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Cedar Revolution has become the most commonly used name for the chain of demonstrations and popular civic action in Lebanon (mainly Beirut ) triggered by the Assassin ation of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri on February 14 , 2005 . The primary goals of the original activists were the withdrawal of . The Pro-Syrian government was also disbanded, accomplishing the main goal of the revolution. (For background information on Syria's involvement in Lebanese politics, see the articles History Of Lebanon , Lebanese Civil War , and Syrian Presence In Lebanon ) The opposition has taken, as its symbol, the white and red scarf, and the pro-Hariri blue ribbon. Popular Motto s of the movement were ''Horriyeh, Siyadeh, Istiqlal'' ( Freedom , Sovereignty , Independence ), and ''Haqiqa, Horriyeh, Wahdeh wataniyeh'' ( Truth , Freedom, National unity). GOALS The main goal of the Cedar Revolution was the ending of the Syrian military presence in Lebanon. In addition, many Lebanese called for the return of former Prime Minister Michel Aoun and the release of the imprisoned Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea as a goal of the revolution. Some goals whose accomplishment is sometimes cited in order for the revolution to end include:
ORIGINS OF THE NAME The name "Cedar Revolution" is a term that was coined by the U.S. of Georgia , the Orange Revolution of Ukraine , and " Purple Revolution " (as described by George W. Bush ) of Iraq . It is also known as Lebanon's Intifada-al-Istiqlal as well as '''Cedar Spring''' (Rabi' el Arz), {Link without Title} , in reference to the prevailing season when protests first broke out, and also as an allusion to famous freedom and independence movements like the and Future TV , to describe this event include '''Lebanon Independence''' (Istiqlal Lubnan), '''Lebanon Spring''' (Rabi' Lubnan), or just '''Independence 05'''. The word ''Cedar'' refers to a National Emblem , the Lebanon Cedar , a Tree featured on the Flag Of Lebanon . LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
VIOLENT REPERCUSSIONS In addition to the car-bombs listed above that have gone off all over Lebanon, many Syrian workers have also been killed or wounded. According to Amnesty International, tens of Syrian workers have been killed and scores of others beaten, shot, threatened or robbed in Lebanon since the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq al-Hariri on 14 February 2005. Lebanese assailants set fire to tents and other temporary housing of Syrian workers. ASSASSINATION OF RAFIQ HARIRI On had survived a car bomb attack on October 1 , 2004. Despite the lack, to date, of any actual substantial evidence implicating any party or individual, the Syrian government has borne the brunt of Lebanese and international outrage at the murder, because of its extensive military and intelligence influence in Lebanon, as well as the public rift between Hariri and Damascus just before his last resignation on October 20 , 2004 . The day after Hariri's resignation, pro-Syrian former Prime Minister Omar Karami was appointed Prime Minister {Link without Title} . Lebanese in 2000. His account is quoted, but not confirmed, in the UN 's FitzGerald Report . The report stops short of directly accusing Damascus or any other party, saying that only a further thorough international inquest can identify the culprit. The Lebanese government has agreed to this inquiry, though calling for the full participation, not supremacy, of its own agencies and the respect of Lebanese sovereignty.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4383321.stm (See international reaction below.) On February 21 2005 tens of thousands of Lebanese protestors held a rally at the site of the assassination calling for an end of Syrian occupation and blaming Syria and the pro-Syrian president Emile Lahoud for the murder. In the subsequent weeks, nearly every Monday, a demonstration has been held at Beirut's Martyrs Square (also referred to by protestors as "Liberty Square"), in addition to the constant daily gathering of Lebanese there. {Link without Title} Similar demonstrations by Lebanese immigrants have also taken place in several cities across the world, including Sydney - Australia (where over 10 000 people demonstrated in the city), San Francisco , Paris , Düsseldorf , Montreal , and London . Syria 's rift with Hariri is believed to have stemmed from his opposition to the controversial Syrian-backed constitutional amendment that extended Lahoud's term as President. INTERNATIONAL REACTION Hariri's murder triggered increased international pressure on Syria. In a joint statement, U.S. President George W. Bush and French president Jacques Chirac condemned the killing and called for full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1559 , which requires the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon. At one point there seemed to be confusion about the extent to which Syria was willing to withdraw from Lebanon. Arab League head Amr Moussa declared that Syrian president Assad promised him a phased withdrawal over a two-year period, but the Syrian Information Minister Mahdi Dakhlallah said that Moussa had misunderstood the Syrian leader. Dakhlallah said that Syria will merely move its troops to eastern Lebanon. Since then, Syria has declared that Resolution 1559 will be fully complied with, and in a matter of months rather than years. On March 15 , upon hearing purportedly leaked information that the United Nations' special investigation may have found that the Lebanese authorities covered up evidence of the murder, Columnist