Reporting from the scene
HOW EVERYTHING STARTED
On October 17, the government proposed introducing a new WhatsApp tax - $ 6 per month. That would allow attracting an additional $ 200 million to the budget. For you to understand, messengers in Lebanon are sacred, because mobile communications are the most expensive in the world.
This was the last straw, and no less than half the country's population took to the streets.
It was so impressive that the authorities immediately refused the tax. But it was too late. Even a radical measure such as a 50% wage cut for former and current ministers and deputies could not calm the Lebanese. In the end, Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri had to resign. According to him, the situation is at an impasse and radical measures are needed to solve the problems.
I WANT CHANGES
In fact, the level of tension in the streets of Beirut goes off scale. This is not very noticeable during songs and dances in the squares. But last night I witnessed a very revealing skirmish between a policeman armed with a club and a fragile activist, arrogant as a tank.
There was a stampede - the Communists organized a march along a narrow street in an elite area dotted with five-star hotels and chic restaurants overlooking the yachts and supercars of local billionaires.
“We’ll get to you soon,” one of the demonstrators shouted, pointing his finger at the Radisson Hotel guests, leaning out of the windows of their luxury rooms to look at the protests from top to bottom.
Riot policemen began to slowly surround the protesters, wedging between them, apparently, so that they could not gain a foothold in one place. Noticing this, the activist, painted in the colors of the Lebanese flag with a cedar on her forehead, actually began to block the way for law enforcement officers with her chest. And this, I must say, was a very impressive obstacle even for well-trained fighters.
I pay tribute to the police - their faces expressed no more emotions than the tiles under their boots. Not a single sharp movement or rude word.
But as soon as one of them politely asked the lady to step back, she began to read out her rights with shouts and insults. As if from a barrel under pressure, they pulled out a cork and all the contents poured out.
Immediately around the Lebanese actress, as expected, tripods with cameras and aggressive men with flags grew.
The conflict resolved only after other, more adequate demonstrators intervened.
Actually, this is what is happening today in Lebanon. Somewhere to a lesser extent (Beirut), and somewhere to a greater extent (Tripoli).
"WE DO NOT WANT" MAIDAN ", -
assures Ayman. He and his comrades are the most active and organized group of revolutionaries. They live together in a tent city on Riyadh al-Sulh Square. Take care of each other. They work smoothly and quickly (block roads, block state institutions). And, most importantly, they act without provocation. They simply have nothing to “twist”.
“Why do we have to fight?” All they need is to kill us all and put us in jail, ”the activist says. - And so we already blocked the city for several weeks (relatively, actually). And who can do what to us? Soon, hackers from Anonymous will join us. Then the authorities will not seem enough.
This is the revolution. And not chatter and hooliganism.
BOYS AND GIRLS WHO DO NOT WANT TO GROW
While the cyber soldiers are on their way, the center of Beirut is reminiscent of Neverland James Barry (not to be confused with the speaker of the Lebanese parliament, Nabih Berry, who is not blamed for anything here).
Young Lebanese are waiting for change. And in order to somehow brighten up the wait, they eat, drink, smoke hookah, sing songs, draw markers on the walls and asphalt. Older people, meanwhile, are sitting in tents, pretending to be great politicians.
They debate, make political speeches and even create their own political movements in the squares.
How this will help pull Lebanon out of the economic and political crisis is not clear. But fun.
The author’s point of view may not coincide with the position of the publisher.