Lebanon: 1) Organization or group controlling the village of Gebrayel. 2) The activities of the Syrian army in this region. 3) Existence of extortion of businessmen by Syrian army or other groups
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 March 1991 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | LBN8094 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Lebanon: 1) Organization or group controlling the village of Gebrayel. 2) The activities of the Syrian army in this region. 3) Existence of extortion of businessmen by Syrian army or other groups, 1 March 1991, LBN8094, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab328c.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
1) Information on this subject is currently unavailable to the IRBDC in Ottawa.
According to an article from Reuters, there is a village named Jibrayel in the north of Lebanon in the Akkar district (16 February 1989). This source also mentioned that the district is controlled by the Syrian army (Ibid.).
2) Information on this subject is currently unavailable to the IRBDC in Ottawa.
3) According to an article in Le Point, during the operations against Gen. Michel Aoun on October 1990 the Syrian army and its militia allies systematically robbed houses and the Baabda Palace (22 oct. 1990). Goods like furniture, stereos, televisions, money, jewellery, electrical appliances, cars, etc. were taken away (Ibid.). In two different issues, l'Express also reported looting activities as the Syrians and its militias advanced into East Beyrouth (2 Nov. 1990,; 26 Oct. 1990, 13). This information is corroborated by Middle East Watch in a report on Human Rights in Syria (September 1990, 53). This organization reported that
"Plunder by Syrian security personnel in Lebanon is especially common, with apartments, furniture, and automobiles...Lebanese sometimes refer to Rif'at (President Assad's brother) as "King of the Oriental Carpets" because of his reputation for confiscating these prized objects, sometimes with the help of his personal Lebanese militia, the Fursan al-Arab (Arab Knights), often known as the "Pink Panthers"" (Ibid.).
Bibliography
Pautard, André, « Liban : le contrat syrien », L'Express, 2 November 1990.
, « Main basse sur le Liban », L'Express, 26 October 1990.
Beylau, Pierre, « Le Liban sacrifié », Le Point, 22 October 1990.
Human Rights in Syria, Middle East Watch, September 1990.
"Gunmen Kill an American Woman in Northern Lebanon", Reuters, 16 February, 1989.