Robert Fisk alleges that Hariri 's two sons fled Lebanon, reportedly after being warned that they too were in danger of assassination {Link without Title} . UN Secretary-General , Lebanese Foreign Minister Mahmoud Hammoud said the inquiry would be expected to work within an established framework "in co-operation with the state". {Link without Title} GOVERNMENT RESIGNS Daily protests against the Syrian occupation attracted 25,000 people. While in the 1990s most anti-Syrian demonstrations were predominantly Christian and were put down by force, the new demonstrations were distinctly non-sectarian and the government had not, to date, responded with force or intimidation {Link without Title} . On February 28 the government of pro-Syrian prime minister Omar Karami resigned, calling for a new election to take place. Karami said in his announcement: "I am keen the government will not be a hurdle in front of those who want the good for this country". The tens of thousands gathered at Beirut's Martyrs' Square cheered the announcement, then chanted "Karami has fallen, your turn will come, Lahoud, and yours, Bashar" {Link without Title} . Opposition MPs were not satisfied with only with Karami's resignation, and kept pressing for full Syrian withdrawal. Former minister and MP Marwan Hamadeh , who survived a similar car bomb attack on October 1, 2004, said "I accuse this government of incitement, negligence and shortcomings at the least, and of covering up its planning at the most... if not executing". On March 23 , Michel Abu Arraj, the Lebanese magistrate responsible for the internal Lebanese investigation of the assassination asked to be excused, citing a heavy court schedule. The Judicial Council of Lebanon is expected to rule on his request shortly {Link without Title} . His resignation and the consequent need to replace him may result in a delay in the investigation. SYRIAN REACTION On Condoleezza Rice expressed cautious optimism on signs of some Syrian withdrawals. On March 3 , Germany and Russia (Syria's Cold War ally) joined those calling for Syria to comply with Resolution 1559. German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder said: "Lebanon should be given an opportunity for sovereignty and development and this can only be achieved by complying with Security Council resolutions that stipulate immediate Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon" {Link without Title} . The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov , stated that "Syria should withdraw from Lebanon, but we all have to make sure that this withdrawal does not violate the very fragile balance which we still have in Lebanon, which is a very difficult country ethnically" {Link without Title} . On March 5 Syrian leader Assad declared in a televised speech that Syria would withdraw its forces to the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon, and then to the border between Syria and Lebanon. He did not provide a timetable for a complete withdrawal of Syrian forces from Lebanon. On the weekend of April 9 th and 10 th, on the anniversary of the ignition of the Lebanese Civil war, the last remaining Syrian troops left Lebanon, ending their 30 year presence. {Link without Title} RESPONSE FROM THE ARAB WORLD Arab states have also joined in with the withdrawal demands. As Al-Assad arrived in Saudi Arabia for emergency consultation with Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdel-Aziz , Assad was told in no uncertain terms that Syria must comply with UN Security Council demands immediately. It was reported by the opposition Lebanese newspaper ''The Daily Star'' that Assad offered to remove most of the 15,000 troops Syria has stationed in Lebanon during the talks, but insisted on leaving a force of 3,000 in the country {Link without Title} . This has not been independently corroborated. The annual Arab summit, which took place on March 23 in Algeria , did not ask Syria to withdraw, which would have given the pullback an Arab endorsement as envisaged in the 1989 Taif Agreement rather than making it dependent on Resolution 1559. Algerian Foreign Minister Abdel-Aziz Belkhadem discussed the consensus ahead of the summit, stating that "we all agreed to demand the implementation of the Taif Accord with respect to international legitimacy". Controversially, the crisis in Lebanon was not included on the agenda for the summit {Link without Title} , which almost half of the Arab leaders did not attend. PRO-SYRIAN DEMONSTRATION Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah called for a "massive popular gathering" on March 8 supporting Syria and accusing Israel and the United States of meddling in internal affairs. Nasrallah also criticized UN Resolution 1559 saying "The resistance will not give up its arms ... because Lebanon needs the resistance to defend it", and added "all the articles of U.N. resolution give free services to the Israeli enemy who should have been made accountable for his crimes and now finds that he is being rewarded for his crimes and achieves all its demands" {Link without Title} . This Beirut rally called by Hizbollah dwarfed the earlier anti-Syrian events; '''' reported a figure of 1.5 million, citing an unnamed official and the NBN television station run by the Syrian-backed militia Amal . This figure is disputed. The predominantly Shi'ite protestors held pictures of Syrian President Bashar Assad and placards reading, in English, "No for the American Intervention". A couple of media sources noted that it was likely that many of Lebanon's approximately 500,000 Syrian guest workers participated in the rally. {Link without Title} , {Link without Title} . In addition to demonstrating the extent of popular support for Syria in Lebanon, the demonstration reiterated Hezbollah's rejection of Resolution 1559, whose call for the disbanding of all Lebanese militias threatens the continued existence of its military wing, the force widely credited for the liberation of south Lebanon. Nasrallah also held demonstrations in Tripoli and Nabatiyé on 11 and 13 March. 