Tracy Chamoun
Encyclopedia
Tracy Chamoun is a Lebanese
-Australian author and political activist.
She is one of two surviving children of Dany Chamoun
(1934–1990), the former leader of the National Liberal Party
and commander of the Tigers militia
, which played a significant role in the Lebanese Civil War
of 1975 to 1990, and the granddaughter of former President Camille Chamoun
. Her mother was Patti Morgan Chamoun, an Australian fashion model and actress. Tracy Chamoun has sought to perpetuate the legacy of her father, who was assassinated together with his second wife and two young sons by Syrian forces in 1990, through the Dany Chamoun Foundation. She has written, in French
, Au Nom du Pere, an autobiography centered on her relationship with her father and on his life and work. In it, she also recounts the harrowing experience in which she and her mother were kidnapped in 1980 during a surprise attack on the National Liberal Party headquarters by Phalangist militiamen under the command of Bachir Gemayel
, her father's former ally.
Chamoun was an outspoken critic of the former Syria
occupation of Lebanon. She has described her country's independence as a "myth." 'To what extent does the establishment believe that the population is so blind that it cannot see that the nation is far from independent?" she asked rhetorically before the Independence Day celebrations in 1990. "Like the myth of the emperor with no clothes, it is a charade that only the sycophants see and celebrate," she added.
Chamoun is known for her radical political views. She favours the building of a modern democracy, and has spoken out against what she sees as the feudal political system, in which clan loyalties often play a more significant role than ideology in politics. She is rumoured to be impatient with the more moderate and cautious policies of her uncle Dory Chamoun
, who currently heads the National Liberal Party. Publicly, however, she has defended her uncle, and has refused to enter into discussions with people critical of him.
Tracy Chamoun has vowed justice for her slain father, and has fought court battles both in Lebanon and abroad to bring his killers to trial.
She is reported to be considering standing as a candidate for the National Assembly
in the 2013 parliamentary election
.
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
-Australian author and political activist.
She is one of two surviving children of Dany Chamoun
Dany Chamoun
Dany Chamoun was a prominent Lebanese politician. A Maronite Christian and the younger son of former President Camille Chamoun, Dany Chamoun was also a politician in his own right, and was known for his opposition to the occupation of Lebanese territory by foreign forces, whether Syrian or...
(1934–1990), the former leader of the National Liberal Party
National Liberal Party (Lebanon)
The National Liberal Party is a center-right political party in Lebanon, established by President Camille Chamoun in 1958...
and commander of the Tigers militia
Tigers Militia (Lebanon)
The Tigers Militia , also known as NLP Tigers or Tigers of the Liberals and PNL "Lionceaux" in French, was the military wing of the National Liberal Party during the Lebanese Civil War.- Origins :The NLP militia was first raised in October 1968 by Camille Chamoun at his own home town...
, which played a significant role in the Lebanese Civil War
Lebanese Civil War
The Lebanese Civil War was a multifaceted civil war in Lebanon. The war lasted from 1975 to 1990 and resulted in an estimated 150,000 to 230,000 civilian fatalities. Another one million people were wounded, and today approximately 350,000 people remain displaced. There was also a mass exodus of...
of 1975 to 1990, and the granddaughter of former President Camille Chamoun
Camille Chamoun
Camille Nimr Chamoun was President of Lebanon from 1952 to 1958, and one of the country's main Christian leaders during most of the Lebanese Civil War ....
. Her mother was Patti Morgan Chamoun, an Australian fashion model and actress. Tracy Chamoun has sought to perpetuate the legacy of her father, who was assassinated together with his second wife and two young sons by Syrian forces in 1990, through the Dany Chamoun Foundation. She has written, in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, Au Nom du Pere, an autobiography centered on her relationship with her father and on his life and work. In it, she also recounts the harrowing experience in which she and her mother were kidnapped in 1980 during a surprise attack on the National Liberal Party headquarters by Phalangist militiamen under the command of Bachir Gemayel
Bachir Gemayel
Bachir Gemayel was a Lebanese politician, militia commander, and president-elect...
, her father's former ally.
Chamoun was an outspoken critic of the former Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
occupation of Lebanon. She has described her country's independence as a "myth." 'To what extent does the establishment believe that the population is so blind that it cannot see that the nation is far from independent?" she asked rhetorically before the Independence Day celebrations in 1990. "Like the myth of the emperor with no clothes, it is a charade that only the sycophants see and celebrate," she added.
Chamoun is known for her radical political views. She favours the building of a modern democracy, and has spoken out against what she sees as the feudal political system, in which clan loyalties often play a more significant role than ideology in politics. She is rumoured to be impatient with the more moderate and cautious policies of her uncle Dory Chamoun
Dory Chamoun
Dory Chamoun is a Lebanese politician who leads the National Liberal Party, and is also a prominent member of the Qornet Shehwan Gathering, a coalition of politicians, academics, and businessmen who oppose the pro-Syrian March 8 Alliance and Syrian influence in Lebanon.Dory Chamoun is the elder...
, who currently heads the National Liberal Party. Publicly, however, she has defended her uncle, and has refused to enter into discussions with people critical of him.
Tracy Chamoun has vowed justice for her slain father, and has fought court battles both in Lebanon and abroad to bring his killers to trial.
She is reported to be considering standing as a candidate for the National Assembly
National Assembly
National Assembly is either a legislature, or the lower house of a bicameral legislature in some countries. The best known National Assembly, and the first legislature to be known by this title, was that established during the French Revolution in 1789, known as the Assemblée nationale...
in the 2013 parliamentary election
Elections in Lebanon
Elections in Lebanon gives information on election and election results in Lebanon.- Parliamentary electoral system :Lebanon's national legislature is called the Assembly of Representatives...
.