My comments

Lebanon, Jordan and America

You're still reading my comments on point 5*

A final note on Mr. Aljamal's statement concerning Lebanon not being a signatory to the UN51 convention and his attempts to blame Lebanon for our problems. I have given you many details and examples of the situation in Lebanon and Jordan. In doing so, I have tried to show you the truth behind the reasons for our problems as refugees living in Lebanon.

I have proven that our problems weren't caused by Lebanon not signing the convention. The last proof I list in this book is that the three countries mentioned; Lebanon, Jordan and America; aren't signatories to the UN51 convention! Not only did Lebanon not sign, but also neither did Jordan nor the United States. A fact ignored by the UNHCR and Mr. Aljamal. The USA is not only the major financial contributor to the UNHCR, but also has the biggest resettlement program in the world for refugees. Could Mr. Aljamal tell us what he thinks about the USA not being a signatory state to the convention? Maybe he thinks that the problems of the refugees in the world are because the USA didn't sign the convention.

Please see the table of Signatories and Non signatories states saved in this ebook or download the table from the UNHCR's website. Notice that USA has (P) which means; Signatory to the Protocol only.

The strange thing is Jordan, because even when Jordan didn't sign the convention, the UNHCR accepted the conditions of the Jordanian government in 1998 to solve the problems of the refugees within 6 months! While the same UNHCR refused to accept the conditions of the Lebanese government to solve the problem of the refugees within one year!!! Neither country signed the convention! I hope the UNHCR has a logical explanation for their behavior

My friend, the key to solving our problems, as refugees is "cooperation"; not obligations imposed on the governments or any other party to these problems. Signing, or not signing, the convention will make no difference without international cooperation. In Jordan, the UNHCR cooperated well with the government and reached an agreement to provide protection for refugees in Jordan for a limited period of time (6 months for each refugee). The government of Jordan attached conditions on that protection and the conditions were accepted by the UNHCR! The UNHCR has refused the same request by Lebanon, which has a longer time frame (one year)! The question is: If Jordan or Lebanon signed the convention, do they have the right to put conditions on the UNHCR to work on their territories and on the refugees? The answer is: Yes!

They'll have all the rights to ask the UNHCR and the refugees to respect the country laws and regulations according to these articles in the convention:

CHAPTER I: GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 2

GENERAL OBLIGATIONS

Every refugee has duties to the country in which he finds himself, which

require in particular that he conform to its laws and regulations as well as

to measures taken for the maintenance of public order.

CHAPTER II: Juridical Status

Article 12

PERSONAL STATUS

1. The personal status of a refugee shall be governed by the law of the

country of his domicile or, if he has no domicile, by the law of the country

of his residence.

CHAPTER VII: FINAL CLAUSES

Article 44

DENUNCIATION

1. Any Contracting State may denounce this Convention at any time by

a notification addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

2 . Such denunciation shall take effect for the Contracting State concerned

one year from the date upon which it is received by the Secretary-

General of the United Nations.

3 . Any State which has made a declaration or notification under article

40 may, at any time thereafter, by a notification to the Secretary-General

of the United Nations, declare that the Convention shall cease to extend

to such territory one year after the date of receipt of the notification by

the Secretary-General.

Article 45

REVISION

1. Any Contracting State may request revision of this Convention at

any time by a notification addressed to the Secretary-General of the

United Nations.

2 . The General Assembly of the United Nations shall recommend the

There is more in the convention but I think what I listed here is enough. For more you can read the convention in this ebook or you can download it from UNHCR's site, also you can contact the UNHCR and ask them about that important point. Of course no government in the world will agree to put the refugees above the laws and regulations of the country therefore all the signatory states have its own laws and regulation to deal with refugees (like we saw in Australia). Jordan did that and enforced the UNHCR to respect its regulations, but Lebanon is still trying that! Lebanon wanted more cooperation from the UNHCR and the other governments in the world, but unfortunately Lebanon found nothing of that the same as the refugees! Lebanon as a civilized country respect its laws and Lebanon expect the others (if they're civilized) to respect its if they live and work on its territories.

Our problems as refugees living in Lebanon were the result of the failure by UNHCR to provide cooperation between the government of Lebanon and the other countries. In simple words, it was the ignorance that the UNHCR practiced concerning our situation in the past 10 years! I think you understand now what the real reasons for our problems were. The UNHCR got benefits and we paid with our lives, blood and pain. We have suffered much! That sorrow continues now! I hope one day we will be able to put an end to the pain and suffering and stop those who are working for UNHCR from using our pain and suffering to gain benefits!!!

This speech has been my commentary on the announcement by Mr. Aljamal concerning the government of Lebanon 5*. I would just like to ask him: What do you expect the government of Lebanon to do to solve our problems? Why have you refused the Lebanese offer to give the refugees legal residence for one year when you accepted the same offer from the Jordanians for a period of 6 months?

If Mr. Aljamal or any one else in UNHCR would answer me, I’d be happy and maybe I wouldn’t need to write this book and to lose all this time. But unfortunately he and the entire UNHCR refused to answer any question of mine. My hope is that if you care about refugees and human rights then you will ask him, or any one in the UNHCR, these questions. This is one of your rights as humans and members of the community. Questioning those in charge is an important practice of the alleged democracy in the world! We as refugees would like to see that there is some democracy and respect for human rights. Or has everything “gone with the wind”? You can reach Mr. Aljamal via email: lebbe@unhcr.ch