Features

April 16, 2008

Past, Present and Memory in Lebanon

Dr. Alex Boraine, ICTJ co-founder and Chairman, addressed an audience of some 300 people in Beirut, Lebanon, to mark the beginning of a seven-month long campaign "What Is to Be Done? Lebanon's war-loaded memories" organized by the Lebanese group UMAM - Documentation and Research with the support of ICTJ.

Launched to mark the 33rd anniversary of the beginning of Lebanon's civil war, the campaign seeks to promote debate about the need to re-examine the violence. That history has become increasingly relevant because of Lebanon's current political crisis and the increasing fears of a new civil war. "When you don't come to terms with your past, you'll find that there's a cupboard full of skeletons that will one day, crack open and all the skeletons will come tumbling down," Dr. Boraine said.

The opening ceremony also highlighted a photo exhibition, "Missing. Photo Exhibition in Progress," featuring portraits of 500 people who went missing during the war. Organized by UMAM - D&R, the traveling exhibit will be displayed throughout the country.

Dr. Boraine met with Prime Minister Fuad Siniora and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Culture Tarek Mitri, as well as with other political figures, parliamentarians and civil society actors. He also took part in the first workshop of the "What Is To Be Done?" project.