Chamoun was a strong ally of General Aoun in the past year's fighting, an outspoken critic of the Taif agreement which divides political power equally between Lebanon's Christians and Muslims, and an ardent opponent of the Syrian presence in Lebanon. He was known for contacts with Israel, and the Chamoun clan were patrons of the security arrangements in southern Lebanon. Dany Chamoun and Druze leader Walid Jumblatt were said to be cooperating quietly to revive the Druze Maronite understandings, which once regulated competition between rival clans in Mount Lebanon, to rescue the area from foreign rule.
In late 1990, Chamoun, along with his German-born wife Ingrid, and his two sons aged 7 and 5, was assassinated. The pro-Syrian regime arrested Samir Geagea , a rival Christian militia leader, who was subsequently tried and convicted of the murder. The verdict was controversial, however; the fairness of the trial was challenged by Amnesty International and Chamoun's brother, Dory has said that he has serious doubts about it. Other suspects included Syrian intelligence forces. He has two surviving daughters, one of whom ( Tracy ) is a prominent human rights activist.
Dany Chamoun, 1934-1990
