Cedar Revolution facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cedar Revolution |
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Cedar Revolution Demonstrations in Lebanon triggered by the assassination of the former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri.
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| Date | 14 February – 27 April 2005 | ||
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| Caused by | The assassination of the former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri | ||
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| Resulted in | Victory of the anti-Syrian coalition | ||
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| Popular mottos of the movement were Hurriyye, Siyede, Istiqlel (Freedom, Sovereignty, Independence), and Haqiqa, Hurriyye, Wehde wataniyye (Truth, Freedom, National unity) | |||
The Cedar Revolution (which means "Cedar Uprising" in Arabic) was a series of peaceful protests in Lebanon. These demonstrations mainly happened in the capital city of Beirut. They started after the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri.
The main goals of the people protesting were to get Syrian troops to leave Lebanon. Syria had been in Lebanon since 1976. Protesters also wanted a new government that was not controlled by Syria. They asked for an international investigation into Hariri's death. They also wanted fair elections for their parliament.
At the time, Syria had about 14,000 soldiers and intelligence agents in Lebanon. After the protests, all Syrian troops left Lebanon by April 27, 2005. The government that was close to Syria also resigned. New elections were held, and an international court was set up to investigate Hariri's assassination. This meant that the main goals of the revolution were achieved.
People protesting often wore white-and-red scarves or blue ribbons. Their most famous slogan was Hurriyyeh, Siyedeh, Istiqlel, which means "Freedom, Sovereignty, Independence."
Contents
- What the Cedar Revolution Wanted
- How the Revolution Got Its Name
- Groups Involved in the Protests
- Why the Protests Started
- Government Changes
- International Response
- Syria's Response
- Pro-Syrian Demonstrations
- Return of Counter-Demonstrations
- Syrian Troops Leave Lebanon
- A Wave of Democracy?
- Anniversaries of the Revolution
- See also
- Images for kids
What the Cedar Revolution Wanted
The main goal of the Cedar Revolution was to end Syria's military presence in Lebanon. This presence had lasted for about 30 years. Many Lebanese also wanted former president Michel Aoun to return from exile. They also called for the release of Samir Geagea, a leader who had been in prison.
Other important goals of the revolution included:
- Getting rid of the government that supported Syria.
- Removing top security officials in Lebanon.
- Finding out who was responsible for Rafic Hariri's assassination.
- Having free and fair parliamentary elections in 2005. These elections were to be held without any interference from Syria.
How the Revolution Got Its Name
The name "Cedar Revolution" was first used by a U.S. official named Paula J. Dobriansky. She compared it to other peaceful movements like the Rose Revolution in Georgia and the Orange Revolution in Ukraine.
Other names for the movement included "Cedar Spring" or "Lebanon Spring." These names referred to the season when the protests began. They also hinted at other famous freedom movements like the Prague Spring. Local news channels called it "Lebanon Independence" or "Independence 05."
The word "Cedar" refers to the Lebanon Cedar, a special tree. This tree is a national symbol and is shown on the flag of Lebanon.
Groups Involved in the Protests
Many different groups and political parties took part in the Cedar Revolution. They worked together to achieve their goals.
Civilian Groups and Organizations
- Qornet Shehwan Gathering: A group of Christian Lebanese politicians.
- Democratic Forum: A group of politicians from different backgrounds.
- Citizens for a Free Lebanon: A non-governmental organization.
- The Center for Democracy in Lebanon: A group started by ordinary people.
- The Global Organization of Democratic Believers: A volunteer group of people from various religions.
Main Political Parties
Many political parties joined the revolution. Here are some of them:
- Democratic Renewal Movement: A movement with members from different religions. Its leader was Nassib Lahoud.
- Democratic Left: Another multi-religious movement led by Elias Atallah.
- Free Patriotic Movement: Led by Michel Aoun, who was one of the first to demand Syria's withdrawal.
