Others in Lebanon have continued to call for leniency for former combatants. Gen. Antoine Lahd, commander of the SLA, has asked the Lebanese government for a blanket amnesty for all his fighters. Human Rights Watch takes no position on whether former combatants should receive amnesty for charges of treason. But the Lebanese government should not grant amnesty to anyone known or alleged to have committed, condoned, ordered, or authorized the commission of war crimes or crimes against humanity. Due Process in Lebanon for Former Combatants Anyone who does not receive amnesty is entitled to legal proceedings that meet international fair trial standards.
Military tribunals present tricky issues for fair trial standards.
Their judges are not truly independent, since they are often subject to military command. Frequently they do not render impartial verdicts. In any event, no civilian should ever be tried before a military court. Under international law, every person has the right to seek political asylum. The only exceptions are people who are known to have or suspected of having committed war crimes or crimes against humanity.