Source: Al-Manar, 18-02-2008
Three years have passed since the formation of the International Independent Investigation Commission (IIIC) into the assassination of Former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and the spree of assassinations that ensued. Three years were more than enough to transform the investigation into a medium to be explicitly exploited by some for personal ends.
As investigations are drawing to an end, more scandals are uncovered day after day. It's in this context that Rafi Madayan, (IIIC) witness, former February 14 member and son of Former Communist Party martyr Georges Hawi, unveiled information that would torpedo the whole of the theory on which political diversions were based since Hariri's murder.
He presented what he said were facts about an IIIC shadow investigation room linked to the "Israeli" Mossad.
"The IIIC was formed and it was first headed by Detlev Mehlis as recommended by Senior French Judge Jean-Louis Bruguière who was an anti-terrorism specialist. He was very close to the US and 'Israeli' intelligence. In 1998, and upon an 'Israeli' Mossad request, he ordered the arrest of Dr. George Habash while in hospital," Madayan said. He added that Bruguière officially follows up the investigation into the assassination of Lebanese journalist Samir Kassir, "however he constitutes the shadow investigation panel and he's considered to be the mastermind for the IIIC, assisted by a specialized team, namely Colonel Serge Dumont, who paid me a visit a couple of years ago." Madayan reveals the essence of his talks with this French officer and his ties with the CIA and some Lebanese sides via a retired Lebanese army officer.
"I had met this Lebanese officer, and he told me that he has ties with the CIA and French intelligence and that he enjoys special ties with (MP) Walid Jumblatt and (Communication Minister) Marwan Hmedeh," he said.
According to Madayan, the main mission of the room was to set up fake testimonies and fabricate witnesses who could support the theory of a Lebanese - Syrian security regime involvement in Hariri's assassination.
"Dumont told me frankly that he doesn't have direct and tangible proof against Syrian intelligence. He acknowledged, however, that they are attempting to search for confirmations or warrants through false evidence in order to denounce the regime", Madayan said and called to go back to the famous testimonies of Mohamed Zouheir Saddik and 'the masked witness' Houssam Houssam and how they were fabricated to delude the investigation.
He pointed out the Saddik's testimony in France was written by one of the Lebanese Information France's senior officers.
Anyway, this is not everything. Madayan asserted that he has other information proving an involvement of "Israeli" Mossad in the assassination of his father.
Moreover, he said there were obvious evidence to implicate "Israel" in the assassination of Lebanese figures.
He charged that the Lebanese side within the IIIC was doing its best to hide all actual evidence that might out the probe on the right track. Madayan said that an important security officer has admitted in meetings with him he has proofs of some extremist groups' involvement in Hariri's assassination.
Hence, three years have passed and the 'truth' is still the number one slogan exploited in political campaigns. Politicization on the other hand might be the basic feature of this commission since its establishment until today amid skepticism that the IIIC investigation panel that will become the prosecution in the future tribunal into the Hariri murder would reveal the truth, at least most of it.