May 20, 2016 Letter from Customs to Urgent Matters Judge
Issuance No: 19320/2014
Beirut, May 20, 2016
To: Judge of Urgent Matters
Re: Authorization to re-export merchandise
Reference: Your decision no: 429/2014, dated June 27, 2014
In our letters under the same number dated December 5, 2014 and June 5, 2015, a copy of each is hereto attached, we respectfully asked your honor to request from the concerned maritime agency to re-export a quantity of ammonium nitrate that was unloaded from the ship Rhosus pursuant to your decision mentioned in the reference, and which was stored in the Customs Warehouse 12 in Beirut Port.
After the Lebanese Army Command informed us that they have no need for the ammonium nitrate and suggested communicating with the “Lebanese Company for Explosive, Majid al-Shammas” to determine whether it is possible to use the mentioned substance, according to the Army Command letter no: 13734/ت.ج./ technical dated April 7, 2016, a copy of which is hereto attached.
And since we did not receive any response from your honor till now, and given the extreme danger caused by the cargo remaining in the warehouse, in unfavorable climatic conditions we hereby reiterate our request to force the maritime agency to re-export the merchandise immediately to ensure the safety of the port and the persons working there, or to consider approving the sale of this quantity to the company indicated in the aforementioned letter of the Army Command.
Director General of Customs
Shafic Merhi
[Signature]
Translated by Human Rights Watch