Legal action

State takes legal action against An Nahar over army article Friday, August 31, 2001 (Daily Star)

The state began legal proceedings on Thursday against both Rafi Madayan and the daily An-Nahar, as a local business magazine printed a blank issue in a protest at the recent crackdown arrests. The An Nahar case was prompted by a recent article written by Madayan, an unsuccessful candidate for last years parliamentary elections. The article, published in the paper on August 9 and entitled A Look at the Armys Role, was seen by some military officials as potentially detrimental to the army, and prosecution was initiated under Article 157 of the Military Tribunals code. The army had originally referred the issue to Military Prosecutor Nasri Lahoud. He, however, decided that the military prosecutor did not have appropriate jurisdiction and so referred it to Beiruts assistant state prosecutor. The issue has now been referred to Beiruts chief investigating magistrate, Hatem Madi. Meanwhile, Executive magazine has published a blank issue protesting the political tensions that have threatened to further undermine the ailing economy. Distributed Thursday, the magazines cover - printed in black and white - reads Pure Economics. On the inside, in large type, is a quote from late US President John F Kennedy: We shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.The remaining 35 pages are blank. The issue illustrates the state of the economy if Lebanon were to lose its democratic essence,editor-in-chief Yasser Akkaoui said in a statement. The magazine said it would publish a second issue on September 1 (not mid-September as initially reported) that analyzes the economic repercussions and the long-term consequences of such repressive actions.