Army and riot police reinforcements were deployed Sunday, January 19, in Beirut, where protesters began to assemble at the entrance of an avenue leading to the Lebanese Parliament, near the Place des Martyrs, epicenter of the protest movement launched on October 17 against a political class deemed corrupt and incompetent.
In three months of protest, anger has only grown among protesters who castigate the inertia of leaders: the economic crisis is worsening with mass layoffs, drastic banking restrictions and a de facto devaluation of the Lebanese pound in the face of dollar.
"Free revolutionaries we will continue the way", chanted in the rain the protesters, equipped with umbrella and waving Lebanese flags. "We are fed up with politicians. After three months of revolution, they prove to us that they do not change, that they do not listen, that they bring nothing", protests Mazen, an elderly protester 34 years old.
The Lebanese capital on Saturday experienced an unprecedented level of violence since the start of the dispute with clashes between police and protesters who left at least 377 injured in both camps, according to reports by the Lebanese Red Cross and civil defense compiled by AFP.
Rubber bullets "shot in the eye"?
Local television and internet users shared testimonies from families whose children, sometimes aged 18, were hit in the eye by rubber bullets. The scuffles took place on the same avenue where the demonstrators are gathered Sunday.
"There was no justification for the brutal use of force by riot police against largely peaceful protesters," said Human Rights Watch (HRW).
Accusing the police of "shooting rubber bullets in the eyes", Michael Page, HRW deputy director for the Middle East, called on the authorities to "end this culture of impunity for police abuse" .
A video on social networks also shows members of the security forces in a Beirut police barracks violently beating people presented as demonstrators when they get out of a van. Referring to this video, the internal security forces announced the opening of an investigation. "Any officer who assaulted detainees will be arrested."
Thirty people were arrested but the prosecution ordered their release, announced the official agency ANI.
Hassan Diab still has not formed his government
In recent days, clashes have escalated between law enforcement and protesters who have attacked the windows of some banks, institutions crystallizing much of the popular anger.
Protesters are furious with leaders accused of in no way caring about their demands: a government of independents and technocrats while the ruling class has been almost unchanged for decades, an improvement in public services almost absent - serious water shortages and electricity - the end of unemployment and corruption.
After Prime Minister Saad Hariri's resignation at the end of October, under pressure from the street, Hassan Diab was appointed to replace him on December 19 but the latter has still not formed his government.
"There is a way to calm the popular storm," Saad Hariri tweeted. "Quite a waste of time, form a government and open the door to political and economic solutions".
With AFP
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