I've always thought to myself, there's nothing more comforting than living in a society that does not make use of video cameras to maintain security.

Lebanon has always been accommodating to those who walk the streets as strangers, and want to remain as strangers, at least to the corrupt and ineffective government.

Now, we have talk about erecting 'security' video cameras across greater Beirut, "to protect" us from the bombers.

Naharnet
Thousands of Security Cameras Ring Greater Beirut to Curtail Terrorism
The government has decided to install thousands of security surveillance cameras across Greater Beirut as part of a comprehensive plan to combat terrorist bombings and car-bomb assassinations, the local media reported on Friday.
"The cabinet has resolved to finance the security cameras project that will be extended to other major cities after Greater Beirut," several Beirut newspapers said. "The measure is designed to curtail the movements of terrorists."

The ministers of the interior and justice were empowered to seek modern technological and laboratory equipment for all security departments in Lebanon and also explore the chances of getting permanent surveillance through an international satellite.

Beirut, 19 Aug 05, 11:54


... and yet, not too long ago, a video taken from one such 'security' camera "mysteriously vanished" after the attempted assassination of Marwan Hamadeh. The video had been handed to the VERY SAME government (hariri replaced by hariri) that is now preaching the installation of cameras across greater Beirut.

Naharnet
IC Camera Records Hamadeh's Assassination Attempt but Cassette Vanishes
A videocassette showing the car-bomb and the driver in the botched attempt to assassinate ex-Economy Minister Marwan Hamadeh Oct. 1 has been passed to the investigating authorities, but it mysteriously vanished and a person resembling the bomber was found murdered three days later, the Beirut daily As Safir reported Saturday.
It was expediting on a statement Hamadeh made in his first political function after his miraculous escape on Friday, charging that a Lebanese intelligence apparatus had "hijacked the preliminary outcome of the investigation, perhaps because it contained surprising material evidence."

Quoting unnamed highly informed sources, As Safir said one of the security cameras surrounding the International College school building close to Hamadeh's house at Ein Mreisseh's seaside Jall Al Bahr neighborhood had filmed the bomb-laden car and its driver.

"The car-bomb and the plate number appeared clearly on the videocassette along with the facial features of the driver, but once the competent apparatus examined the cassette, it vanished," As Safir reported.

"This was followed by the discovery three days later of the body of an unidentified man murdered in the vicinity of Rashaya" a predominantly Druze township in southeast Lebanon. "It was reported at the time that his feature resembles those of the car-bomber," the newspaper said.

There was no official comment available on As-Safir's narrative.

Beirut, 2004.


Why should I believe that any important videos will not simply vanish?
Why should I believe that the system will not be abused?
Why should I believe that in a country with little to no accountability such surveillance devices will not be used to invade people's lives?
Why should I believe that these cameras will not be used to harvest information on people's lives, to blackmail them, and keep them in submission?


-finkployd