Lebanon .. when it goes beyond sectarian, regional and class protests

Afif Diab-Beirut

Demonstrations denouncing financial and economic policies spread throughout Lebanon for the third day in a row, which observers described as the first of its kind in terms of the density of participants and its geographical, regional and demographic spread, and in terms of the decentralized protests that were united under the single title of overthrowing the government and symbols of the Lebanese authority and its party forces.

The center of Beirut, in the Martyrs Square and Riad El Solh Square opposite the Government Palace, witnessed a large number of protesters who gathered, holding up the Lebanese flag and shouting slogans condemning the government and the whole authority.

Hassan al-Zein, an activist in the civil movement, told Al Jazeera Net that the most distinguishing feature of the demonstrations in Lebanon is "its distance from the parties of power or other partisan forces," explaining that it has not yet produced its leaders.It is characterized by its slogans and one expression of "pain" from the deteriorating economic and financial conditions.

Al-Zein added that these protest movements, which spread throughout Lebanon, went beyond the barriers that were placed by the forces and parties of power between the Lebanese sectarian, regional and class, pointing out that the demonstrators told the Authority through their peaceful movement, "do not use the sectarian divisions to respond to our comprehensive national movement."

The demonstrations that erupted throughout Lebanon last Thursday after government ministers announced plans to impose new taxes in the 2020 budget put the party forces of Saad Hariri's government in a state of confusion and loss.

The activist in the civil movement, describing the movement in an interview with the island Net that spontaneous movements in Beirut and all regions and all popular groups "confused the existing authority."

The movement adds to the importance of these demonstrations that it included in its criticism of all parties to the Authority, and that the participants said with one voice and loud "all means all," referring to the blame for all parties of the Authority to deteriorate the economic and financial situation in the country, stressing that the solution begins "the resignation of the government And fight corruption and hold corrupt people accountable.

Map of protests
The protests and demonstrations on the third day included the largest Lebanese cities, in addition to the capital Beirut. In the north of the country, thousands of people gathered in the streets of Tripoli, shouting slogans against the government and its Prime Minister Saad Hariri and the entire authority, demanding the immediate fall of the government.

The cities of Jbeil and Jounieh in the Keserwan area of ​​Mount Lebanon witnessed demonstrations, gatherings and bandits, and protesters chanted slogans criticizing President Michel Aoun and Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil.

In the southern city of Sidon, thousands staged a sit-in in the streets and squares of the city demanding accountability for corrupt people and the recovery of looted public money. In the southern city of Tire, a demonstration marched against the speaker of parliament, Nabih Berri, as well as attacks on the offices of parliamentarians belonging to Amal and Hezbollah.

The demonstration was attacked by gunmen, activists said. A statement issued by the Amal movement said that it "thanks all those who have called for solidarity action to denounce the infiltration of Imam Moussa al-Sadr and President Nabih Berri in Tire, the movement affirms its rejection of armed manifestations in the streets of the city."

The city of Nabatiyeh (south) witnessed a large demonstration in which the participants criticized all the "pillars of power", and in the cities of Aley, Baakline and Choueifat (Mount Lebanon), the Progressive Socialist Party in the government staged protests against the "era of President Michel Aoun."

Protesters blocked the Beirut-Damascus road in the eastern city of Chtaura with burning tires and earth mounds. The cities of Zahle, Baalbek, Hermel and Arsal (east) also witnessed similar protests.

Break up the demonstrations
The Lebanese security forces worked in the first two days to break up gatherings in downtown Beirut and open closed roads, especially the presidential palace road.

The stampede between security forces and demonstrators resulted in injuries to both sides and arrests of activists in the movement who were released after undergoing security investigations.

In the face of these demonstrations and their wide spread to the cities and towns of the parties, the Lebanese government has entered into a conflict with time, and its Prime Minister Hariri held a series of meetings with representatives of the blocs participating in the Council of Ministers to find a way out of the crisis.

Hariri, who sent a message to the Lebanese on the second day of the popular protest, has set a 72-hour deadline to find a quick solution, introduce a package of economic reforms and facilitate the work of his government.

For his part, Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil said that during his meeting with Hariri, it was emphasized that the general budget should be completed without introducing any new taxes or fees. He added in a statement that it was also agreed to cancel all projects related to the increase of taxes on the table, in addition to the adoption of serious reform steps.

Commenting on the protests, Hizbullah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah said in a speech that his party understands popular demands, but as the government continues to function and does not support its overthrow, criticizing anyone trying to overthrow the Covenant.

The Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) warned against the exploitation of the popular protests by the Progressive Socialist Party and the Lebanese Forces and distracted them from their objectives.

Escape forward
Writer and political analyst Saad Kiwan told Al Jazeera Net that the crisis in the country is serious and profound, adding that the Lebanese authority is suffering from a structural crisis, and "it does not know how to deal with the rising street."

Kiwan expressed his belief that the street with large demonstrations "has exceeded the authority, which has not succeeded so far in the introduction of movement in the sectarian and sectarian visitors."

Regarding Hezbollah's stance on the government and the movement, Kiwan says that Nasrallah did not submit anything new, but stressed the adherence to the government, stressing that the crisis is deep, and that what is witnessing in Lebanon as a result of the political settlement that led President Aoun to the presidency and Hariri to the premiership.

He adds that the PA will flee forward to buy time and agree on some things to facilitate Hariri's mission and not to bring down the government.

For his part, political analyst Wassim Bazzi believes that the economic crisis suffered by the Lebanese, a deep crisis and derived from the economic policies of successive governments since 1992.

Bazzi adds in an interview with Al Jazeera Net that attempts to target the era of President Aoun and hold him all responsible for the economic crisis is a reward for him and Hezbollah.

He believes that the solution is not to impose new taxes on the Lebanese, but to find effective solutions to the depth of the economic and financial crisis plaguing the country.