10 days after his resignation, Omar Karami was reappointed Prime Minister and called on the opposition to participate in government until the elections slated for April 2005. On March 13 , tens of thousands protested in the southern city of Nabatiyé in support of Syria and opposition to UNSCR 1559, according to reports. The Tripoli protests were cancelled. RESURGENT COUNTER DEMONSTRATIONS On March 14 , the one-month anniversary of the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri , hundreds of thousands of confessionally diverse Lebanese, including significant numbers of Christian s, Druze , Shiite and Sunni Muslim s, rallied in central Beirut on Monday chanting "Freedom, Sovereignty, Independence" and carrying a huge Lebanese flag. They flocked from throughout the country, many unable to even enter the city due to heavy traffic. The peaceful rally was considered to be " the largest demonstration ever seen in Lebanon ", with estimations of a turnout ranging from 800,000 to more than one million; the international news media also estimated that it was considerably larger than the earlier pro-Syrian rally. The demonstration was called by the different factions of the anti-Syrian opposition (including the Hariri family and other groupings) and was trumpeted by the different private media, namely ''Future TV'', a private enterprise that is part of the huge media empire controlled by Hariri's family and the ''Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation LBCI'', generally aligned with the Lebanese Forces christian party. The demonstration occurred in Martyrs' Square, the site of Hariri's grave and a center of the newly reconstructed city rebuilt in large part through Hariri's efforts. During the Lebanese civil war, factional infighting between the groups united in Martyrs' Square had turned the area into an impassable moonscape. Indeed, Lebanese unity was an important theme of the demonstration: both a crescent and a cross were displayed on the painted faces of the protestors and their banners, and veiled women stood alongside women with bare midriffs and pierced navels. The Lebanese protestors demanded an international inquiry into Hariri's murder, the firing of Syrian-backed security chiefs in the Lebanese government, and a total Syrian pullout from Lebanon. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33571-2005Mar14.html?nav=headlines WITHDRAWAL OF SYRIAN TROOPS On on May 25. {Link without Title} WAVE OF DEMOCRACY? Both participants and observers of the Cedar Revolution demonstrations have asked if the movement was influenced by recent local and regional events supporting Democracy . Recent elections in Afghanistan , Iraq , and by the Palestinian Authority , a recent announcement that Egypt ian President Hosni Mubarak will allow multiparty elections, and recent limited municipal elections in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , as well as the Orange Revolution in Ukraine , may have provided examples of movement toward democratic governance. Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt remarked to a reporter of the '' Washington Post '', "It's strange for me to say it, but this process of change has started because of the American invasion of Iraq. I was cynical about Iraq. But when I saw the Iraqi people voting three weeks ago, 8 million of them, it was the start of a new Arab world". In this sense, the Cedar Revolution may also prove to be a Dividend of the Bush administration's global War On Terror , however, as stated previously, Jumblatts views are not entirely respected as they seem to change regularly. Indeed, Middle East Media Research Institute , a media monitoring service, recorded him saying "''The oil axis is present in most of the U.S. administration, beginning with its president, vice-president and top advisers, including {Link without Title} Rice, who is oil-colored, while the axis of Jews is present with Paul Wolfowitz, the leading hawk who is inciting (America) to occupy and destroy Iraq''". Other views maintain that Lebanese anger against perceived Syrian hegemony had been simmering for decades, and the assassination of a popular leader was the spark that gave birth to the movement, independently of foreign and regional developments. Lebanese opposition leader and newspaper columnist Samir Kassir , for example, wrote that "democracy is spreading in the region not because of George Bush but despite him." He gave far more credit to the Palestinian uprising as an inspiration to Lebanese activists. {Link without Title} Others caution that very little as actually changed, apart from the mainly "cosmetic" disappearance of Syrian Soldiers from their presence on the outskirts of Lebanese cities, and that Syrian control of Lebanese foreign affairs and trade may yet endure. Some critics argue that the rush to celebrate a supposed 'Revolution' was far too premature. {Link without Title} When Omar Karami failed to form a government, he resigned for good on April 13 , 2005 , and Elections were called for the period of May 29 through June 19 , 2005 . Saad al-Hariri formed an anti-Syrian bloc that, ultimately, won 72 of the 128 available seats in the unicameral National Assembly . SEE ALSO
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