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Hamade: No links to illegal Internet firm
BEIRUT, Aug 19, 2009 (The Daily Star - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
Democratic Gathering bloc MP Marwan Hamade denied Tuesday media reports of having links to the Barouq Internet company, which reportedly has ties with Israel, or to any other illegitimate Internet businesses. Hamade also accused the Telecommunications Ministry of failing to announce the outcome of ongoing investigations into the case.
Lebanon's Prosecutor General last week ordered the closure of the Internet firm, whose name has not been disclosed, based in the Chouf Mountains, after it was found to have links to Israel.
Troops from the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) raided the company offices in Barouk last week and discovered its server was wired to a satellite pointing toward Israel.
Officials discovered the equipment connected to an Internet company that distributes Internet lines in the region, including Lebanon, through Israel. Subsequent interrogations of employees also pointed to an Israeli link, As-Safir newspaper reported, citing unidentified sources. Several government institutions are reportedly subscribed with the company.
Opposition media, namely Al-Akhbar newspaper, accused Hamade Tuesday of granting a license to the Internet company in 2006.
Al-Akhbar also said the Internet firm was able to "track the mail of several departments in the Presidential Palace, the Defense Ministry and the residences of several politicians."
Hamade called on security and judicial authorities to disclose the details and the names of the suspects, "who are too close to the opposition and too far from us," in reference to the March 14 Forces.
Hamade said it was "pathetic" that those hurling accusations were the ones responsible for Internet trafficking. He said he had not granted any licenses to Internet firms when he had been telecom minister, warning that if the probe's outcome were not announced, he would sue those who had accused him.
Over the weekend, Future Movement MP Ammar Houry told various media outlets the firm's manager was a supporter of Christian opposition group the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) and was "very close to them, particularly to one party belonging to this bloc."
Caretaker Telecommunications Minister Gebran Bassil was quick to refute the news.
Houry also alleged the company was established during Emile Lahoud's presidency, and that it had been allowed to reopen for business after two days.
Hizbullah's Al-Manar TV last week alleged the Israeli connection was first unearthed in April, but said intervention from a large political party had prevented an earlier raid. There may be several other firms in Lebanon that are violating the law banning contact with Israel, unidentified sources told As-Safir.
Beirut remains in a state of war with Tel Aviv, and Lebanese citizens are forbidden from having contact with Israelis or from visiting Israel. Lebanon has arrested dozens of people since January on suspicion of spying for Israel in a high profile campaign to dismantle espionage cells. -- The Daily Star
To see more of the Daily Star, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to
http://www.dailystar.com.lb. Copyright (c) 2009, The Daily Star, Beirut, Lebanon
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