Mideast situation/Lebanon – Letter from Lebanon

Letter dated 29 April 1988 from the Permanent Representative of

Lebanon to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

On instructions from my Government, I have the honour to inform you of the following.

Since 27  April 1988, Israeli forces have been blockading the village of Chebaa, Hasbaya district, and some of the villages located in  the Arkub region in order to prevail upon the population to set up local committees directly linked to the occupation forces and to force them to volunteer for the so-called "South Lebanon Army", which is trained and financed by Israel.  As a result of this blockade, food supplies have been cut off from the villages and the inhabitants have been prevented from circulating freely, earning their living and security their basic necessities.

The Israeli forces are carrying out operations involving the destruction of houses, the arrest of many of the inhabitants of these villages and the transfer of some of them to the Khiam detention camp.

The Lebanese Government vehemently condemns these Israeli practices, which constitute a new and infamous violation of Lebanese sovereignty and a breach of international law, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and fourth Geneva Convention of 1949.

The Lebanese Government expresses is strong protest and requests you and the members of the Security Council to make urgent and speedy efforts to pressure Israel to halt its inhumane practices and coercive measures, release the detainees and desist from intervention in Lebanese affairs.

I request you to have this letter circulated as an official document of the General Assembly, under item 40 of the preliminary list, and of the Security Council.

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