were Christian. If his assertion is true, what is the basis in law for such a requirement? Further, what is the religious diversity “formula” that the government has imposed upon shareholders of individual stations? Ownership of Licensed Television and Radio Stations Who are the principal shareholders of the Lebanese Television Company (LTV)? What percent of LTV's shares are owned by the government, and what percent by Prime Minister Hariri? We would also appreciate information concerning the principal shareholders of the four licensed television stations (Future Television, Murr Television, the Lebanese Broadcasting Company International, and National Broadcasting Network) and Category 1 radio stations (Radio Orient, Radio Free Lebanon, and National Broadcasting Network radio). The Grace Period for Closure of Unlicensed Stations In September 1996, the minister of information announced that all unlicensed television and radio stations had to liquidate their assets and close by November 30, 1996. We also understand that stations which were denied licenses were given until the end of November 1996 to submit new applications that addressed deficiences noted by the NCVAM. We have the following questions about the status of this process: 1. What radio and television stations submitted new applications prior to the end of November? 2. What are the steps in the review of these applications? 3. When is a decision by the Council of Ministers expected? 4. What is the government's timetable for closure of the stations that remain unlicensed after this period? I would appreciate an opportunity to discuss these issues with you, or other relevant officials, at the embassy during the coming week and shall telephone your office tomorrow to arrange a mutually convenient time for a meeting. Given our anticipated schedule for the publication of this report, I hope that you will be able to forward this letter to the appropriate government officials in Beirut, and convey to them our organization's wish for their detailed written comments. As indicated above, we will incorporate in our report pertinent comments received by January 24, 1997. I thank you in advance for your cooperation and assistance. Sincerely yours, Eric Goldstein Acting Executive Director August 7, 1996 His Excellency Michel al-Murr Minister of Interior Ministry of Interior Beirut, Lebanon via fax and post Your Excellency, Human Rights Watch/Middle East is writing to express its concern and seek your clarifications about practices that have prevented Lebanese citizens from exercising fully the right to freedom of association. According to information we have received, the Ministry of Interior has refused to accept the registration documents submitted to it by certain associations that have been recently set up pursuant to the requirements of the law. The resulting uncertain legal status of these groups leaves them vulnerable to accusations of operating illegally as secret societies, despite their good-faith intentions to comply with the letter of the law. Among other consequences, this no doubt deters many would-be volunteers from joining these groups. The most recent example is the Lebanese Association for the Democracy of Elections (LADE), which was formed earlier this year to monitor the upcoming parliamentary elections and the electoral process leading up to the elections. The founding members of the association included lawyers, journalists, academics, and other well-known figures. The secretary-general of LADE is Paul Salem, who directs the internationally known Lebanese Center for Policy Studies, which is based in Beirut. Pursuant to the associations law, LADE prepared materials for submission to the Ministry of Interior, including its articles of incorporation, the names and identity documents of the founding members, and a copy of the minutes of the group's first meeting, held in March 1996, at which officers and a twelve-member steering committee were elected. On April 6, 1996, Sami Shoucair, the responsible official at the Ministry of Interior, refused to accept these documents and issue the customary receipt and registration number to the association. On April 10, LADE attempted to send the documents to the ministry via a notary public, a procedure which requires delivery by a representative of the Ministry of Justice. The Interior Ministry again refused to accept the documents and, according to our information, forced the Justice Ministry's representative to leave the premises with the documents. LADE then notified Your Excellency in writing that the association's documents were on file at a notary public's office in Beirut and provided the address of this office. The group also publicly announced its formation at a press conference. BRUSSELS HONG KONG LONDON LOS ANGELES MOSCOW NEW YORK RIO DE JANEIRO WASHINGTON Human Rights Watch Letter to His Excellency Michel al-Murr Human Rights Watch/Middle East is deeply concerned about what appears to be attempts by your ministry to thwart the legal registration of LADE by refusing to accept its papers. It is our understanding that Lebanese law does not require an independent association to obtain the government's authorization. Citizens are required only to inform the Ministry of Interior about the establishment of a new group