BEIRUT:
Lebanon leaders Monday remembered late Pierre Amine Gemayel, who was
assassinated 10 years ago in broad daylight by a group of masked gunmen. “He was a promising young man full of energy and people loved him,”
Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri told Voice of Lebanon radio
(100.5). “His assassination was a big loss for Lebanon and all the
Lebanese.”

Hariri mourned the “loss of a brother, who was a very important person in my life.” “We will always remember you Pierre. You were an honest man with all
the Lebanese and honest in your work for Lebanon and its people,” he
said.

Gemayel was a prominent figure in the “Cedar Revolution,” which
forced the Syrian Army out of Lebanon in 2005. He then took on the
Industry Ministry portfolio under the Cabinet of former Prime Minister
Fouad Siniora. Kataeb chief MP Sami Gemayel, Pierre’s brother, said via Twitter that
“we will remain loyal to you and our cause,” using the hashtag
#steady_serving Lebanon.

“Pierre Amin Gemayel embodies the Lebanon of tomorrow and everything
we aspire to be,” MP Marwan Hamade said, adding that Kataeb leader was
continuing in his brother Pierre’s path.

The March 14 rally, dubbed the “Cedar Revolution,” was the climax of a
month-long series of rallies that followed the assassination of former
Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, in a massive truck bomb on Feb.
14, 2005.

The assassinated industry minister and son of former President Amine
Gemayel was a leader of the Christian Kataeb Party, which was founded by
his grandfather, also named Pierre Gemayel. His uncle and
then-president-elect Bachir Gemayel had been assassinated in 1982.

He was assassinated in Jdeideh, north of Beirut.

Former President Michel Sleiman said in a tweet that “today we lack
the courage that he represented, which was only made in Lebanon.”

MP Ahmad Fatfat also praised the late Gemayel, saying “Pierre freed
us (Lebanese) from hegemony on Lebanon. We will never forget him because
he fell defending everyone,” on Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5).

Independence Movement leader Michel Mouawad said that after “10 years
of your martyrdom, we miss you and the sovereign state you martyred
for.”

“He (Gemayel) fell on 21-11-2016 for Lebanon,” March 14 Secretary-General Fares Souaid said in a tweet.

Kataeb supporters’ convoys toured several areas in Lebanon Sunday to commemorate Gemayel’s assassination.

A memorial service will be held in Harissa basilica at 4 p.m. Tuesday.