BEIRUT, Lebanon: The first "Shia National Meeting" in Ras An-Nabaa, Lebanon was held on Thursday, which gathered several MPs and officials.

Speaking at the meeting, Sayyed Muhammad Al-Amine said the right of Lebanon's Shias to political representation has always been in Syria's hands and “the Shias were not allowed to be politically represented unless they belonged to one of the political Shia groups falling under Syrian influence.”

Amine also spoke of pressure "applied by Syria on the Shias to prove their loyalty to the mandate authority," adding: "The other sects were pressured as well, but to a lesser degree."

During the meeting, depicted by its organizers as the emergence of a new Shia political direction, Amine lashed out at Shia groups that "try to summarize the entire Shias in them."

“It is not in anyone's interest to limit the Shia sect like that, especially our brothers in the resistance who are convinced of the necessity of having political diversity. However, neither we, nor the resistance were able to be free from Syrian hands," Amine said.

The cleric Amine also addressed objection of Hizbullah and the Amal Movement to a UN investigation commission to investigate the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

"Is it true that the arrival of such an international commission would jeopardize the Shias? Why should the Shias be under suspicion?" he asked adding: "The Shias want the international investigation commission."

Both parties have said on more than one occasion such a commission would undermine sovereignty and interfere in the country's internal affairs.

But, Amine said: "It is a national necessity to reveal the identity of the assailants."

The cleric also spoke of Shia participation in the "Cedar Revolution" and the demonstrations calling for a free and sovereign Lebanon.

According to Amine, the Shias were underrepresented in "the second independence," following the commands of their political representatives.

He said: "Why shouldn't the Shias participate in this great national manifestation?"
Amine made clear he "disagrees" with Amal and Hizbullah on this matter saying, "They think this policy protects and preserves the Shias. It is the Shias' right to be on the same level as the other sects in this matter."

The cleric also spoke of "a national duty to protect the resistance," adding, after the liberation of the South and the Syrian pullout from the country, "the resistance and both the Lebanese and the Syrian governments should finalize the Shebaa Farms matter."

He said Thursday's assembly "will constitute the beginning of several other meetings" and that the Shias have proved to be an important part of the Lebanese society.