing with public affairs in our region. Some of us ran in municipal elections in the city of Zgharta during 2016 against the coalition of all political forces, belonging to both families and parties. Our political identity is clear since these elections, and until the October 17 revolution and the creation of the Zgharta Al Zawiya Tantafed group. We met in this group on that pivotal date, with every free revolutionary aspiring to build a just and strong state, from inside and outside the group, and from all sides. In this group, we gathered around the flames of the revolution.

Today, the group of Zgharta Al Zawiya Tantafed decided to move forward and establish a movement under the name of Ousos. We therefore announce the creation of Ousos, which is formed from all those opposition groups that gradually appeared in this region and in all stages. Ousos is a political, civil, and democratic movement against hate speech, marginalization, and fear, supporting the state of citizenship, equality, justice, law, and freedom.

Ousos is a movement against the traditional approach that we have known in political dualities that have ruled Lebanon since the end of the Lebanese war: The East Beirut-West Beirut duality, the March 14 and March 8 duality, and of course, at the local level, the duality that controlled the political life in the Caza of Zgharta during the last thirty years.

Ousos is a movement that seeks to highlight new and competent figures, reflecting a civilized image of the Caza of Zgharta, renowned for its freedom, thought, creativity, education, culture, political diversity, tolerance, and dialogue.

A political movement that seeks to reject behaviors intending to mobilize sectarian extremism and exploit people's instincts.

A movement that respects the minds of all Zaghrtawis through its constant pursuit of dialogue with people and between them.

A movement that launches a national political project, aiming to restore the Lebanese state.

But before all that,

Zgharta – Al Zawiya, the insurgent and diversified city, is your diversified and insurgent home.

Our shared values, both subjective and objective, are these meanings and values ​​that are never restricted and isolated, but are open to others, whoever they are, and expand towards them, increase, accumulate, grow, develop, and look forward.

We have to get out of the fear and intimidation logic that has always been imposed on us, to open up to each other and to the entire nation, with all its colorful spectrums.

What happened in Lebanon since the revolution of 17 October 2019 is precisely this fundamental change, which indicates that it is impossible to bring about any real change in the concept of political life with this same ruling class on the one hand, and with the same concepts, standards, and approaches that provide this class with means of survival and continuity, on the other hand.

The importance of the October 17 revolution is not only in the slogans that were raised, nor in the demonstrations and confrontations that broke out, nor in the celebrations and festivals that were held, but in how the tremendous youth and popular yearning for change actually materialized. It is a yearning that carries an exceptional and unique value, because it is a yearning to break the prison of non-politics in which Lebanon and the Lebanese are imprisoned, in order to restore politics from non-politics and from non-politicians, to create the appropriate climates for making politics again. The true politics that are practiced with justice and equality under the rule of law, and in compliance with the Constitution and regulations, including the people's interests, their future, and the future of their children.

We are drawing attention to this extremely important issue because it is an absolute condition to bring people back to the state, and to restore this state from its thieves, the destroyers of its institutions, and the robbers of its public resources. The restoration of the state from beginning to end in its sovereignty over itself, in its monopoly of weapons, in its safeguarding of all freedoms, and in the consecration of the nation's dignity and the citizen and social justice.

There is no need to elaborate on these aforementioned matters, but some points must be emphasized, including:

• First: The rebellious Zgharta should be part of this massive national uprising, which cuts across regions, religions, sects, sensitivities, and self-centered interests.
• Second: The priority of setting a rational view of what it means to be in politics, not outside it.
• Third: To include all this in the concept of the state.

Our call today, at a time of great collapse, is a continuation of the rescue initiative that we had announced on April 13 with the groups and parties that are present today. We are calling for an independent and transitional government as the only solution to stop the financial and economic collapse, and to prepare for transparent and democratic parliamentary elections.

Our call today is to unite all efforts and capabilities in order to restore the Lebanese state, which will only be restored by changing all this ruling class.

Our call today is to show courage, perseverance, and realism, and to transcend trivialities.

What the Lebanese are waiting for today in Lebanon and abroad is that we assume a great deal of responsibility in the process of preparing for the elections (municipal and parliamentary), especially that our opponents are supported by money, some media, weapons, and sectarianism.

Yes, today, whether we like it or not, we are faced with a historical responsibility that we must grasp with a high spirit of patriotism.

Neither our people, nor our children, will forgive us if we fail to assume this responsibility or if we remain inactive.

Today we are at a dangerous crossroads for what our country, Lebanon, has been going through since its inception a hundred years ago. Either to give up, surrender, and emigrate, or to stand united against a tyrannical system that has destroyed and is still destroying the country. Every missing step will be in favor of this uncontrolled ruling system. And every step that separates us will increase the cohesion and radicalization of this system.

We will carry, along with all the groups and parties present with us today, our demands and our appeal from Zgharta to all Lebanese regions in order to complete the appeal of April 13.

From Zgharta Al Zawiya to all of Lebanon, this is our call to unite the ranks.

Welcome to your home.

Ousos Movement