- Future Movement: A Muslim Sunni movement led by Saad Hariri, Rafic Hariri's son.
- Lebanese Forces: A Christian party led by Samir Geagea.
- Lebanese National Bloc: A Christian party led by Carlos Eddé.
- National Liberal Party: A Christian party led by Dory Chamoun.
- Phalangist Party: A Christian party led by Amin Gemayel, a former President.
- Progressive Socialist Party: A Druze party led by Walid Jumblat.
- Armenian Democratic Liberal Party and Social Democrat Hunchakian Party: Armenian parties that also participated.
Why the Protests Started
Earlier Protests in 2001
Before the Cedar Revolution, there was an anti-Syrian protest in Lebanon on August 7, 2001. This protest became violent when security forces tried to stop it. Many young activists were arrested without good reason. They were beaten and arrested in front of the Justice Palace in Beirut.
Assassination of Rafic Hariri
On February 14, 2005, former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri was killed. A truck bomb exploded, killing 21 people and injuring nearly 100. This attack caused huge protests and brought many Lebanese people together. It was the second such attack in a few months. Earlier, former minister Marwan Hamadeh had survived a car bomb attack.
Many people blamed the Syrian government for the murder. This was because Syria had a lot of military and intelligence influence in Lebanon. Also, Hariri and Syria had disagreed publicly before he resigned in 2004.
Lebanese leader Walid Jumblatt said that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had threatened Hariri in 2004. He claimed Assad said, "Lahoud is me. ... If you and Chirac want me out of Lebanon, I will break Lebanon." Jumblatt felt this was a death threat. The United States, the EU, and the UN called for Syria to leave Lebanon. They also demanded an international investigation into the assassination.
On February 21, 2005, thousands of Lebanese protesters gathered where Hariri was killed. They demanded an end to Syria's presence and blamed Syria and the pro-Syrian president for the murder. For weeks, protests were held every Monday at Beirut's Martyrs' Square.
Lebanese people living abroad also held similar protests. These took place in cities like Sydney, San Francisco, Paris, and London.
Government Changes
Daily protests against Syria's influence grew, attracting many people. Unlike earlier protests, these were not just from one religious group. The government did not use force to stop them.
On February 28, the pro-Syrian Prime Minister Omar Karami resigned. He called for new elections. The protesters cheered and chanted, "Karami has fallen, your turn will come, Lahoud, and yours, Bashar."
Opposition members were not satisfied with just Karami's resignation. They continued to demand that Syria completely leave Lebanon.
International Response
Hariri's murder led to more international pressure on Syria. U.S. President George W. Bush and French President Jacques Chirac condemned the killing. They called for Syria to follow UN Security Council Resolution 1559. This resolution required Syrian troops to leave Lebanon.
There was some confusion about how much Syria would withdraw. Syria later stated it would fully follow Resolution 1559 within months.
The UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan sent a team to investigate the assassination. The team found that the Lebanese government's investigation was flawed. The report also said Syria's presence in Lebanon added to the instability. The Lebanese government agreed to a more thorough international inquiry.
Syria's Response
On March 2, 2005, Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad announced that his troops would leave Lebanon "in the next few months." Opposition leaders wanted a clearer timeline.
On March 3, Germany and Russia also called for Syria to follow Resolution 1559. German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder said Lebanon should have its own freedom. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov agreed but warned against upsetting the balance in Lebanon.
On March 5, Assad said Syria would move its forces to eastern Lebanon. He did not give a date for a full withdrawal.
By April 9 and 10, the last Syrian troops left Lebanon. This ended their 30-year presence.
Pro-Syrian Demonstrations
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah called for a large gathering on March 8. This demonstration supported Syria. It also accused Israel and the United States of interfering in Lebanon. Nasrallah criticized UN Resolution 1559, saying it would weaken Lebanon's defense.