by submitting the required documentation to the ministry. Upon receiving such documentation, the ministry should issue a receipt and a registration number, after which the association may begin its activities. In the case of LADE, not only did the ministry refuse to accept the group's documents--both from the group itself and from a representative of another government ministry-but also it informed LADE on two occasions that the association would be considered an illegal secret society if it carried out its planned activities, and on July 8 stated publicly that the association should bring its activities to a halt. In the view of Human Rights Watch, the actions of the Ministry of Interior constitute unwarranted arbitrary interference with freedom of association, a right guaranteed under Lebanese and international human rights law. Our concern is heightened by evidence suggesting the actions against LADE do not represent an isolated case. We are in the process of documenting other cases in which the Ministry of Interior refused to issue a registration number to a citizens' group that submitted its documents (in 1995); and attempted to pressure a newly formed human rights group to change its by-laws (also in 1995); and refused to accept papers from a group that had changed its name (in 1996). A Lebanese lawyer closely involved with freedom of association issues recently confirmed to us that there has been a pattern of interference over the last two or three years, involving in particular the refusal of the Ministry of Interior to issue to receipts to newly formed associations. Human Rights Watch intends to follow the LADE case closely and share our information with other international human rights organizations. The association has repeatedly but unsuccessfully attempted to notify the Ministry of Interior of its formation, pursuant to the procedures specified by law. We fail to see the justification for refusing to accept LADE's papers and for characterizing it as a secret society. We urge Your Excellency to take immediate steps to rectify the situation and accept the documentation that LADE has attempted to provide to your ministry. Human Rights Watch/Middle East further urges Your Excellency to take measures to ensure that other Lebanese citizens are not arbitrarily obstructed in their efforts to form independent associations pursuant to Lebanese law. If registration is required by law, responsible officials in the Ministry of Interior should be instructed to accept the documents submitted by such groups and issue Human Rights Watch Letter to His Excellency Michel al-Murr the necessary receipts and registration numbers in a timely manner. Thank you for your consideration of this important issue. We await any comments or clarification that you may wish to provide, which we shall include in any subsequent material that we publish about freedom of association in Lebanon. Sincerely yours, /original signed/ Eric Goldstein Acting Executive Director cc: His Excellency Rafik Hariri, Prime Minister of Lebanon His Excellency Riad Tabbarah, Ambassador of Lebanon to the United States ADVISORY COMMITTEE Gary G. Sick Lisa Anderson Vice Chairs Shaul Bakhash M. Cherif Bassiouni Edith Everett Mansour Farhang Rita E. Hauser Rev. J. Bryan Hehir Marina Pinto Kaufman Judith Kipper Pnina Lahav BY FACSIMILE (202-939-6324) AND FEDERAL EXPRESS March 1, 1996 His Excellency Rafiq al-Hariri Prime Minister of Lebanon 2560 28th Street, N.W. Your Excellency: Human Rights Watch/Middle East (formerly Middle East Watch) is deeply concerned about the actions taken by your government yesterday to prevent Lebanese citizens from exercising the internationally recognized right to peaceful assembly. We protest in strong terms the military curfew that went into effect in Beirut and other major cities at 3:00 a.m., confining most citizens to their homes "until further notice." The curfew, and the massive deployment of heavily armed soldiers on foot and in vehicles, prevented citizens from participating in peaceful protest demonstrations that had been planned in coordination with a one-day general strike called for February 29. The curfew was accompanied by excessive and clearly intimidating displays of military force across the country. The army later announced the lifting of the curfew at 2:00 p.m., although armed troops remained on the streets, "patrolling and manning checkpoints," according to press reports. The imposition of the eleven-hour curfew thwarted the efforts of the General Labor Confederation (CGTL), one of the major nongovernmental organizations in Lebanon, to organize citizens to make clear their views on February 29 about issues ranging from economic policies to restrictions on freedom of expression. The actions taken yesterday set a disturbing and dangerous precedent. The imposition of the curfew, and the use of heavily armed soldiers to enforce it, illustrate a clear intention of the state to restrict peaceful dissent, by force if necessary. The one-day general strike and protest demonstrations were proposed and adopted at an opposition congress of trade unionists, political parties and student groups, held in Beirut on February 7. "The national meeting declares February 29 a national day for defending freedoms and daily bread," a spokesman at the |