Collaborator security chief gives himself up to Lebanese authorities

“ A man who had been a senior security official in the now-defunct “Israeli” proxy militia in south Lebanon gave himself up to Lebanese authorities Wednesday, police said.

Fouad Habani, 65, who had been security chief for the South Lebanon Army (SLA) in the Marjayoun-Qlaiaa sector, and his wife, Mariam Fares, crossed the border from “Israel” at Naqoura. They were met by officials of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon and taken to a Lebanese army post.

Fouad and his wife were among the some 6,500 former members of the SLA and family members who, fearing reprisals, fled to “Israel” in May 2000 following the “Israeli” withdrawal from southern Lebanon after a 22-year-occupation.

Many of these people have complained about their living conditions in “Israel”, and some have returned home.

A Beirut military court began trying people for collaborating with the "“Israeli” enemy" only 10 days after the “Israeli” pullout, and more than 2,600 people have gone before the tribunal.

So far, 31 have been sentenced to death, all of them in absentia, and many other sent to jail.

 AFP, 20-6-2001.