News agencies estimated the crowd at hundreds of thousands, with some reports even higher. Many Syrian workers in Lebanon likely joined the rally. The demonstration showed strong support for Syria among some groups. It also repeated Hezbollah's rejection of Resolution 1559.
Ten days after resigning, Omar Karami was reappointed prime minister. He asked the opposition to join the government until the elections.
Return of Counter-Demonstrations
On March 14, one month after Hariri's assassination, hundreds of thousands of Lebanese gathered in central Beirut. They chanted "Freedom, Sovereignty, Independence." Many came from all over the country. The protest was organized by anti-Syrian groups and supported by private media.
The demonstration took place in Martyrs' Square, where Hariri was buried. This area had been badly damaged during the Lebanese civil war.
The Lebanese protesters demanded an international investigation into Hariri's murder. They also wanted Syrian-backed security chiefs removed from the Lebanese government. Most importantly, they called for a complete Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon.
Syrian Troops Leave Lebanon
On April 26, 2005, international news reported that the last Syrian troops and intelligence agents had left Lebanon. The Syrian government officially told the United Nations that it had withdrawn its troops. This was in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1559.
On April 27, 2005, the Lebanese people celebrated their first day free from Syria's strong presence. However, some officials later said that Syria had not fully removed its intelligence presence.
A Wave of Democracy?
People wondered if the Cedar Revolution was influenced by other movements for democracy. Lebanese leader Walid Jumblatt said that the change started because of the American presence in Iraq. He was surprised to see millions of Iraqis voting.
Others believed that Lebanese anger against Syria had been growing for decades. They felt Hariri's assassination was the spark, regardless of outside events. Some argued that not much had truly changed. They thought Syria might still control Lebanon's foreign affairs and trade.
When Omar Karami could not form a new government, he resigned again. Elections were held from May 29 to June 19, 2005. Saad Hariri formed an anti-Syrian group that won most of the seats in the parliament.
Anniversaries of the Revolution
Second Anniversary
On February 14, 2007, thousands of Lebanese gathered peacefully in Martyrs' Square. They remembered the second anniversary of Rafic Hariri's assassination. The large crowd showed that the spirit of the Cedar Revolution was still strong. They blamed Syria and Hezbollah for Lebanon's political problems. At the exact time of the explosion, everyone fell silent. Only the Islamic call to prayer and church bells could be heard.
Third Anniversary
On February 14, 2008, three years after Hariri's death, huge crowds gathered again in Martyrs' Square. People came from all over Lebanon. Even bad weather did not stop many from reaching Beirut. Hundreds of boats sailed from Jounieh to Beirut. Thousands of cars were stuck in traffic, trying to reach the square.
The crowds stood for over five hours in the pouring rain. They used the event to blame Syria and promised to stay united for Lebanon. At 12:55 PM, the exact time of the explosion, the crowd became silent. The Islamic call to prayer and church bells rang, showing Muslim-Christian unity. Leaders of the anti-Syrian groups gave strong speeches.
Fourth Anniversary
February 14, 2009, marked the fourth anniversary. More than a million people, from different groups, gathered in Beirut. At 12:55 PM, they observed a moment of silence. During the rally, speeches encouraged people to vote in the June 2009 parliamentary elections.
Fifth Anniversary
On February 14, 2010, the fifth anniversary was affected by heavy rain. This reduced the number of people who attended.
Sixth Anniversary
The sixth anniversary on February 14, 2011, saw renewed energy from supporters. This was partly because ministers from the opposing group had resigned. They resigned when Saad Hariri refused to reject the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. A rally was also held to call for Hezbollah to give up its weapons. Tens of thousands of people rallied against Hezbollah's weapons.
See also
- Syrian occupation of Lebanon
- List of attacks in Lebanon
- 2007 Lebanon conflict
- Colour revolutions – as a series of related movements
- 2021 Lebanese protests
Images for kids
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Trucks waiting in line after Syria closed its northern border with Lebanon following its withdrawal.
