Fatah relieves senior commander over failure to join fighting in Ain al-Hilweh

The Daily Star ^ | June 26 2003 | Mohammed Zaatari

[knighthawk]

Fatah on Wednesday relieved its senior commander at the Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp, Colonel Mounir Maqdah, from his post and asked him to hand over the main checkpoint at the camp’s lower entrance.

Palestinian sources said the decision was made by Brigadier Sultan Abul-Ainayn, the secretary-general of Fatah, with the approval of the Palestinian Authority’s Lebanon Committee.

Abul-Ainayn was sentenced in absentia to death by Lebanese authorities for forming an armed group. The decision is believed to habe been taken because of Maqdah’s lack of participation in the recent clash between fundamentalist groups, Esbat al-Nour and Esbat al-Ansar, and Fatah.

Fatah considered Maqdah’s lack of participation as the cause behind undermining its military balance inside the camp.

Maqdah was directly asked on Tuesday to hand over the checkpoint, a nursery school run by Fatah and some of his offices. He would remain in charge of the militia, but without any powers, especially after three of his military units ­ about 150 fighters ­ were transferred to other units.

The unit of Major Mohammed Abu Hayja is now currently under the leadership of Fouad Awad, the head of the military committee in Fatah. The units of both, Major Said Assous and Major Ahmad Nasr are now serving under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Soubhi Abu Arab, who is the head of the Shatila Martyrs Brigade and directly under the orders of Abul-Ainayn.

When interviewed by The Daily Star, Maqdah neither denied nor confirmed the information. “No comment,” was his answer, which indicates that the issue is still pending and that Palestinian contacts are still ongoing to solve the issue without complications.

On Tuesday night, Maqdah’s and Fatah’s supporters gathered near Maqdah’s headquarters in show of support.

Maqdah split from Fatah in 1994, in protest agaimst the Oslo Accords. He rejoined Fatah several years later and has around 400 armed followers in Ain al-Hilweh. He is considered as one of the most powerful figures in the camp. Maqdah is also known for his support to the Al-Aqsa Brigades in the Occupied Territories.

[knighthawk]

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