Two years after Beirut blast: To set fact finding mission because there is no hope for justice under militia-mafia rule

Lebanon today marked the second anniversary of the Beirut port explosion which killed at least 215 people, wounded thousands and damaged the entire capital, while in parallel a large block of the grain silos collapsed in an additional expression of the authority's contempt for people's feelings, and for the simplest concepts of justice and humanity.

After two years of failed attempts to resume the investigation, it has become clear today that the militia-mafia alliance will not spare a means to obstruct the course of the domestic investigation by shielding politicians and officials implicated in the explosion, therefore resorting to international justice has become a necessity to reach accountability.

We demand, without delay, the formation of an independent and impartial fact-finding mission for the August 4, 2020, Beirut explosion. We also demand the imposition of international sanctions on those who obstruct the investigation as a direct threat to stability and security in Lebanon.

It is obvious that the criminal in Lebanon is the same but the places are different. It is precisely he who obstructs justice. He is the one who threatens judges and blackmails the Lebanese to pardon his dreadful crimes. It is he who wants to completely erase the truth from existence. But the evidence squarely points the finger at who imported thousands of tons of ammonium nitrate, who is responsible for storing it and reveals the purpose of shipping such explosive materials to Beirut. Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth, and the complete truth about the most devastating crime in Lebanon’s history must be uncovered

Two years on from Beirut Port massive blast. Two years remembering the innocent who were killed and trying to heal each other's wounds. Two years have passed and still a traumatic grief continues with the families and friends of the victims. Two years of confrontation with a rude and ugly criminal authority. Two years during which some judges dared to seek the truth and achieve justice.

We also shall continue in the cause of justice for the victory of the victims, for their families, and for the dignity of an entire nation.