People with disabilities are united by the pursuit of a common goal. The goal being the full and equal participation in the life of their respective societies.

Disabled people yearn to end the hurtful discrimination that exists in all the countries of the Middle East. Access to employment, education, religious worship and basic services are our human right and in saying this, it is without doubt every disabled person’s aspiration to achieve equality and access without sympathy.

Lebanon has unfortunately once again proved it is unable to fulfil its duties towards people with disabilities, often treating disabled men and woman as second-class citizens and often segregating or separating individuals from society. Lebanon’s government choses to impose its laws only on the vulnerable, poor, the sick or the needy. Instead of protecting they chose to torture those that bare such a heavy load in life.

I vigorously ask and urge that you do not take the details of my story in anyway or even suggests that I am seeking sympathy. Speaking out may help the world realise that Lebanon’s government is neither caring nor legal, and that the people that are burdened mostly are the needy.

On June 6,2004 I flew out of Sydney bound for Helsinki-Finland where I coached The Australian Electric Wheelchair Hockey team in the team’s first World Cup campaign. Six months of hard work soon paid off with the relatively new Australian team finishing in fourth place and earning an invitation to compete in next years European cup in Italy. Electric Wheelchair Hockey is striving to become a Paralympic Sport by the year 2008.

Countless hours of fly time, climate adjustment and a week of intense competition had finally come to an end, and it was now time to continue on my journey to Lebanon.

On my arrival to Beirut International Airport on June 15, 2004, it was clearly evident that Lebanon was not equipped with the facilities required to accommodate to the needs of people with disabilities, however the purpose for the visit was to give my mum the opportunity to see my aging grandmother and thus the visit would be deemed worthy under any reasonable difficulties. Mum was scheduled to meet my dad and me, a week after our arrival, once the specialist had cleared her to travel after a knee operation.

Whilst being processed through customs, I felt concerned. The Lebanese government attempts to portray a Lebanon that has overcome previous equality problems and is in line with world standards in respect to discrimination and human rights issues however my fears were still unmistakable, even though I knew my disability created most of the abnormal attention. After a short delay my passport was stamped with a visa.

I was not told on my arrival, that I might have difficulties on my departure. In fact I was hopeful that on my departure I would have no concerns because I had planned to have my Lebanese identity documents established (Akhraj aid). I would be departing as a Lebanese citizen.

After a stay of two and a half months, which included more surgery on my mum’s knee and airline delays we finally had the 24^{th August 2004 confirmed as our departure date.}

On the 24th August 2004 we entered Beirut International Airport unaware that the systematic betrayal and injustice that the Lebanese people have had to endure from all government bodies and officials over many years was just about to be carried out on us.

Once our emotional goodbyes completed. we entered customs at 12:37pm for the initial baggage check and immediately faced problems, with the wheelchair controller deemed to be dangerous. The baggage check officer had suggested that we place the controller in the larger suite case, as this was going to be position in the cargo area of the plane and was unreachable. After explaining that the item was to value of three thousand ($3000) the officer then explained that he was willing to let the item stay in our possession however the concluding baggage checks might not allow this and might take the controller into their possession during the flight. We explained that this was a better option and proceeded to the Malaysian check in counter.

At the check in counter our names were taken and the appropriate staff were called to attend to the needs that were conveyed to them by the travel agent via the appropriate documentation that were required by the airline, before our initial departure from Sydney.

The manager approached us and began to explain the procedures that would be carried out through customs. The manager explained that I would need to hand my wheelchair over to them immediately and that I was unable to proceed with my wheelchair to the gate, unlike the procedures exercised at other International airports. A wheelchair was to be organised to take me to the plane but this however became of great concern to my father and I because of the fact I have a stainless steal rod in my back that requires support given by the backrest and cushion on my own wheelchair.

Several attempts to persuade the manager that I required my own wheelchair were made without any success. The manager repeatedly saying that the airport was not equipped with a lift to transfer the chair from the gate to the cargo area of the plane and that he was not willing to return the chair through customs to have it transported down.

I was shocked to learn that the wheelchair they wanted me to sit in was not actually a wheelchair used to transport people with disabilities around in normal situations but in fact it was a wheelchair meant only for usage inside aeroplanes. No side supports, foot rests or proper back cushioning meant that this chair would normally be required to be used for a maximum of ten minutes under normal conditions.

Forced to accept I knew that my only chance of minimal suffering and or damage would be to have support from my father which meant that he would basically have to hold and support me in the chair provided.

It was now 1:30pm and after waiting for the manager to assign a helper, we headed towards customs to submit our departure documents. At the first checkpoint, we submitted our passports only to learn that the departure cards that were meant to be completed by us hadn’t been given to us by the airline.

The man assigned to aid us, returned to get them and then helped us to complete them. Once presented, we were told to proceed to the final customs checkpoint.

At the final checkpoint the officer accepted the appropriate documents and one by one began stamping the departure cards until he reached my documents. He then suddenly stopped and requested one of the superior officers. After deliberating, the superior officer left and entered his office where he seemed to take forever to return. He returned to collect the other documents and whilst doing so, the officer suggested that maybe by stamping the passport with a visa he would solve the problem.

At this point it was still unclear what the problem was, however we interrupted and presented the superior officer with my Lebanese Identity document. He took the documents and re-entered his office.

Several minutes past before the superior officer emerged and whilst walking towards us advised us that I would need a document from The Ministry of Defence excusing me from serving in the Lebanese Army and if I didn’t have this now I wouldn’t be allowed to board the plane.

My dad unable to let go of me because of my seating asked my mum who was herself, feeling the pain after being subjected to over an hour of standing, to support me so that he could reach for an Identity document that proved I was the only son. This is one of the criteria’s used to gain pardoning from serving in the army.

