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Memory and Creation / Lebanon

Chronology / 1990

51 events in 1990

General Michel Aoun admits the existence, in France, of a bank account in his name, with the amount of 15 million dollars. However, he explains that this money is only used for the defense of his country.

After having spent 43 days in the military casern of Ablah, President Elias Hraoui leaves the Bekaa and settles in Ramlet-el-Beida. The photographer of L'Orient-Le Jour and the Nahar, Georges Semerdjian dies while on the field.

Fights opposing the Lebanese Forces and General Aoun’s army were reported and deprived certain regions of electricity, phone, and water.

February 3, 4 The army takes control of Dbayeh after a tough battle.

New dividing lines appeared in the Eastern region and the medias war raged. Hospitals suffered from a serious penury and the Lebanese continued to flee by thousands. That week, 417 were killed and 1,655 wounded.

The Kesrouan was now at the center of the Aoun-Geagea conflict. Despite all mediations and attempts to maintain the precarious truce, belligerents were fighting on the new front of Daraya, separating the Metn and the Kesrouan.

Despite Mgr Sfeir's pathetic call, a blaze of fire hits the 'Christian country'. The army takes control of Ain el Remmaneh.

The Army evacuates 400 soldiers from the Adma base, surrounded for over two weeks. The evacuation takes place with the assistance of the Lebanese Red Cross.

The Baroness, a civilian ship transporting passengers from Cyprus to the Eastern regions, is attacked resulting in 1 death and 25 injured. The attackers remain unidentified and the liaison between Jounieh and Larnaca is temporarily interrupted.

The Maronite Patriarch threatens to excommunicate Aoun and Geagea, as well as those how obey them, if they continue their fightings. The threat will remain vain despite its reiteration.

Six weeks of inter-Christian fightings cost Lebanon over a third of its annual GNP and continue to paralyze the country's industrial heart.

The parliament meets for the first time since 1975, Place de l'Etoile, in a downtown abandoned and devastated by war.

Pastor William Robinson who was accused of planning the implantation of a Jewish colony and who was expelled from Lebanon, is killed on the bordering band in the South of Lebanon.

The battle on the ground starts again with violence and reaches, besides regions of the Kesrouan, Achrafieh's neighborhoods.

Deputies who have left the country return on request of Hussein Husseini, Chief of the Parliament.

The chief of the Lebanese Forces, Samir Geagea, joins President Hraoui, while General Michel Aoun turns to the Arab Troika. At the same time, the N.L.P. withdraws from the commandment of the Lebanese Forces.

Jacqueline Valente, her companion and her daughter who were held hostages are released. The new Lebanese Front is created.

A bus crossing the Museum passage with teachers and students onboard was shot at. The eleven passengers including the two students were burned alive.

While the blockade war rages between the Lebanese Army and the Lebanese Forces, the President of the Republic declines Geagea's offer to surrender to him the barracks of Jbeil and the Kesrouan.

After having been stable around 500 LBP., the Dollar goes over 600 LBP.

General Aoun decides to close all the roads communicating with the regions controlled by the Lebanese Forces while the battle continues to rage.

Lakhdar Ibrahimi is again in Beirut to launch a series of intensive dialogues.

A peaceful walk on the road of Nahr el Kalb, grouping religious personalities ends dramatically. Pierre Chbat, the L.B.C's cameraman, is killed.

Patriarch Sfeir, accompanied by Mgr Puente, visit President Hraoui. This visit is the first one since the election of the former.

Lakhdar Ibrahimi met, for the first time since the Taef agreement, with General Michel Aoun, after having conferred with Presidents Hraoui, Husseini and Hoss. Later on, he met with the chief of the Lebanese Forces, Samir Geagea.

The Stone Roses, a rock group, announce their arrival shortly to Beirut for a concert.

An investigation reveals that an international arms trade has taken place between Lebanon and France, through policemen stationed at the French Embassy in Lebanon.

Five cases of cholera were reported.

The President of the National Block Executive Committee, Nouhad Boueiz, dies.

The second Lebanese Republic was born and the National Assembly approved with a majority of 48 deputies the constitutional reforms included in the Taef agreement. However, General Aoun continued to contest the legality of the Chamber.

A reajustment of wages of 40% is decided in the bank sector.

The economic crisis is in full swing and the dollar continues its rise. It will reach 1.000 LBP. soon.

7 deaths due to cholera are reported in Northern Lebanon.

The blockade against the Eastern region gets tougher and tougher. The goal is proclaimed: force General Aoun to give up before schools reopen.

A pacific demonstration in favor of General Aoun on the bridge of Nahr-el-Mot, ends by a slaughter: 12 deaths and 50 wounded.

Last minute efforts were deployed to avoid a military operation against Baabda and the Eastern regions controlled by General Aoun. Besides, a two kilometers long peace walk on the Kfarchima-Choueifat road grouped 1,000 persons protesting against the blockade.

A quick operation following a bombardment by the Syrian aviation permitted to the Lebanese army loyal to the Hoss government to take control of the Baabda palace and Yarze. General Aoun capitulated to avoid bloody fights and took refuge at the French embassy. Fights, according to some estimates, cause 700 deaths.

President Mitterand affirms the he will not hand over General Aoun, arguing that 'It is a question of honor'.

While Hraoui and Assad examine the developments following Aoun's departure, the Lebanese Army takes in charge the positions of Amal and Hezbollah in Chiyah.

The leader of the National Liberal Party, Dany Chamoun, his wife Ingrid and his two kids Tarek and Julian were savagely assassinated in there home in Baabda.