From: elie@hdtv.njit.edu (Elie I. Mourad)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
Subject: CLAO Aug. 13 1992. (Elections)
Date: 17 Aug 92 13:03:58 GMT
Organization: New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, N.J.



CLAO Aug. 13 1992
-----------------

The official closing rate for the LL was 2,755 to the dollar. But the local
currency traded at a rate closer to 3,000. The Hrawi regime is planning to
contact Rafik Hariri to lobby Saudi Arabia for financial aid.

L'Orient Le Jour wrote that the intervention of the Central Bank will not
end the "dollar nightmare" because the "economic and social collapse
of the country" was caused by political factors. The paper wrote: "Of the
$600 Million or so its still has [in foreign exchange reserves], how much
will the Central bank have to spend, not in order to improve the economic and
financial situation in the country, but just to enable those on the 
minimum monthly wage of 120,000LL to buy a bag of bread, which is selling
at 1,500LL.

Former deputy Najah Wakim charged that the wife of a Hrawi official made
$60million just by speculating in the foreign exchange market against the
Lebanese pound. He accused the Hrawi regime for the economic deterioration
in the country.

The Syrian secret service has arrested in the last two days alone about
20 people in Tripoli, northern Lebanon, for protesting the proposed
Syrian-controlled elections.

There is a growing number of prominent figures who are joining the 
boycott or reconsidering their decisions to run in the elections.
As-Safir said that Dr. Albert Mukhayber was inclined not to run, 
and so was Pierre Dakash, while Tarek Habshi has withdrawn his candidacy.
The paper said this has slowed down the pace at which would-be Moslem
candidates were coming forward.

The daily Al-Shark al-Awsat also pointed out that prominent former 
deputies who were considered sympatehetic to the regime had decided 
not to run in the race for parliament. They include: Edmond Rizk,
Emile Rouhana-Sakr, Pierre Dakkash, and Boutros Harb. The paper 
indicated that prominent Christian families in the northern Zgharta 
district - the Karam, Boulos and Doueihi - had come out against the poll.

Al-Shark al Awsat added that those shunning the elections were from
different regions and religious communitites, including the sons
of two late deputies, Edward Hnein and Maurice Zwain.

Moslems who had announced they will not participate in the elections
include: Former deputy Hamid Dakroub, Mrs. Zeina al-Ali Shheen of 
Akar, and the head of the Lebanese Women's Council Mrs. Aman Kabbara
She'rani. One Moslem candidate, Moustafa Abul-Naja Yafi, said after 
meeting Patriarch Sfair he was persuaded that the fears of the Christians
were well-placed and would not run any longer. There have been other
Christian figures over the past few days who withdrew their cadidacies
in keeping with Bkirki's position, such as:
- Beshara Abou Sa'da of beirut
- Sami Germanos of Jbeil
- Dr. Nassib Khoury 
  Lawyer Youssef al-Khatib
  (Shouf Mountain)

In contrast, Rashid al-Solh and Shafik al-Wazzan are among 23 people 
who put forward their candidacies yesterday. Others include Jamil Kibbi,
Othman Dana, and Rafik Shaheen.

Syrian-controlled security forces have been instructed to arrest 
people who distribute leaflets attacking the Hrawi regime. Such leaflets 
are being distributed every night in many streets of beirut.

In other developments, supporters of General Michel Aoun called for a 3-day
strike starting on August 21. The strike includes Sunday August 23, the
day set for the voting in northern Lebanon and the Bekaa.
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