The superior officer then asked my father to follow him with the document into the office. My dad repeatedly explained that he couldn’t leave me because of my inability to support myself and that my mum was also unable to do so. Their inability to comprehend meant that my dad followed him only to return fuming at what he had heard.

Whilst with the superior in the office, the superior made a phone call to explain the situation to the head of customs, which is situated on the second floor (one floor above us). The head of customs bluntly rejected clearing my departure and ordered us to obtain the specified paperwork before I could depart.

At this point it became impossible to keep the matter under control, as both my parents could not hold back their anger and emotions. I managed to calm them and gained their attention, reminding my dad that I had applied for and obtained a Disability card whilst in Lebanon which was issued by a government body and approved by a government doctor in Tripoli.

At this point they asked us to move to a different location, which was closer to the office and whilst doing so my dad suggested the Disability card to the officer. Unaware that the card might be of some use we left it with my aunty who had left the airport. After gaining some positive feedback from the officer I made the call to my aunty to head back to the airport with the card. The aid assigned to help us volunteered to wait for my aunty outside in order to save some time. The plane was scheduled to take off at 3 pm and the time was fast approaching.

Whilst waiting for the arrival of the card the superior officer seemed to get frustrated with our presence and the tension began to deepen. My dad offered to show him the scares of my operation for the rod but he refused to even look and soon after offered my dad the opportunity to meet the head of customs on the second floor to plead our case, however my dad refused and explained that he was unable to leave me and if the head of customs did not believe what you had conveyed to him why would he believe me.

My dad then asked the superior officer to contact the head of customs and ask him to come down and see for himself that I am not only unable to serve in the army but that I have sufficient evidence to excuse me from the army without the documentation from The Ministry of Defence but the officer laughed, saying he could only provide us with the number. My dad quickly refused knowing all to well that the only reason they wanted him to go up was to be able to accept a bribe completely out of the view of other officers.

I made several attempts to talk to the officer myself, but it was to no avail. Almost at the age of thirty I was being treated as a second-class citizen. Equality was non-existent in Lebanon. In fact I felt non-existent.

The aid soon returned with the Disability card and handed it over to the officer. Once again he called the head of customs, which we later learned to be Officer Bou Khezem, but like previously he declined to issue me with clearance.

After exhausting all avenues with no success it was now a quarter to three. The officer disrespectfully told us to return to the check in desk and ask that our luggage and wheelchair be returned to us from the plane before the plane took off, with them.

With no other option but to return and my parents searing they began to raise their voices, hollering abuse at the dictatorial way the government was and the actual puppet regime that existed that has over decades lead to the mistreatment of the Lebanese people. Screaming and yelling, “This is the Lebanon they want us to return too”, “This is the advanced Lebanon not the one they try to portray” and “They want my son to go to the army, this is their civilised Lebanon”

It is rare that I would accept and condone an activity that would bring greater attention on myself, however I felt that the actions of my parents were not out of place and surprisingly this was demonstrated by some airport official’s who seemed as surprised as we were, and by other officials who would not be game enough to respond, ask or interrupt the actions of both my parents.

The back pain that I was forced to endure; after being subjected to sitting in an inappropriate chair meant that I was unable to fully absorb the emotions of what had taken place.

At the check in counter the young lady by the name of Nisrin showed great compassion. She organised to have our luggage and my chair returned to me, and repeatedly attempted to calm my parents, often saying that, this is the Lebanon, which we have to live in, day in day out. My father began to contact our relatives to ask them to re-organise the car, which we had rented for our stay, as this was my only form of transport. The trip to the airport had required three cars to take our luggage and the rented vehicle to take my wheelchair and I.

On exiting the airport customs area we were met by outraged relatives.

We obtained possible departure dates at which was dependant on how quickly we could obtain the required documents, and requested the name of the head of customs for our records.

Wednesday 25th August 2004 I visited a doctor to obtain a medical opinion on my back. After a thorough check up the Dr explained that the pain would continue for a few more days and that a repeat of such trauma can lead to pressure sours among other things that can be life threatening. Painkillers were prescribed and another appointment scheduled.

The document required in order for me to depart could be obtained without my presence from the Ministry of Defence so plans were made to have a relative attend the Ministry the next day.

Early Thursday 26th August 2004, my relative obtained a document allowing me to depart from Lebanon. This was after a three-hour wait at the Ministry of Defence. This document is not a pardoning from the army. In fact the document states only that I am able to leave Lebanon. The document excusing me from serving in the army altogether will not be complete until February next year. Whilst at the Ministry the events were described to an official and his comments were that it was unusual for such actions.

I contacted the Australian embassy and endeavoured to talk to the Australian ambassador. Unfortunately the staff, at the embassy is deeply influenced by the puppet regime. Staff repeatedly said that they were unable to do anything and that any complaints were to be made in person. Staff seemed desperate to avoid what I had to say and wanted to get rid of me as soon as possible. Attempts to contact the Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir via his secretary were made without any success.

Later that afternoon it was confirmed that we could depart on Friday 27th of August 2004 by the airline. The flight was not direct and required us to spend nine extra hours in Malaysia. We decided to accept the flight because if an issue arose it would be possible to contact the various institutions (Ministry or the Car rental company) rather than fly out on the weekend.

We departed on Friday the 27th August and arrived in Sydney on Sunday 29th August at 6 am.

Let it be known, I would be proud to serve the Lebanese people by means of serving in the army, however the Lebanese people have been left behind and are outsiders is deciding vital national issues. Serving in the army would currently be serving the continued dictatorship that exists in Lebanon.

In order to serve and uphold Lebanon’s true identity we must unit and support the cause of a free democratic and sovereign Lebanon

Strength and knowledge in testifying for the truth will bring about equality and justice.
^{Joe Chidiac
Sydney
29 September 2004}