LEBANON: SPOKESMAN FOR DAMOUR REFUGEES SAYS THEY WILL NOT RETURN TO THE TOWN UNLESS LEBANESE STATE AUTHORITY IS RESTORES.

Record ID: 274872

  • Title: LEBANON: SPOKESMAN FOR DAMOUR REFUGEES SAYS THEY WILL NOT RETURN TO THE TOWN UNLESS LEBANESE STATE AUTHORITY IS RESTORES.
  • Date: 5th February 1976
  • Summary: 1. SV ZOOM IN TO CU MR. ANTOINE SHWERI READING STATEMENT IN ARABIC. 1.12 Initials RH/ Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 20th February 1976 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BEIRUT, LEBANON
  • Country: Lebanon
  • Reuters ID: LVADJG14NDA5K874CUZBJJZEQNEQ
  • Story Text: A Spokesman for the 15,000 Lebanese Christians who fled the coastal town of Damour when it was taken by left wing forces in January has said they will nor return unless Lebanese State Authority is restored. The town is at present being policed by Moslem Palestine Liberation Army units from Syria.

    The spokesman Mr. Antoine Shweri was addressing a news conference in the Beirut Headquarters of the right wing National Liberal Party on Tuesday 3 February.

    The fate of the refugees, who escaped by sea to Jounieh, a Christian haven north of Beirut, will be a test of whether Lebanon is heading for virtual partition between Christian and Moslem regions.

    Damour is on the coastal highway from Beirut southwards to Sidon. If its Christian inhabitants feel unable to return and remain refugees in their own country, the whole region will become largely Moslem. The last ceasefire in the nine month old Lebanese civil war had held for 14 days on Thursday (5 February).

    Political leaders of every persuasion have proclaimed publicly that they are opposed to partition, but Interior Minister Camille Chamoun has admitted in an interview that if fighting breaks out again there will be no other solution.

    The film shows the Damour Christians' spokesman Mr. Antcine Shweri reading part of his statement in arabic.

    SYNOPSIS: In the Lebanese capital Beirut on Tuesday a spokesman for the fifteen Thousand Christians who fled the coastal town of Damour when it was taken by left wing forces in January gave a news conference. Speaking at the right wing National Liberal party headquarters, Mr. Antoine Shweri read a statement saying that the Christians who had escaped from Damour had decided not to return unless Lebanese State Authority was returned to the town. At present the town is being policed by Moslem Palestinian Liberation Army Units from Syria.

    The fate of the refugees who escaped by sea to Jounieh, a Christian haven to the north of Beirut, will be a test of whether Lebanon is heading for virtual partition between Christian and Moslem regions. Political leaders of every persuasion have proclaimed publicly that they are opposed to partition but Interior Minister Camille Chamoun has admitted in an interview that if the fighting breaks out again there will be not other solution.
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