Paramilitary Groups: Taif Accord

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Paramilitary Groups: Taif Accord

Implementations

Paramilitary Groups – 1989

Within six months of the approval of the accord in the national assembly, all militias were said to be dissolved. The accord was approved on 22 October 1989 by 58 parliament deputies (out of 62 deputies), in the course of a ceremonial meeting held in Taif. According to the agreement, all armed groups must be dissolved in early 1990.

Paramilitary Groups – 1990

Dissolution of militias was still a problem as the national unity government had not formed. Furthermore, all militia groups remained active until the Southern Lebanese Army headed by Gen. Michel Aoun was defeated in October 1990. Prime Minister Dr Salim al-Huss on October 16, 1990 emphasized that the countdown for the dissolution of the militias had begun in practice with the publication of the constitutional amendments law.[fn]”Lebanon in brief; Huss on dissolution of militias,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, October 16, 1990.[/efn_note] Nevertheless, the dissolution did not occur in 1990.

Paramilitary Groups – 1991

On December 24, 1990 that the national unity government was formed under the leadership of Umar Karami, which provided some momentum towards the dissolution of sectarian militia groups. The National Assembly ordered the dissolution of all militias by 30 April but Hezbollah was allowed to remain active and the South Lebanon Army (SLA) refused to disband.1

On 13 April 1991, it was reported that the Lebanese Forces, the Amal Movement and the Progressive Socialist Party wanted to assimilate into the Lebanese state establishments a total of more than 36,000 Lebanese military and civilian militia members. The newspapers note that the Lebanese Forces (Christian militia) submitted a list of 18,500 members, the Amal Movement 10,200 members and the PSP 8,500 members. The government officially proposed the assimilation of 16,000 members in the state’s institutions, equally divided between Muslims and Christians.”2

The hand-over of weapons belonging to the Druze Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) to Lebanese and Syrian army officials was reported by Radio Lebanon on the April 28. At the same time, it was reported that the Palestinian militias would not be an obstacle for the redeployment of the Lebanese army.3 By the deadline of April, Hezbollah had not disarmed and remained active. Some other militia groups including the PLO also remained active.

On August 26, 1991, the National Assembly granted amnesty for all crimes committed during the civil war from 1975-1990. Gen Aoun received a presidential pardon and was allowed to leave for France.4 In May 1991, the Council of Ministers decided to rehabilitate 20,000 civilian and military militia members with the option to volunteer for army and police service.5

  1. “Profile of Internal Displacement: Lebanon,”Global IDP Database, 2001, accessed April 4, 2011, http://www.idpproject.org, 9.
  2. “Lebanon in brief; Three militias announce size of forces,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, April 16, 1991.
  3. “Militias agree to disband in Lebanon; weapons’ hand-over begins,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, April 30, 1991.
  4. “Profile of Internal Displacement: Lebanon.”
  5. “Lebanon in Brief; Government plans to ”rehabilitate” 20,000 militia members,” BCC Summary of World Broadcasts, May 31, 1991.

Paramilitary Groups – 1992

While Christian and Druze militias were disbanded, Hezbollah remained operative with the backing from Iran. The Palestinians militia also remained in the refugee camps.6 The Israel militia presence also remained there.

  1. Reuven Erlich, “The Taif Accord: Its main components and implications,” 2005, accessed March 29, 2011, http://www.terrorism-info.org.il.

Paramilitary Groups – 1993

Militia groups which had non-Lebanese backing (i.e. Hezbollah and Palestinian groups especially PFLP-GC and Fatah Intifada inside Palestinian refugee camps) remained active in Lebanon and were not disarmed.

Paramilitary Groups – 1994

Militia groups which had non-Lebanese backing remained active in Lebanon and were not disarmed.

Paramilitary Groups – 1995

Militia groups which had non-Lebanese backing remained active in Lebanon and were not disarmed.

Paramilitary Groups – 1996

Militia groups which had non-Lebanese backing remained active in Lebanon and were not disarmed.

Paramilitary Groups – 1997

Militia groups which had non-Lebanese backing remained active in Lebanon and were not disarmed.