Beirut: Faced with a serious “garbagegate” that may well be the last straw for millions, a genuine Lebanese civil society movement emerged over the weekend to clean the system of its intrinsic shortcomings, even if the “You Stink” campaign organizers were aghast that their nationalist initiative would be so easily hijacked.
That was precisely what occurred on Sunday night, when violent clashes occurred with Internal Security Forces (ISF), after “You Stink” leaders successfully ended their demonstration and called on the estimated 15 to 20,000 protestors to leave Riad Al Solh Square. By 8pm, only hooligans remained, though many wondered who were the assailants who attacked law enforcement officers, and repeatedly charged them in the hope of breaking the security zone and occupy the Grand Serail [Government House]?
They were not “You Stink” members since the latter were mostly made of families that included women and children. Many of the latter vented build-up frustrations with the political establishment, refused to associate themselves with any political party or coalition, and demanded that the entire ruling class leave the country. Television networks broadcast angry tirades against all politicians, with some irate citizens, both Muslims and Christians, using very strong language, naming names, calling politicians “thieves,” “liars,” and “opportunists.” A few said it clearly: “We do not want you. Leave Us. Leave the country. Never return.”
It was fair to say that while “You Stink” organizers and participants in the protests rejected the political elite, most preferred to deny the latter any role in their actions too, going so far as to distance themselves from those who expressed support [Walid Jumblatt, Wael Abou Faour, Michel Aoun, Jibran Basil and others were explicitly named by hundreds of interviewees], and expelling those that tried to join them in Riad Al Solh Square. The Minister of Education, Elias Bou Saab, was forced to return home after organizers refused him a chance to speak.
The hundreds of male hooligans—most wearing masks to conceal their identities—mobilized against law enforcement officers. It was obvious that this was a carefully orchestrated group since there were hardly any women left in the area after 9pm. Security personnel familiar with these elements hinted that most came from the Khandak Al Ghamik sector of Beirut, a predominantly Amal Party stronghold, which drew the wrath of Nabih Berri. The Speaker declared that such accusations intended to create sedition and that media outlets that advanced such claims had “lost their credibility.” Unlike “You Stink” protestors, however, these lawbreakers were well prepared to remove razor-sharp barbed wires separating them from security forces. “You Stink” repeatedly called on police to ban troublemakers from turning their protest into a confrontation but that was not to be.
For the second night in a row, police used rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters. According to the Lebanese Red Cross, one died from his injuries and 402 were hurt in total, and though “You Stink” leaders called on the Cabinet led by Prime Minister Tammam Salam to resign because of these confrontations, the Prime Minister came under intense pressure not to do so, for fear that the void that would be created by such a decision would lead to a political catastrophe.
On Sunday, Salam launched a direct challenge to his foes, calling for an end to the “political garbage” that was dished out on a regular basis against him and his cabinet, implying that the purpose of this latest challenge was to wreck havoc throughout the country. “I have always been frank and open,” he declared, pledging to move the cabinet on Thursday to address pressing issues. “If that convention fail[s] to achieve the desired results, then there is no need for the cabinet in the first place,” he indicated, which was a veiled threat to resign.
Undeterred by such warnings, leading tenors pontificated all day long, led by General Michel Aou who congratulated “the Lebanese youth who demonstrated peacefully … [and] proved maturity in demanding their rights,” though the chief of the Free Patriotic Movement kept mum about hooligans that clashed with security forces. Amazingly, Aoun blamed the troops saying, “I denounce the violence against the demonstrators and the use of live ammunition,” as he called for immediate accountability. This was the first time that any leader referred to live ammunition, which was not used by ISF officers, who showed restraint until about 8pm and only resorted to tear gas and water cannon after they were attacked. Many of Aoun’s lieutenants and junior Hezbollah officials uttered similar complaints. Hassan Nasrallah did not speak.
Not everyone was critical, however, alert to epochal changes if a void were created. Samir Geagea, the leader of the Lebanese Forces, backed Salam and urged him not to resign. Saad Hariri and most of Future Movement officials did likewise, as did most of the diplomats assigned the sensitive Beirut post, fearful that a resignation would create a total political vacuum. Jumblatt threw his support behind Salam as well and cautioned his erstwhile March 8 allies no to attempt and “expand the paralysis and obstruction, [to] undermine the pillars of the system.”
Although “You Stink” planned a fresh protest for Monday afternoon, organizers announced early on Monday that they called it off, avowing that they could no longer ensure safety now that their peaceful protest was hijacked. As most of the Gulf States called on their citizens to reconsider travel to Beirut, an emergency cabinet meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, ostensibly to discuss these latest developments.
Riad Al Solh Square looked like a war zone on Monday morning with significant damage to shops as well as other private and public property. Initial reports issued by the ISF concluded that rioters destroyed or set ablaze at least 40 shops, smashed windows, and either dismantled or mutilated several surveillance cameras. At least 99 police officers were injured and nearly 40 hooligans arrested.
A local paper carried a caricature of the Riad Al Solh Square, where an imposing statue of the co-founder of the republic stood, with tears dropping from his eyes.
